Causes of a Toothache and How Online Doctors Can Help

Toothache is one of the most agonizing experiences. Tooth or dental pain has numerous reasons. But regardless of the cause, seeing a dentist right away is not possible in most cases. It may be financial constraints, geological restrictions, or simply the working hours of your near-home dental clinic are over.

Here online doctors come into the scene. They can prescribe some pain-relieving or antibiotics until you can arrange a visit to a physical doctor.

Toothaches have some characteristic symptoms and causes, which the below excerpt discusses. Although you’ll still need to visit a dentist to find out the exact cause, it will give you an idea of what might have gone wrong.

What is a Toothache and Its Causes?

Tooth pain is an ache inside or around the tooth and the jaws. Nerve irritation in a particular tooth’s root or surrounding teeth causes dental pain [1]. However, decay, tooth infection, or tooth loss also results in tooth pain. Moreover, sometimes the pain originates somewhere else, possibly due to another issue, and then migrates to the jaw as tooth pain.

Some other causes of toothaches include infection in gums, filling damage, abscessed or fractured teeth, and irregular repetitive motions. Tooth pain can be temporary, and you can cure it with natural remedies, while severe ones require professional assistance.

A toothache may occur due to a dental reason or a non-dental issue. Although you can consult online doctors for toothache infection treatment, a thorough examination is essential.

1. Dental Causes

Usually, toothaches occur due to improper mouth hygiene and other dental causes. However, it can also occur as a symptom of another health issue.

• Tooth Damage

The primary cause of toothache is tooth damage. Your tooth or teeth may get chipped or broken due to trauma or other reason causing pain. Similarly, a damaged filling or a dental implant may result in a toothache [2].

• Gum Infections

Like all other organs, gums can sometimes develop bacterial infections, resulting in tooth pain. Periodontitis is a common gum disease when the inner layer pulls away from the tooth, creating a cavity that accumulates food particles, debris, and bacteria [3]. This condition mainly occurs when gingivitis is left untreated.

• Tooth Decay

Teeth are fundamental bone masses, and certain conditions can cause tooth decay, resulting in tooth pains. The primary stage of tooth decay is when white spots appear on the teeth. These are seldom self-observable.

The enamel (the outermost layer) of the tooth wears down, exposing the sensitive tissues of the tooth to bacteria which in turn leads to cavities. Dental damage is the first step that further leads to various other problems.

2. Non-Dental Causes

As hinted earlier, tooth pain can also result from non-dental issues. Hence, it is essential to be knowledgeable about possible causes. Some studies hint that a toothache may also be a heart attack symptom. [4]

• Clustered Headaches

Clustered headaches are sudden sharp pains on one side of the head. Although the origin of these headaches is unknown, some studies hint that they are associated with toothaches [5].

• Diabetes

Higher levels of sugar in the body also result in toothaches. Hence, if you have diabetes, it may be possible that it is causing tooth pain.

• Vitamin Deficiency

Vitamins are necessary to build the bones and muscles of our body, and their deficiency leads to several issues. A deficiency of the B12 vitamin also causes tooth issues [6].

• Infections

Sinus pain infection is another common cause associated with tooth pain. Sinuses are the small air-filled cavities behind cheekbones. Sometimes, bacteria enter the cavities resulting in fluid buildup, which exerts unnecessary pressure on the teeth resulting in pain. A common symptom of sinuses infection is pain in the upper back corner of the mouth [7]. 

Symptoms Of a Toothache

Some common symptoms of toothache are present below. However, the intensity of the symptoms varies depending upon the reason causing the pain.

Tooth pain may be sharp, throbbing, or constant. However, sometimes, activities like biting down or chewing trigger pain. [8]

•  Swelling around the tooth.
• Mild fever followed by headache
• A foul-smelling mouth
• Foul-tasting of food due to drainage in the tooth

Toothache also occurs when the internal tissue of the tooth, called the pulp, inflames. The inflammation of the pulp happens due to infection, cavities, or sometimes trauma. Inflamed pulpitis further disturbs the delicate nerves within the tooth [9].

Consulting Online Doctors for Tooth Pain

Sometimes work commitments or other things refrain you from getting a thorough dental checkup. However, nowadays, clinics also have online doctors. So if you cannot time a visit to the dentist, you can consult a specialist online.

You should seek assistance if [10]:

• The pain persists for more than a day or two
• You experience pain when opening your mouth
• You are feeling fever, headaches, or the pain is severe to bear

It is important to note that online doctors can only prescribe a temporary solution. Therefore, you must schedule a clinic visit as soon as possible.

What Are Some Treatments Online Doctors Prescribe to Patients with Toothaches?

Thanks to telemedicine, you don’t have to bear the pain until you visit doctor online you can get toothache treatment online. Undoubtedly, the medications differ from patient to patient, but here are some fundamental things you can do to deal with a toothache until you can get to a clinic.

• Rinse Your Mouth with A Saltwater Solution: It is one of the most common solutions for subsiding the throbbing tooth pain. Mix ½ teaspoon of salt into warm water and thoroughly rinse your mouth.
• Hydrogen Peroxide: Online doctors sometimes also recommend hydrogen peroxide if the patient feels extreme pain and inflammation in the mouth [11].
• Cold Compresses: Ice helps reduce the pain in the gums as well. Take some ice cubes and press them against the pained area for 10 to 20 minutes. Repeat every few hours.
• Antibiotics: If none of the above works, the specialist can prescribe antibiotics like ibuprofen or naproxen to relieve the pain [12].

Conclusion

Toothache is excruciating, especially when you cannot pin down the origin of the pain. It is important to note that toothache can occur due to various reasons. Sometimes it may be a dental issue. At other times it may be a result of some other health problem.

Dental online doctors are available nowadays. Although, you can get instant pain-relieving medications or other anti-inflammatory drugs. But relying on digital sessions without a physical checkup is not recommended. However, you can have virtual follow-ups once the primary diagnosis is complete. 

FAQS

1. Can you get a complete tooth cure through online sessions?

Most healthcare providers have online doctors to address dental issues. However, they only prescribe instant pain-relieving medications. A thorough checkup is always necessary.

2. What happens when you visit a dentist?

Usually, doctors begin by taking a quick look at your medical history. Then they ask you about the pain, its intensity, what makes it worse, etc. Next, they conduct physical examinations to confirm the origin of the pain. Sometimes, x-rays are also taken.

3. What medicines can you take to relieve toothache?

You can temporarily use anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen or naproxen to relieve pain.

4. What kinds of treatments are there for toothaches?

The treatment depends upon the cause of the tooth pain. If you have a damaged filling, the doctor will replace it. However, in the case of bacterial infections, antibiotics are prescribed.

References: 

[1] https://www.webmd.com/oral-health/toothache

[2] https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/toothache/

[3] https://www.healthline.com/health/periodontitis#diagnosis

[4]https://www.healthline.com/health/toothaches#:~:text=In%20some%20cases%2C%20toothache%20may,It%20passes%20through%20your%20jaw.

[5] https://crest.com/en-us/oral-care-tips/toothache/tooth-pain-causes-remedies-relief-stop-tooth-pain

[6] https://www.flossdental.net/blog/common-causes-of-tooth-pain#:~:text=One%20of%20the%20most%20common,cause%20of%20your%20tooth%20pain.

[7] https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/acute-sinusitis/expert-answers/toothache/faq-20058299#:~:text=Yes%2C%20a%20sinus%20infection%20(sinusitis,become%20inflamed%2C%20often%20causing%20pain.

[8] https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/10957-toothache

[9] https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/23536-pulpitis#:~:text=Pulpitis%20occurs%20when%20the%20innermost,root%20canal%20or%20tooth%20extraction.

[10] https://www.webmd.com/oral-health/guide/toothaches

[11] https://www.jacksonavedental.com/post/should-you-use-hydrogen-peroxide-for-a-toothache

[12] https://www.rxlist.com/dental_medications/drugs-condition.htm