National Toothache Day: Key Facts About Oral Health

On February 9, National Toothache Day, we are reminded of the advantages and significance of dental hygiene. Toothaches, also called odontalgia in medical terms, are what they sound like: pain in one or more teeth. A single tooth or multiple teeth can cause toothaches.

If you’re experiencing tooth pain, you might find it challenging to chew, sleep, or even talk. Even though they are not something to be happy about, we can all work together to find ways to bring toothaches to an end for good.

Importance of celebrating National Toothache day

1. It raises awareness of oral hygiene.

It is always early enough to begin educating children about proper dental hygiene. You must emphasise the importance of maintaining good oral hygiene, and a healthy smile at a young age.

In adults, it’s always recommended to visit a dentist for a routine checkup every six months. Visiting a dentist will help you know the dental practices you need to reinforce to have healthy gums, strong teeth, and better oral hygiene.

2. Toothaches motivate us to visit the dentist for cleanings.

After experiencing just one, you won’t ever want to return for more of them again.

Toothaches, while unpleasant, can motivate us to be more proactive in consulting dentists and scheduling regular cleanings.

Toothaches serve as a reminder to limit our intake of sugar.

Consuming foods high in sugar is a significant contributor to toothaches and other issues related to oral health that people experience. If you want to avoid Toothache, avoid meals high in sugar. Avoiding sugar could have a positive impact on your general health.

What is a toothache? 

The pain in your tooth due to underlying multifactorial causes is called toothache. These causes can only be ruled out only by a dental practitioner. You might feel the Toothache as

• Sharp, intermittent, shooting pain
• Dull, continuous, throbbing pain

Causes of Toothache

Let’s learn about the various causes of Toothache. We’ll be discussing each of these causes in detail.

1) Tooth decay

The term tooth decay means the destruction of tooth enamel or tooth surface in the presence of bacteria in your mouth. Dental caries is thought to be caused mainly by Streptococcus mutans.

Symptoms of tooth decay

There are no early symptoms as tooth decay begins. Tooth decay can be sudden or long-term, appearing soft or hard, brown-yellow or black, which leads to cavities in your tooth. However, as tooth decay advances and is left untreated, it may cause

• Toothache (Tooth pain, odontalgia)
• Tooth sensitivity – Your tooth may feel sensitive upon taking sweets, hot and cold food, drinks or beverages.
• Tooth Abscess- Untreated dental caries leads to the dental pulp’s death or necrosis and results in Tooth abscess, which causes severe Toothache.

Let’s briefly understand the mechanism of tooth decay.

Treatment of tooth decay

Visiting a dentist and getting tooth cleanings and fillings done. Here’s a brief explanation of the process.

Post the cavity cleaning and filling, it’s recommended to 

• Use proper flossing and brushing techniques.
• Use fluoridated toothpaste and mouthwash.
• Limit the frequency of sugar intake, starch, and drinks.
• Avoid intake of tobacco and quit smoking. 

2. Tooth Abscess

An abscessed tooth is a consequence of an untreated tooth or dental caries. Most of the time, abscessed teeth or periapical infections(infection at the tip of tooth root ) are caused by dental caries, trauma, or a failed root canal treatment.

Symptoms of Tooth Abscess

• Toothache that is Continous or at short intervals
• Pain upon touching the tooth or palpation of the tooth 
• Swelling of the face on the same side as Tooth abscess
• Difficulty in opening the mouth
• Difficulty in swallowing
• Swelling of lymph nodes presents around the oral cavity.

Treatment of tooth abscess

• Draining of tooth abscess (pus) 
• Cleaning the infection ( Root Canal Treatment)
• Removal of tooth 
• Antibiotic therapy 
• Pain control with the help of painkillers

3. Gum diseases

Gums are affected when the plaque and calculus on our teeth deposit over a long period and harbour bacteria. If the plaque remains accumulated and is not treated, gum diseases can lead to tooth problems, including Toothache and even the loss of teeth.

The Toothache you’re experiencing may be due to gum disease. If you also share any of the following symptoms.

Symptoms of Gum diseases

• Redness and swelling in gums
• Bleeding from the gums while brushing or flossing
• Gum recession – Gum disease can eventually cause loose teeth and tooth loss if left untreated. It occurs when the gums pull far enough away from the teeth, and the infection spreads to the jaw bone.
• Sensitive teeth– There is sensitivity in your teeth whenever you take sweet, hot, or cold drinks or beverages.
• Pockets/ gaps between teeth and gums are formed.
• Bad breath or oral halitosis
• Loosening of teeth

Read more – 12 Home remedies for Sensitive Teeth

Treatment of Gum diseases

To keep gum disease under control, you may require frequent dental cleaning appointments according to the severity of your condition.

4. Tooth infections

• Infections of the tooth or the structures that support it can spread to the tissue surrounding the tooth if not treated.
• The most prevalent cause of dental infections is the invasion of bacteria into the pulp, which then spreads to the tissues around the pulp.
• Infections can also affect the gums, resulting in a condition known as gingivitis. Gingivitis is a precursor to periodontal disease, which can develop over time.
• Patients with reversible pulpitis (swelling of the tooth pulp) may experience severe toothaches brought on by external stimuli such as hot or cold food or beverages.
• On the other hand, irreversible pulpitis manifests as unexplained Toothache that, in most cases, gets significantly worse overnight.

Treatment of tooth infections

When treating dental infections, drainage is typically the first and most critical step, followed closely by eliminating the infection’s source.

5. Oral Habits

If oral habits continue above a particular developmental age, they may seriously affect the developing teeth, the occlusion, and the oral tissues around them. Several oral habits can harm the dentoalveolar structures, including thumb sucking, finger biting or sucking, tongue thrusting, lip biting or sucking, bruxism, and mouth breathing.

6. Bruxism

One of the oral habits that cause Toothache is grinding teeth. A toothache can be brought on by grinding one’s teeth for two main reasons. One issue is that it can lead to jaw and tooth pain. 

Tooth pain is a common side effect of bruxism. Toothth enamel is especially vulnerable and quickly wears away, exposing the sensitive dentin.

Due to this, you may be extremely sensitive to temperature changes, especially when consuming hot or cold beverages.

Treating Bruxism

Splint therapy, Pharmacological therapy, and Contingent electrical stimulation is the treatment the oral healthcare practitioner provides depending on the underlying causes of bruxism.

7. Tooth Injury or Trauma

Both adults and children often hurt their teeth. Permanent teeth often get injured from falls, car accidents, sports injuries, and acts of violence. As kids learn to walk and run around, they often break their baby teeth when they fall.

Trauma can hurt the enamel, dentin, pulp, root, periodontal ligament, gum, or alveolar bone, sometimes leading to toothaches and tooth loss.

8. Fractured tooth or Cracked tooth syndrome

When a crack develops in your tooth, it is known as a fractured tooth, also known as cracked tooth syndrome (CTS).

Causes of Cracked tooth syndrome include

• Age factor
• Biting or chewing hard food
• A weak tooth with large fillings
• Bruxism

Symptoms of Cracked tooth

• Toothache while biting or chewing
• Tooth sensitivity to hot and cold food and drinks
• Swelling around the cracked tooth

Treatment of cracked tooth

Depending on the tooth damage, a fractured tooth may require different treatments. Standard dental treatment includes

• Bonding
• Contouring
• Crown placement
• Tooth extraction
• Root canal
• Veneering

9. Impacted tooth

Wisdom teeth at the bottom of the mouth that lack sufficient space to erupt or develop normally are called impacted wisdom teeth.

Wisdom teeth that become impacted can cause toothache and damage other teeth and dental issues. People with impacted wisdom teeth won’t experience any obvious or immediate problems. 

However, because it is challenging to keep them clean, they may be more susceptible to gum disease and tooth decay than other teeth.

Symptoms of Impacted tooth

• Swollen and red gums
• Soft bleeding gums
• Pain in the jaw
• Bad breath or Oral halitosis
• Inability to open the mouth

Treatment of Impacted tooth

When impacted wisdom teeth hurt or cause other dental problems, they are usually taken out. A few dental practitioners and oral surgeons also say that impacted third molars that don’t cause any issues should be taken out to prevent problems in the future.

Read more – Natural home remedies for toothache

Facts about Teeth

a) The hardest; Enamel

The enamel that covers your teeth is the hardest substance in your entire body; it’s even harder than bone.

b) Unique sets of teeth

Like fingerprints, even two genetically identical people will never have the same teeth.

c) Caries are inevitable.

Every individual will get at least one or more caries in a lifetime.

d) Teeth cannot regenerate.

Teeth are the only component of the human body incapable of repairing itself. They cannot regrow or regenerate themselves once damaged or lost but can be replaced with dental implants, bridges, and dentures.

Oral health tips for observing National Toothache Day

• Make it a resolution to improve your oral health by brushing and flossing your teeth twice daily. Prepare yourself for success by purchasing extra toothbrushes, toothpaste, and floss. Doing this will put you in a better position to achieve your goals.
• For Toothache, numb the area by placing an ice pack on your cheek and washing your mouth with lukewarm saltwater. After that, gently brush your teeth. If the discomfort lasts over two days, you should visit a dentist.
• In addition to flossing and brushing your teeth daily, heading to the dentist can help you avoid all kinds of tooth problems, including dental issues. Schedule cleanings twice a year; even if you’re busy, make sure to go.

Conclusion

Visiting a dentist every six months for a routine checkup is recommended. If a toothache lasts longer than one or two days and radiates to the ear, eyes, head, and neck parts present around the mouth, you must not ignore it and get the treatment done. You can save money by choosing an alternative medicine that the experts recommend. Dental care is critical as any other health regime, and Truemeds helps you order any medication or product required for your dental care through your phone. You can get brand-name and generic drugs by uploading your prescription to the Truemeds app. You can save up to 72% on your purchase and get free home delivery across India.

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