Causes of toothache in general

Toothache is most often triggered when the tooth is affected by caries and the bacteria progresses more and more through the tooth over time. A lack of oral hygiene causes the bacteria to develop, which produce lactic acid and thus attack the tooth structure. There are small fine nerve branches in the tooth, which then transmit the pain.Toothache can also be caused by erupting wisdom teeth or by an incorrect prosthetic restoration that has not been ground in correctly or where secondary caries (caries under an integrated crown) has developed.

Sometimes the gums may have receded a little, exposing the necks of the teeth, which are very sensitive to heat and cold, causing a stabbing pain with just a small touch. If the inflammation is deeper, the root of the tooth may also be affected or the surrounding tissues, such as the gums, the tooth bone or tooth anchoring fibers. The common feature of all toothaches is the caries-related cause and an accompanying inflammation, which is usually difficult or impossible to detect at the beginning, but the warning signs increase steadily over time.

Associated symptoms

Toothaches, which only become noticeable when lying down, are also so unpleasant precisely because of their accompanying symptoms. The pain usually occurs when the affected person wants to come to rest and prevents them from falling asleep. Furthermore, the region around the aching tooth feels heated and pulsates.

The toothache radiates into other regions of the face and head, so that complaints in the sinuses, ears, neck and also headaches can develop. Turning to the affected side is unthinkable, as the soft tissues are compressed and press on the tooth. Further side effects can be circulatory problems, so that dizziness develops if the affected person tries to sit up or stand up.

Furthermore, nausea can also occur. A further accompanying symptom can also be a mouth opening disorder, so that the mere attempt to open the mouth causes severe pain. When lying down, breathing through the mouth can also be uncomfortable, if the cold air causes increased discomfort in the affected region, so that the person concerned automatically breathes through the nose to avoid the pain.