Aching teeth: causes of pathology
When a patient comes to see a dentist and asks why his teeth are hurting for no reason, every good doctor will answer that this does not happen. There are always reasons. Any dental problem has its roots, and aching pain in the teeth is no exception. Another point is that the causes of this symptom are quite extensive and can be associated with a number of characteristics of the body and disturbances in the functioning of its systems. Experts identify more than a dozen factors that can cause aching pain in the teeth.
- Congenital hyperesthesia.
Increased sensitivity of enamel can be inherited, which is why a person may experience discomfort when exposed to temperature and chemicals. - Chips, cracks and other damage to the enamel.
Tooth injuries lead to dentin exposure and also facilitate the penetration of pathogenic microorganisms. - Thinning and weakening of enamel.
This can happen for several reasons. First of all, due to a lack of vitamins and minerals. The second common reason is weakening of the enamel as a result of frequent whitening procedures. - Caries and its complications.
Typically, aching pain in the teeth occurs in the middle stages of the disease. - Periodontal diseases in the active stage.
With periodontitis and periodontal disease, the necks of the teeth are exposed, which makes them (and surrounding tissues) very sensitive to irritants. The same applies to the wedge-shaped defect. - Infectious diseases,
especially chronic ones. Influenza, sinusitis, sinusitis - these diseases can sometimes provoke aching pain in the teeth and jaw. - Problems with the gastrointestinal tract.
- Stress, fatigue, lack of sleep.
- Hormonal disbalance.
Often, aching pain in the teeth occurs during pregnancy. - Inflammation of the trigeminal nerve,
when the pain “radiates” to the teeth. - Allergic reaction
to medications.
Why does the pain get worse at night?
Increased pain at night is typical not only for toothache, but also for other diseases and pathologies. As you know, the human body has a biological clock that regulates its functioning at different times of the day. The time period from 12 am to 5 am is considered the most difficult and stressful for each of us (interestingly, most deaths and births on the planet occur precisely at this time). All vital processes slow down, blood pressure rises slightly, and the body becomes susceptible to various types of diseases.
Human biological clock, organ activity by hour
During the daytime, the course of pathological processes is controlled by the adrenal glands, which secrete special hormones - corticosteroids, which have an analgesic effect and reduce the intensity of pain. By the evening, the adrenal glands become less active, which causes the discomfort to intensify, and in the morning, when these organs “turn on” to work again, they can disappear without a trace. At night, the tone of the vagus nerve, which in the medical community is called the vagus, also changes. It is responsible for a person’s mood and general well-being, and can reduce or, conversely, exacerbate the body’s sensitivity to pain. In addition, due to the rush of blood to the head, which occurs when we take a horizontal position, the pressure on the nerve endings increases, and the pain syndrome becomes intense.
X pair - vagus nerve (n. vagus)
Another reason for increased toothache at night lies in human psychology. During the day, each of us leads an active life, takes care of household chores and other problems, thus distracting ourselves from unpleasant sensations in the body. At night, when a person is in a relaxed state, the pain comes to the fore and it seems to us that it has become many times stronger.
Acute toothache at night
Diagnosis of pathology
For any manifestations of pain and discomfort, you should contact a specialist as soon as possible. Only a qualified doctor can correctly diagnose and identify the exact cause of the problem. If a patient comes with a complaint of aching pain in the teeth, a number of standard diagnostic procedures are first performed:
- visual examination of the oral cavity using a probe;
- tracking reactions to temperature stimuli;
- X-ray examination, which can reveal the presence of hidden problems and complications (granulomas, cysts, etc.).
If the pain and aches in the teeth are not directly related to dentistry, the attending physician refers the patient to other specialists. Most often this is a neurologist and maxillofacial surgeon. The localization of pain also helps to determine the root cause.
- Local.
Aching pain covers one or more teeth. This is usually associated with injuries and dental diseases. In some cases, this is a consequence of infectious diseases. - Generalized.
The entire dentition “aches.” The reasons why all teeth ache are usually associated with pathologies and diseases of the enamel.
The teeth of the lower jaw often ache more (especially the front incisors). In many people, they react more strongly to temperature changes, chemical irritants and inflammation of the trigeminal nerve, when pain responds in the anterior part of the lower jaw. On the other hand, the answer to the question why the lower teeth ache is exactly the same as in the case of the upper teeth: there are no separate reasons.
What to do if your lower front tooth hurts
If your teeth hurt often and quite severely, first of all you need to make an appointment with a doctor. The tips below will help relieve pain while you wait to see the dentist.
- Cold compresses. Apply a cloth dampened with cold water to the painful area. This will help with mild pain. Periodically, the compress needs to be re-wetted.
- A solution with soda will help reduce pain. Rinse your mouth with it as often as possible.
- Clove oil can also be used in the fight against illness. Place a drop of the product directly on the tooth.
- You can also apply a clove of garlic, cut in half, to the affected area.
- A compress of calendula and valerian tincture, taken in equal proportions, will help. Soak a cotton pad in the solution and apply to the tooth
- You can put a little ground black pepper and salt in cheesecloth. The resulting compress should be placed on the sore spot.
- You can rinse your mouth not only with soda, but also with a decoction of sage and chamomile.
- Peel the beets and grate them on a fine grater. The resulting mass can be applied to the teeth.
- Medications. It is recommended to take the following drugs for acute toothache: Analgin, Ketanov, Nise, Nimesil, Diclofenac, Bral, Ketonal, etc.
The lower front teeth are more fragile than the chewing teeth, so they require special care and careful treatment. If teeth require aesthetic restoration, the doctor must carefully select the desired color of the filling so that it does not stand out and is as natural a color as possible.
How to treat aching pain in teeth?
A treatment plan is drawn up after the diagnostic results, when the cause of the pathology is identified and pain is localized. Conventionally, several techniques can be distinguished that are used depending on the factors contributing to the occurrence of pain.
- Therapeutic treatment. It is prescribed when the main cause of aching pain is caries or periodontal disease. In case of caries, filling or endodontic treatment is carried out (if bacteria have penetrated the pulp). In case of periodontal inflammation, special ointments and antiseptics are prescribed, curettage is performed, and in severe cases, teeth are splinted.
- Prosthetics. In the presence of a wedge-shaped defect and serious damage, dental prosthetics are performed with single crowns or bridges. In case of enamel pathologies, the doctor may recommend veneers, which are installed to achieve a certain aesthetics.
- Restoration and strengthening of enamel. What to do if all your teeth ache? If the patient has weakened and thinned enamel, it is necessary to strengthen it. First of all, the doctor treats the enamel surface with special compounds based on calcium and phosphorus, and also prescribes a special diet and means that strengthen the immune system and the health of the body.
To eliminate pain, painkillers (Nurofen, Nimesil and others) can be prescribed. If the aching pain is not associated with dental problems, treatment is carried out by doctors of relevant specializations.
Why do my lower front teeth hurt?
There are many different reasons for pain. And they are not always associated with teeth. Sometimes the lower jaw can hurt only because it is close to the area where the disease is located.
Injuries . In order to find the injured area, you need to carefully examine the jaw and check it for bruising and swelling. When you press on the damaged area, pain is felt. A small amount of blood can also be detected in saliva.
Infection . Sometimes pain can occur due to the accumulation of pus. Most often it looks like a small tumor on the lining of the mouth. Pressing on the damaged area may cause pain. Another sign of infection is inflammation of the submandibular lymph nodes.
Temporomandibular joint problems
This item includes several ailments:
- Dislocation of the mandibular joint. With such an injury, the mouth does not close completely.
- Rheumatoid arthritis. Characterized by slight swelling.
- Osteoarthritis. During illness, swelling prevents a person from opening his mouth completely.
A jaw cyst is a small cavity in the bone that contains fluid inside. When inflammation occurs, pain occurs during chewing, and the location of the cyst swells. The danger of a cyst is that it may not manifest itself for a long time. Most often, a radicular cyst occurs.
Radicular cyst: schematic representation
Tumor . Symptoms may vary depending on the type of formation. For example, with Burkitt's lymphoma, the lymph nodes may be inflamed for a long time and sometimes hurt. With sarcoma, after a certain time, the teeth begin to loosen.
Trigeminal neuritis . The trigeminal nerve is responsible for the nerve endings in the face. When the nerve becomes inflamed, severe pain permeates the entire lower jaw.
Prevention of aching teeth
The best way to prevent an unpleasant symptom is to follow preventive measures. Despite the fact that the enamel itself is very strong, improper lifestyle and exposure to the external environment gradually weaken and destroy it. If you have sensitive enamel, you need to carefully choose hygiene products. In particular, it is recommended to avoid hard toothbrushes and use toothpastes with calcium and fluoride. An equally important point is the right diet. It is necessary to reduce the consumption of spicy, sour and sweet foods to a minimum, and give preference to fermented milk products and foods high in vitamins A and B. Temperature changes are a big stress for sensitive enamel, so the best solution is to drink drinks at room temperature.
Publisher: Expert magazine about dentistry Startsmile.ru
Author of the material: Yaroslav Ikonnikov
