Toothache is a common dental problem that causes pain in one or more teeth. The pain may be throbbing, sharp, or dull.

Toothache can be caused by a variety of reasons such as cavities, infections, gum disease and even an impacted wisdom tooth. The cause of toothache varies and depends on the type of pain you’re experiencing. Some common causes of toothache are:
– Dental cavities (caries)
– Tooth abscesses
– Gum disease (periodontal disease)
– Tooth fractures
– filling dislodging (called displacement)
– a broken crown (called fracture)

The most common cause of toothache is tooth decay which develops when the protective layer of enamel on the tooth wears away. This exposes the underlying soft tissue which becomes infected.

The symptoms of toothache include:

• A dull ache in the tooth or gum
• Pain that increases when chewing or biting on the affected side of your mouth
• A throbbing pain that makes you wince when you bite down on something cold, sweet or spicy
• Pain that gets worse when you eat hard foods like nuts and crunchy biscuits
• Pus coming from the gum over the affected tooth

Rubbing some ice on your cheek can help relieve pain from sensitive teeth. You can also use a cold compress made from crushed ice wrapped in a cloth or towel.

Using over-the-counter painkillers such as ibuprofen (Advil) or acetaminophen (Tylenol) might help ease the pain temporarily. Take care not to exceed recommended dosages; these medications can cause stomach ulcers when taken on a regular basis.

If you’re experiencing numbness in one side of your face, see a doctor immediately — it could mean that you have an abscessed tooth that needs to be treated quickly.