Problematic Signs and Symptoms

Toothache is a common complaint among adults in the UK, particularly with changes in diet affecting everything from our waist lines to dental hygiene. The symptoms of tooth problems can vary massively, from mild discomfort or throbbing, to severe pain and inflammation. Troublesome toothache won’t often need any kind of stimuli to set it off, but there are some types that will respond to pressure or weight, which can be very difficult to live with. Let’s take a look at some of the typical signs and symptoms of toothache, and the problems they may point to.

What are some common signs of dental problems?

Toothache is your body’s way of telling you something is wrong with your teeth, unfortunately, it can’t be any more specific than localised throbbing and discomfort, this is why you should take your problem to the dentist, they are trained to spot the signs of decay, infection, structural damage, and any other tooth afflictions you might suffer from. Toothache can deteriorate to a very serious level if you don’t seek assistance as soon as it becomes problematic, i.e. it affects your day to day routine to a noticeable degree.

Pain when chewing – This will usually be a shooting pain that affects the tooth as you put pressure on it to bite or chew. Toothache of this kind can indicate some sort of structural damage, perhaps from decay or a dental injury. If you don’t report this sort of pain to your dentist, it could have wider implications, for example; the pain you feel in the molars on one side of your jaw may cause you to adjust your chewing pattern, distributing the pressure unevenly on the other teeth, this won’t only be painful, it could also lead to orthodontic problems if left to progress without treatment.

Sensitivity to hot or cold temperatures – Most people will be familiar with the shooting pain of sensitivity if they eat or drink something that is too hot or cold for their teeth, but it shouldn’t be a regular occurrence and it shouldn’t last more than ten or fifteen seconds after the initial flare up. Heightened sensitivity occurs when the roots and nerves are not sufficiently protected any more; this could be the result of enamel deterioration, gum recession due to disease, or just the general wear and tear that affects our teeth over time. The extreme temperatures are able to penetrate the surface of the tooth and this causes the nerve endings to become inflamed and painful.

Bleeding from the gums – This may or may not be accompanied by toothache, but it is a serious symptom either way. Bleeding gums is one of the first signs of gum disease, and shouldn’t be left to deteriorate; this puts all the teeth at risk.

Swelling around a tooth – Large swellings are often visible from the outside, temporarily changing the shape of the face, making this kind of problem very hard to ignore. Swellings and inflammation could be the result of a serious infection, and is likely to be very painful. In some cases, the throbbing pain of toothache travels through the jaw and starts to affect other parts of the body, such as the neck, ears, and head. Over the counter painkillers should be able to lessen the pain to some extent, but it can’t deal with the underlying causes, dental surgery and antibiotics are usually required to get rid of the problem for good.

Injury – A knock or injury to the mouth can cause bruising around the teeth and jaw, and lead to toothache – among other symptoms associated with traumatic accidents. If there is no visible damage to the teeth, and none that your dentist can pinpoint with an x-ray, it’s possible that they are just recovering from the injury in much the same way as other parts of your body would, when the bruising dies down, the pain should follow suit. A painful tooth does not necessarily need to be extracted; your dentist will be able to tell you if the ache is just from bruising, or if there are more serious implications.

What other signs should I look out for?

Don’t just assume that pain in your teeth is completely unrelated to the rest of your body; sometimes dental problems have further reaching consequences. That said, there’s no need to panic if you notice any of the following symptoms along with your toothache, just head to the nearest hospital or emergency clinic and explain your situation to a professional. The Pearl Dental Clinic run a twenty-four hour dental surgery, it’s open to all types of dental emergency, day or night, so keep their contact details handy and you won’t have to worry if your condition becomes unmanageable.

High fever – This can be linked to blood poisoning, if it is accompanied by nausea and dizziness; you need to seek medical assistance immediately. An abscess on your tooth might look unassuming, but it can pose a severe risk to your health if you don’t acknowledge it. Infections like this usually require antibiotics to properly heal.

Difficulty swallowing – Again, this could be related to infection, and you should go to the hospital straight away, especially if you have a history of problems with your immune system or you suffer from diabetes.

Referred pains – This is characterised as pain that spreads to other parts of the body, it normally begins in the jaw area, close to the affected teeth, and can move to the chest, shoulders, neck and head. It doesn’t always necessarily indicate infection, but it could develop into more serious problems for patients who have a history of heart disease or diabetes. If there are additional symptoms, such as dizziness, fever, or shortness of breath, you should speak to a physician immediately.