Tooth Pain Checker
Enter the required values below to run the educational estimation.
Common Causes of Toothaches and Sensitivity
Tooth pain typically stems from dental caries (cavities), dental pulp inflammation (pulpitis), cracked or fractured teeth, gum disease (periodontitis), or impacted wisdom teeth. Referred pain can also occur, where sinus congestion or sinus infections cause pressure on upper teeth roots, mimicking a dental issue.
Dental Infection and Abscess Red Flags
A dental infection can progress past the tooth root into surrounding tissues. Facial, cheek, jaw, or neck swelling combined with a fever are key warnings of a dental abscess. If facial swelling begins to interfere with your ability to swallow or breathe, it is a medical emergency requiring immediate emergency room evaluation.
Symptom Tracking and Dental First Aid
If a tooth is completely knocked out by trauma, handle it only by the crown (top), rinse it gently in milk or water, and try to place it back in the socket or store it in a container of milk, then see a dentist within 30 minutes. Use warm saltwater rinses to clean the mouth and reduce discomfort. Schedule a dental exam promptly.
When to Seek Urgent Medical Attention
- Tooth pain with facial, neck, or jaw swelling that restricts swallowing or breathing.
- Tooth pain accompanied by high fever and severe systemic chills.
- A permanent tooth that has been knocked out or fractured in an injury.
- Severe swelling of the gums with visible, draining pockets of pus.
Frequently Asked Questions
A dental abscess is a pocket of pus caused by a bacterial infection, usually arising from untreated tooth decay or a cracked tooth. It presents with severe throbbing pain, facial swelling, gum pimples, and fever, and requires immediate dentist care.
When you lie down, blood pressure in your head increases, putting more pressure on the inflamed, fluid-filled pulp cavity of the diseased tooth, which increases the throbbing pain.
