Dental question about taxonomy:symptom:tooth-pain
Tooth pain usually comes from irritation or inflammation in the pulp, ligament, gum, or tissues around a tooth, and the cause determines treatment.
The short answer
Dental pain may arise from exposed dentine, decay reaching the pulp, a crack, gum inflammation, an abscess, trauma, or pressure from clenching. The location and triggers help narrow the cause, but an examination and often an X-ray are needed.
What is the direct answer?
What does this question mean?
Cold sensitivity that stops quickly can differ from pain that lingers, pain on biting, or spontaneous night pain. Swelling, a bad taste, fever, or difficulty opening the mouth can indicate infection or spreading inflammation.
What can you do next?
A dentist may test cold response, tapping, biting, gum tissues, and tooth mobility, then use dental radiographs when indicated. Do not place aspirin or other tablets directly on the gum, and use pain medicine only as directed on its label or by a clinician.
When should you seek dental care?
Seek urgent care for facial swelling, fever, trouble swallowing or breathing, uncontrolled bleeding, or a rapidly worsening infection. A dentist can remove decay, repair a crack, treat the pulp, drain an abscess, or address gum or bite causes.
What should you ask the dentist?
Ask which tooth and tissue are involved, whether an X-ray is needed, and which treatment will remove the cause rather than only mask the symptom.
Frequently asked questions
What could be causing this pain?
Ask which tooth and tissue are involved, whether an X-ray is needed, and which treatment will remove the cause rather than only mask the symptom.
What happens during the dental assessment?
Seek urgent care for facial swelling, fever, trouble swallowing or breathing, uncontrolled bleeding, or a rapidly worsening infection. A dentist can remove decay, repair a crack, treat the pulp, drain an abscess, or address gum or bite causes.