Dental question about taxonomy:symptom:tooth-pain

Tooth pain can come from decay, a cracked tooth, exposed dentine, gum disease, trauma, or inflammation inside the tooth, so the cause determines treatment.

Pain signals arise from the pulp, dentine, periodontal ligament, or nearby soft tissues. Cold sensitivity that stops quickly differs from lingering thermal pain, pain on biting, spontaneous throbbing, and pain from swelling, each of which changes the diagnostic possibilities.

Avoid chewing on the painful side, keep the area clean, and use a pharmacy pain medicine only as directed for you. Do not place aspirin on the gum, and do not delay care because pain temporarily fades.

Seek prompt dental care for persistent or severe pain, swelling, fever, a bad taste, trauma, or trouble opening the mouth. Facial swelling, swallowing difficulty, or breathing difficulty is an emergency.

Ask which tissue is causing the pain and whether testing, a radiograph, a filling, root canal treatment, extraction, or gum treatment is indicated. Ask what warning signs should prompt urgent review.