Dental question about taxonomy:symptom:tooth-pain

Tooth pain is a symptom, not a diagnosis. Decay can inflame the pulp, the blood-vessel and nerve tissue in the centre of a tooth; a crack can irritate that pulp; gum disease can inflame the supporting tissues; and sinus inflammation can sometimes feel like pain in upper back teeth.

Rinse gently with lukewarm water, brush carefully with fluoride toothpaste, and avoid chewing on the painful side or exposing the tooth to very hot, cold, sweet, or acidic foods. Do not place aspirin, alcohol, or caustic substances on the gum, and use pain medicine only as directed on its label or by a pharmacist who knows your medical history.

Arrange an examination even if the pain settles, because a damaged pulp or a leaking filling can remain diseased after the symptom fades. The dentist may inspect the tooth, test its response to cold or tapping, examine the gums, check the bite, and take a focused dental X-ray when needed.

Seek prompt dental care for pain that lasts, returns, or disrupts sleep, or for sensitivity that lingers after a hot or cold stimulus. Contact a dentist urgently if there is facial or gum swelling, fever, pus or a bad taste, trouble opening the mouth, or a loose or broken tooth.

Go to emergency medical care for swelling that affects breathing or swallowing, or for rapidly spreading swelling around the face or neck. These signs can indicate an infection that needs immediate assessment and treatment.

Ask which tooth and tissue are causing the pain, whether the pulp is inflamed or infected, and what findings support that conclusion. Ask whether the treatment is a filling, replacement of a filling, a crown, root canal treatment, gum care, extraction, or monitoring, and what could happen if treatment is delayed.