Dental question about taxonomy:symptom:tooth-pain

Tooth pain is a symptom with several possible causes, including decay, pulp inflammation, cracks, trauma, and gum disease.

Pain may be sharp with cold, throbbing and spontaneous when the pulp is inflamed, or tender on biting when the ligament or a crack is involved. Referred pain can make it difficult to identify the exact tooth without clinical tests.

Keep the area clean, remove trapped food gently, avoid very hot or cold triggers, and use suitable labelled pain relief after checking your health conditions and medicines. Do not place aspirin or irritants directly on the tooth or gum.

Arrange dental care for pain that persists, returns, wakes you, lingers after temperature changes, or hurts when chewing. Swelling, fever, pus, a broken tooth, or difficulty swallowing or breathing calls for prompt or emergency help.

Ask which tooth and tissue are responsible and whether you need vitality testing, percussion, bite testing, or a radiograph. Ask which treatment preserves the tooth and what happens if the pulp or supporting bone is involved.