Does your child chew in an odd way, as if avoiding one side of their mouth? Do they complain of pain or get fussy when they eat something hot or cold? Your child may have a toothache, and it could be from more than just a cavity.
The Center for Pediatric Dental Health knows a toothache could be about more than just a cavity. It could indicate other issues that need to be addressed right away. What are some of the reasons why your child would get a toothache, and what can you do to fix it?
Why Does My Tooth Hurt?
What is a toothache? How can something solid like a tooth hurt? A tooth isn’t just the solid shell you see on the outside. It’s made up of two main layers inside the shell — the dentin and the pulp.
The dentin is a protective layer under the hard shell of the tooth enamel. The dentin is softer than the enamel but hard enough to protect the pulp. The pulp is the living tissue of your tooth, where your blood vessels and nerves are located.
Infiltration of the dentin and pulp can cause the nerves to react and cause a toothache. Sometimes, that reaction comes from damage to the tooth. If the damage isn’t addressed right away, the toothache and the tooth can worsen.
What Causes a Toothache?
What causes toothaches? The most obvious answer is cavities. Cavities form from tooth decay.
Acids and bacteria from plaque buildup eat away at the enamel until they penetrate the dentin. Left untreated, tooth decay can reach the pulp.
The dentin itself doesn’t have nerves, but it is connected to nerve endings in the pulp by dentin tubules — tiny, water-filled tubes that transmit feeling through the tooth. If those tubes are disturbed, you will definitely feel it! That’s why a cavity can hurt once it penetrates the dentin.
A cavity isn’t the only thing that can cause a tooth to ache. If your tooth aches after biting something hard or being hit in the mouth, there is a chance you have cracked or chipped your tooth, causing damage to the dentin and even the pulp.
What causes a toothache?
- Cavity that has reached the dentin
- Crack, particularly a deep crack
- Deep chip in the tooth
- Broken tooth
- Tooth sensitivity
- Injury to the tooth or jaw
- Certain medications or treatments, such as home whitening
How Long Does a Toothache Last?
How long can a toothache last? It depends on what’s causing it. Can a toothache go away on its own? Yes, in some cases, it can get better.
Home whitening kits can cause the teeth to ache from supersensitivity, but it usually goes away after a day or two. Other types of tooth sensitivity may only hurt for a few seconds or minutes after the tooth encounters heat, cold, acid, or sugar.
Sensitive teeth should be temporary. Persistent sensitive teeth could be caused by certain medications or lack of proper nutrition, including vitamins and calcium that strengthen the enamel and reduce dental pain.
A break or crack may only make the tooth hurt depending on how the child bites down on something because the damage may not intersect many dentin tubules. A cavity may hurt constantly, and an infection will steadily get worse.
A child’s toothache isn’t normal, so if your child has one that persists for more than a day or two, you need to have it checked. You can schedule an appointment with Centers for Pediatric Dental Health for your child if you’re in the Sicklerville, NJ, Woolrich Township, NJ, or Mount Laurel, NJ, areas.
Toothache Relief for Kids
Does Tylenol help tooth pain? Will ibuprofen help a toothache? Does salt water help with tooth pain? Will a heating pad help with a toothache?
There are many home remedies available. Most will temporarily relieve a toothache, but they won’t solve the underlying cause.
The best thing to do is to make an appointment with your dentist immediately. The sooner we can find the cause of the tooth pain, the sooner we can correct the problem and eliminate your child’s pain. It also gives us a better chance to save the tooth.
In the meantime, giving your child a children’s dosage of acetaminophen or ibuprofen is OK, assuming they can take it normally. It’s also a good idea to watch what your child eats and avoid hot, cold, acidic, or sugary foods that might trigger sensitivity.
How do you keep your child from getting toothaches? The best way is to make sure they’re practicing good oral hygiene habits. They must brush and floss twice daily for at least two minutes at a time, cleaning every surface of every tooth.
If your child still gets cavities, other ways exist to help protect their teeth. Here are the best ways to prevent toothaches and protect their teeth:
- Brushing after meals with a fluoride toothpaste to prevent tooth decay and gum disease
- Flossing at least once daily before brushing to prevent periodontal disease
- Using a fluoride mouthwash 30 minutes after brushing for extra protection of your teeth and gums
- Getting a professional fluoride treatment or other treatment options to strengthen the enamel
- Visiting the dentist at least twice a year for a thorough cleaning and examination
Toothache Relief for Kids in Sicklerville, NJ
Toothaches need to be dealt with as soon as possible. Cavities that reach the tooth’s pulp can cause infections that can lead to bone damage and tooth loss. Tooth sensitivity may have an underlying cause, such as a lack of certain vitamins or minerals or a reaction to certain medications.
Whatever the reason, we need to address your child’s toothache as soon as possible. The faster it’s treated with proper dental care, the better your child’s oral health will be.