The most common cause of a toothache is a dental cavity which is a hole in the two outer layers of a tooth called the enamel and the dentin. The enamel is the outer most white hard surface and the dentin is the yellow layer just beneath the enamel. These layers serve to protect the inner living tooth tissue called the pulp, where blood vessels and nerves exist. Certain bacteria in the mouth convert simple sugars into acid. The acid softens and dissolves the enamel and dentin, creating cavities. Small shallow cavities may not cause pain but the larger cavities can collect food debris.

The inner living pulp of the affected tooth can become irritated by bacterial toxins or by foods that are cold, hot or sweet-causing toothache. Toothache from these larger cavities is the most common reason for dental emergency visits and constant toothache. We treat small cavities with a tooth-coloured filling and larger cavities involves an onlay or a crown, on the Other hand if the cavity penetrates and injures the pulp it will require either a root canal treatment. Injury to the pulp can lead to death of pulp tissue, resulting in tooth infection (abscess). the suggested treatment by your emergency dentist in Preston will be either removal of the infected tooth or a root canal procedure.

Enamel loss, uneven teeth, tiny chips and cracks can cause sensitivity or toothache and is usually indicative of tooth destruction. Cracked Tooth syndrome refers to toothache caused by a broken tooth without associated decay or gum disease. Biting on the area of tooth fracture can cause severe sharp pains. These fractures are usually due to chewing or biting hard objects such as hard sweet, pencils, nuts, etc.

We can detect these kind of fracture by painting a special dye on the suspected tooth. Treatment usually involves protecting the tooth with composite materials, but if the damage is extensive, a full-coverage crown will be required. However, if placing a crown does not relieve pain symptoms, a root canal procedure may be necessary.

The second most common source of dental emergency and pain is gum disease. It refers to inflammation of the gums and loss of bone that surrounds the teeth and keeps them in place. Gum disease is caused by toxins secreted by bacteria in “plaque” that accumulate over time along the gum line. Plaque is a mixture of food, saliva, and bacteria.

Early symptoms of gum disease include bleeding gum without pain. Pain is a symptom of more advanced gum disease as the loss of bone around the teeth leads to the formation of gum pockets. Bacteria in these pockets cause gum infection, swelling, pain and further bone destruction.

Chronic gum disease can also contribute to toothache due to root sensitivities. The roots are the lower 2/3 of the teeth that are normally hidden in bone. The bacterial toxins dissolve the bone around the roots and cause the gum and the bone to recede, exposing the roots. The exposed roots can become very sensitive to cold, hot, and sour foods because they are no longer are protected by healthy gums and bone. Early stages of root exposure can be treated with repeated application of fluoride varnish and other desensitisers such as Duraphat toothpaste can also be used during times of sensitivity at home.

A tooth can be broken due to any type a trauma, be it an accidental fall, sports activity, biting on something too hard or being hit in the face. Even poor oral hygiene can cause a tooth to break down and weaken to where it breaks apart. When left untreated, broken teeth can become serious problems that cause a lot of pain, not to mention the cosmetic concern that they also pose.

When diagnosed quickly, it is possible to repair the damage of a broken tooth without losing it. Unfortunately, the longer you wait for receiving professional dental care means a fractured tooth will become infected to the point that it may need to be removed.