Toothache Symptoms & Causes

Toothaches are one of the most common dental issues and are easily treated after proper diagnosis. The earlier that the toothache is diagnosed, the better the chance of saving the tooth.
 

Toothache Symptoms

Common toothache symptoms include the following:

• Sharp or throbbing pain in the tooth constantly, or when applying pressure to the tooth
• Swelling in or around the gums or jaw
• A fever or headache
• A bad taste, sometimes accompanied by foul-tasting drainage and fluid 
   

Toothache Causes

Toothaches can result from a variety of causes, including the following:

• Tooth decay: the destruction or damage of the tooth, including the outer coating (enamel) or the inner layer (dentin) of the tooth
• Abscessed tooth: a tooth that has an infection in or around it
• Damaged filling: in some cases, an old amalgam filling needs to be replaced because it’s wearing out or chipped
• Gum infection: redness and soreness in the gums from improper oral hygiene or food stuck in gum tissue
• Grinding of teeth: the back and forth movement of the upper and lower jaw that causes them to rub against each other 
• Repetitive motion: a repeated action, such as chewing gum, for long periods of time