Medical Health Encyclopedia

Toothaches

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Overview Treatment

Toothaches

Definition:

Toothache is pain in or around a tooth.

Alternative Names:
Pain - tooth or teeth

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Considerations:

A toothache is generally the result of dental cavities (tooth decay) or sometimes an infection. Tooth decay is often caused by poor dental hygiene, although the tendency to get tooth decay is partly inherited.

Sometimes, pain in other locations is perceived as occurring in the teeth (this is called referred pain or radiating pain).

Common Causes:

• Tooth decay
• Abscessed tooth
• Earache
• Injury to the jaw or mouth
• Heart attack (can include jaw pain, neck pain, or toothache)
• Sinusitis

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