Toothache Symptoms & Causes

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