Toothache is a painful response to the external stimulus sensed by the nerve within the tooth. A tooth has the nerve chamber at the center, called the pulp and, then small canals within the roots of the tooth for the nerve fiber to pass thru. Surrounding the nerve fiber are middle tooth structure called the dentin. The outermost layer is the enamel.
The toothache is a protective signal to the body that there is harm to the tooth. If there is tooth cavity, the protective layer of enamel is destroyed. Whenever there is abrupt temperature changes, like cold or hot, the nerve in the tooth is more likely to get stimulated because the outer insulating enamel is compromised.
Periodontal disease can also causes toothache. There are nerve fiber surrounding the tooth. If there is inflammation caused by excessive food debris buildup, the nerve fiber in the gum will trigger some painful response.
Crack tooth can also triggers toothache. It does this by two ways. First, temperature or fluid stimuli can more easily get thru the crack into the pulp of the tooth. Second way is that cracked portion of the tooth will move microscopically under normal chewing pressure and it impinges on the nerve fibers within the tooth.
Tooth Abscess can trigger toothache. Abscess is the formation of pus pockets at the root tip of the tooth in the jawbone due to infection. The infection can be as the result of tooth cavity, periodontal disease or weakened immune system of the body. The abscess stimulates the nerve around the tooth and causes toothache.
Written by Daniel Tee, DDS, MS
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