Toothache (Dental Pain)

A toothache or tooth pain is caused when the nerve in the root of a tooth or surrounding a tooth is irritated. Dental (tooth) infection, decay, injury, or loss of a tooth are the most common causes of dental pain. Pain may also occur after an extraction (tooth is pulled out).

Treatment

Your dentist can repair a hole or fix a weakened area in the tooth to help stop the throbbing pain. You may need:

• teeth cleaning to get rid of plaque
• a filling to patch up the cavity
• antibiotics to clear up infection