There is something about a toothache that whenever we are tormented by one, it always seems to make you feel that the sensitivity is worse than all other aches or pains from which we tend to suffer. This is probably because, no matter what we try, the nagging ache just never seems to go away. An explanation could be that they are often linked to exposed nerves and their very nature makes it virtually impossible to avoid contact, through the necessity to eat and drink. The causes of a toothache can usually be traced to things like dental cavities, a cracked tooth, an exposed tooth root, gum disease, disease of the jaw joint, or spasms of the muscles used for chewing. The severity of a toothache can range from chronic and mild to sharp and unbearable. The first sign of a toothache may be the pain you feel when you eat something sweet, very cold or very hot and this very often points to decay. If you notice pus near the source of the pain, your tooth may have become abscessed, causing the surrounding bone to become infected.

Dental Cavities are probably the most frequent cause of a toothache. They are the holes in the two outer layers of a tooth called the enamel and the dentin. The enamel is the outermost white hard surface and the dentin is the yellow layer just beneath the enamel. Both layers serve to protect the inner living tooth tissue called the pulp, where blood vessels and nerves reside. The cause of toothache occurs when certain bacteria in the mouth converts simple sugars into acid. The acid softens and (along with saliva) dissolves the enamel and dentin, creating cavities and this is the cause of toothache. Small shallow cavities may not create pain and may go unnoticed, but the larger deeper cavities can collect food debris.

People will try just about anything to ease the distress that a toothache brings with it. However, prevention is probably the greatest of cures! The condition of the teeth after they are formed depends upon the foods one eats from day to day. Dental decay, the destruction of the bone around the teeth, and infection of the gums can be prevented with an appropriate diet. In fact, with a proper diet, the teeth and jaw bones can be made harder and healthier as the years go by. It is important to restrict the sugar intake, and to ensure that the diet includes plenty of raw vegetables and whole wheat bread. In preventing tooth decay, what one eats is no doubt important, but equally important is when someone eats. Frequent small snacks are very harmful to teeth, as they produce an acid medium in which the bacteria thrive. The number of times someone eats sugar is one of the most important factors in determining the rate of decay. For this reason, it is better to eat sweets at the end of a meal rather than in between. Proper cleaning of the teeth is essential to prevent tooth decay and subsequent toothache. For this reason it is imperative that children are made aware at a very early age of the importance of brushing - no matter how much they protest, they'll thank you in the end!