How to determine which tooth hurts: what are the symptoms, how to understand the cause, if the doctor said that everything is fine

Healthy teeth are an indicator of a healthy body. But sometimes toothache appears unexpectedly and it is difficult to determine its exact localization. It is especially difficult to do this if the painful sensations are intense. The pain can be given to the ear, back of the head, neck, and is aggravated by yawning and chewing food. Nevertheless, it is possible to determine which tooth hurts.

How to understand where it hurts

You can understand which tooth hurts with the help of an external examination. It does not give a 100% result; after a self-examination, you should contact your dentist. You can find out where a toothache can radiate in our article.

Inspection with a mirror

You need to take a mirror and carefully examine the oral cavity. The damaged tooth will differ from healthy ones in color and presence black dots. In the process of destruction, it turns brown or yellow. Internal tissues are damaged.

Additionally, an inflammatory process in the gums can be observed near a diseased tooth, as well as flux. If you press on it, it will cause severe pain. After a while, pus appears.

Light tapping

The easiest way to find out which teeth hurt is to tap them with a spoon, but gently.

The tooth that is most damaged will respond quickly. But such an examination does not always give a positive result.

We find out the circumstances of the problems

It is important to pay attention when symptoms of toothache appear. If painful sensations arise after eating cold or hot food, a breath of cold air, sweet or cold food, then it is possible that the gum hurts, and not the tooth.

This problem may cause suffer the whole jaw. Again, you need to carefully examine all the gums using a mirror.

What could be behind dental symptoms?

Don't forget about wisdom teeth

Another reason for the appearance of pain in an indefinite place is problems with wisdom teeth. They may not grow properly.

Wisdom teeth are located near the facial nerve, ear and throat, so discomfort is often felt in these places.

Inflammation of the trigeminal nerve

Another reason why the whole jaw hurts may be inflammation of the trigeminal nerve. The trigeminal nerve runs all over the face as the three main branches are located on the cheek. One goes from the ear towards the lower jaw, the second to the eyes, and the third to the upper jaw. In most cases, painful sensations arise from hypothermia.

Perhaps it is due to other diseases.

Toothache can accompany other problems, for example:

• sore throat;
• headache;
• otitis media.

These diseases and conditions can exacerbate existing dental problems, and sometimes they simply give off painful sensations in the oral cavity.

Examination by a doctor

If it's not clear which tooth is causing the pain, it is best to see your dentist. It is much easier for a doctor to diagnose. He uses his professional knowledge in the examination. The dentist performs a palpation procedure. In addition, in this way, it is possible to determine whether tooth mobility has appeared.

A professional can identify a diseased tooth with a metal tap or hot gum application.

Visual inspection and palpation sometimes does not help to establish an accurate diagnosis. Many dentists use a safer method - visiographer. This is an innovative, high-precision equipment that allows you to shorten the procedure time when receiving images due to the absence of an intermediate stage in the development of the film, and reduce the level of radiation irradiation.

You can determine the source of pain using CT, sighting or panoramic images. The doctor will recommend the option that works best for the situation.

With help X-ray you can see the condition of the canals, whether there are cysts near the tooth root, defects in the cervical region. Additionally, a wisdom tooth can be seen in the picture if it is just starting to grow and causes pain.

The best option is a panoramic shot. In some dental offices, it is done on the spot.

If the dentist sees no reason

It happens that a tooth hurts, but the doctor claims that everything is fine. Sometimes the entire jaw can ache due to stress. Painful, and it is impossible to determine which tooth manifests itself. This often occurs in people who cannot express their opinion or, during a conflict, very often try to remain silent. We are talking about psychosomatics.

The reason may be the presence of intervertebral hernias or protrusions in the cervical spine. If the nerve is pinched, irritation occurs, then the pain can be very intense.

At the same time, the doctor will not be able to determine the cause either during the examination or after the X-ray. You need to see a neurologist.

Sometimes pain can be a consequence jaw fracture. Even when the jaw is completely healed, it can still react to changes in the weather. Such pains go away on their own after a few days.

Characteristics of painful sensations in various diseases

At caries appears inflammation near the gums. There is redness, later - flux. The pain is initially felt only with pressure, but gradually begins to progress.

If the tooth hurts badly, but the intensity increases with tapping, then perhaps this is due to cysts. The pain can be endured or numb with drugs, but the disease develops gradually. The development of inflammation in the bone is possible.

With an inflammatory process in the trigeminal nerve, the pain is aching and constant. It can get worse from time to time. Painful lumbago is sometimes felt.