Why teeth react to heat: 13 main reasons

Toothache in medical practice is otherwise called dentalgia. It is a specific reaction to various provoking factors (traumatic injuries, diseases of the teeth and gums, jaw defects and abnormalities in its structure). The most common cause of toothache in patients of all ages is caries. In some cases, the pathological reaction is based on factors not related to oral health. If your teeth hurt only on one side, you may need the help of not only a dentist, but also highly specialized specialists (for example, a neurologist, cardiologist, and even an otolaryngologist).

Characteristic features of unilateral dentalgia

A sharp toothache, for example, on the left side can act as a symptom of a heart attack. If it is aching in nature, there is a high probability of trigeminal neuralgia. In these situations, self-medication is strictly prohibited due to the risk of complications. Therefore, at the first symptoms of dentalgia, you should consult a doctor.

Unilateral toothache usually occurs suddenly. It has a widespread course, when all dental units of both jaws are affected. It is also highly intense.

The pathological process can be provoked by inflammatory tissue pathologies, diseases of the vascular, nervous or cardiac systems. In most cases, patients note the appearance of acute, sometimes throbbing pain. Much less often they go to the doctor with dull pain.

Many people associate a trip to the dentist with the unpleasant procedure of removing nerves in a tooth. The word “arsenic” evokes even greater fear. However, medicine does not stand still and is constantly evolving. Read more in the article: “tooth hurts after arsenic.”

Almost always, discomfort negatively affects people’s quality of life and their psycho-emotional state. They cannot eat or sleep normally, which leads to problems with the digestive tract and central nervous system.

A sleep disorder is diagnosed in almost 90% of patients with widespread dentalgia, since the pain syndrome intensifies at night. During rest, the functional activity of the adrenal cortex decreases. In addition, the natural synthesis of so-called steroid hormones, which have analgesic properties, is reduced.

If the cause of dentalgia is dental disorders, the discomfort intensifies after direct contact with cold or eating excessively spicy or hot foods. It is enough just to open your mouth in frosty or windy weather for the pain syndrome to sharply intensify.

Psychosomatic dentalgia is often a consequence of stressful situations and strong psycho-emotional experiences. To eliminate discomfort, it is often enough to eliminate the provoking factor. Some patients benefit from sessions with a psychotherapist or taking mild sedatives.

Possible complications and visit to the dentist

A healthy person cannot have bad teeth. It was not for nothing that no one bought slaves with dental problems at slave markets. And this is explained simply: unhealthy units always lead to serious consequences.

• Advanced inflammation quickly spreads throughout the body, causing irreparable harm;
• The defective units are located near vital organs such as the brain and heart. The oral cavity is directly connected to the esophagus and stomach, and therefore to the intestines. All infection from the mouth is directed to these organs!
• The broken unit represents a permanent bed of infection. The body is forced to fight it all the time, which strains the immune system, which works to the limit.
• With untreated incisors or molars, even a runny nose, not to mention the flu, poses a danger. This infection quickly causes complications, since the body is already exhausted from dental problems.

Contact your dentist promptly! Our clinic always pursues a reasonable cost policy. Prices for dental treatment are detailed on the website. By following the link, get acquainted with the tariffs. The sooner you visit a doctor, the cheaper the therapy!

Dental factors provoking unilateral dentalgia

Regardless of the degree and specific localization of dentalgia, diseases of the oral cavity are its most common cause. Discomfortable sensations may be the result of the carious process. If several adjacent dental units are affected simultaneously, dentalgia will be perceived by the patient as pain spreading throughout the entire jaw and always on one side. However, he will not be able to say exactly where it hurts.

At 4 months, primary teething often occurs. The child cannot independently communicate what exactly is bothering him, so strong crying appears. Read more in the article: “signs of teething in a 4-month-old baby.”

Complicated types of caries

With a complicated version of caries, a pathological cavity does not simply form. It usually contains necrotic tissue, food debris, and bacterial plaque. The so-called peripulpal dentin is also damaged - this is the bone tissue that surrounds the pulp of the dental unit.

If a dentist diagnoses a patient with a superficial or medium caries process, the pathology can quickly transform into a complicated form. Moreover, in almost all cases it spreads to adjacent teeth.

Caries is considered a slow-growing but progressive dental disease. In the absence of timely and high-quality treatment, it can lead to complications. As a rule, no more than 3 years pass from the formation of the so-called chalk stain to severe tissue damage.

Acute pulpitis

Acute pulpitis is considered one of the most painful ailments of dental etiology. It is characterized by the spread of pain. Therefore, if primary symptoms occur, you should consult a doctor to exclude involvement of the pulp and directly periapical tissues in the pathological process.

Pulp is commonly understood as connective tissue, which is localized in the dental canals. It has a loose structure and a large number of blood vessels. Due to the many nerve endings, its defeat is always accompanied by severe discomfort. The pulp provides nutrition to the tooth from the inside.

When the pulp is inflamed, the following symptoms may appear:

• periodic pain syndrome, which increases sharply at night;
• increased sensitivity of enamel;
• after removal of the provoking factor, discomfort persists.

In the case of pulpitis, the pain is usually localized throughout the jaw and intensifies each time after direct contact with food. With the purulent nature of the disease, discomfort increases only when heat is applied to the affected area. The use of cold helps reduce its intensity.

Ignoring the symptoms of pulpitis can lead to the development of complications and complete loss of a dental unit. Treatment is carried out exclusively by surgery. The dentist performs a complete resection of the neurovascular bundles and pulp tissue.

Apical periodontitis

This disease is manifested by inflammation of periodontal tissue. They are localized between the root of the tooth and the immediate alveolar plate.

Periodontitis is characterized by inflammation of the periodontal tissues located between the tooth root and the alveolar plate and holding the tooth in the bony alveolus.

Not only the carious process can provoke a pathological process. Often, the disease is caused by injuries and minor injuries, as well as improper use of medications. Sometimes pain occurs after treatment when the materials or drugs used (for example, arsenic) penetrate the periodontium.

A characteristic symptom of the apical variant of periodontitis is local pain. It appears exclusively in the affected area. As it progresses, the discomfort becomes widespread. The pain can radiate to neighboring teeth, as well as to the temple, ear, or jaw.

The clinical picture of pulpitis and periodontitis is almost identical. However, an important difference between the latter is the appearance of severe pain during tapping of the tooth.

Necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis

Gingivitis is another common oral disease. It is characterized by inflammation of the gum tissue.

Gingivitis on its own rarely provokes pain. Unpleasant sensations are concentrated in the gum tissue. We are talking about itching and severe burning, tingling, and increased dryness of the mucous membranes. The course of certain types of gingivitis can provoke a pain syndrome that spreads to several dental units, but only on one side.

The table below details their main features:

Other dental causes

Among other common causes of toothache, doctors name:

• traumatic damage to molars and gum tissue;
• inflammation in periodontal tissues;

• tooth abscess, cystic formations;
• perimaxillary phlegmon;

• eruption of so-called wisdom teeth;
• cracks in dental units.

Poorly treated caries can cause severe discomfort. We are talking about those cases when, after visiting the dentist, pieces of necrotic tissue remain in the tooth. They can act as a cause of re-infection.

Treatment of anterior teeth

Many people are interested in whether the front teeth are treated. Of course they do. True, the accuracy, precision, experience and qualifications of the doctor are important in this case, because the front teeth are very thin and can be easily damaged.

An experienced doctor will do everything possible to keep the tooth intact and at the same time remove carious lesions. Quite often, the front teeth suffer from pulpitis.

How are anterior teeth with pulpitis treated? To do this, the doctor uses local anesthesia, and after the medicine takes effect, the dentist removes the affected nerve, then carefully cleans the canals and seals them. And only after that he directly begins to restore the tooth.

And to make sure that the treatment was carried out correctly, the doctor may additionally order an image to be taken after the filling.

If you feel that your front tooth hurts after treatment, immediately visit the dentist and tell us about this problem.

For your part, try to prevent the occurrence of caries and pulpitis. Maintain diligent oral hygiene, in addition to regularly brushing your teeth morning and evening, using dental floss and disinfectant rinses. We recommend using products from the ASEPTA line, which are developed and produced by the pharmaceutical industry.

It is also necessary to monitor your diet, eating fresh fruits and vegetables, fish, dairy products and limiting sweets and starchy foods.

Neurological causes

This category includes causes associated with central nervous system dysfunction. Diseases of this kind are usually diagnosed in patients of the older age category. However, in the presence of a number of unfavorable factors, they can also appear in people 30-40 years old. The cause of the disorder is usually eliminated after taking sedatives or tranquilizers. However, these types of drugs are not recommended for use on a regular basis. Their help should be sought in exceptional cases.

Trigeminal neuralgia

This medical term usually refers to damage to the trigeminal nerve. This is a paired cerebral nerve, which is responsible for sensitivity in the cheek and lips, ensures the functioning of the organs of vision and smell. The main causes of trigeminal neuralgia are mechanical compression, when its processes are compressed by growths or spasmed muscles, and irritation.

Also, the pathological process can progress after recent acute respiratory viral infections, acute respiratory infections or influenza. As a result, after another severe hypothermia, the corresponding symptoms appear.

The pain syndrome in this pathology is localized on one side of the face, but has a wide area of ​​irradiation. Discomfort can manifest itself in the area of ​​the teeth, neck, eye sockets, sides of the nose and temples. Its severity is always high, which affects a person’s quality of life. He cannot eat or sleep properly, move or work. The duration of each pain syndrome varies between 1.5-3 minutes.

Not only degenerative and dystrophic changes in the cervical spine are among the main causes of neuralgia. The pathology also develops against the background of ENT disease, increased nervous excitability and frequent hypothermia. Nerve damage is possible due to compression by a neoplasm, including a malignant one, or changes in the blood vessels.

Cluster syndrome

Cluster headache is a cyclical disorder. In this case, the person experiences severe headaches. They are localized mainly on one side of the face, but can spread to the cheeks, nose, forehead, teeth and jaws. The discomfort is so strong that there are known cases of suicide attempts when people could not cope with it.

The attack always appears suddenly and can last from 10 minutes to 2 hours. Their number per day can vary from 2 to 10. The attack has the following clinical features:

• cutting pain in the eyes, as if they were being pierced with a sharp object;
• lacrimation;
• nasal congestion, mucous secretion;
• swelling of the eyelids;
• increase in heart rate;
• decreased quality of vision;
• subconjunctival hemorrhage.

With cluster syndrome, the duration of toothache is the same as the headache. Upon completion of the next attack, dentalgia goes away on its own. No special correction is required.

After alternating attacks of cluster headaches, a period of calm begins. At this time the person feels well. This period can last from 6 months to 3-4 years.

Content:

1. Why it hurts to press on a tooth - the main reasons 1.1. Increased sensitivity 1.2. Traumatic injuries (history or recent) 1.3. Periodontitis 1.4. Inflammation of the gums 1.5. Poor quality dental prosthesis 1.6. Cyst 1.7. Caries 1.8. Pulpitis
2. If pain occurs when pressing on a filled tooth
3. What you can do yourself

When pain occurs in a tooth affected by caries, or at the base of which there is swollen and inflamed gum, everything is clear - you urgently need to go to the dentist and undergo treatment. But what to do if a person’s tooth hurts when biting and no visual defects are noticeable.
Is it possible to ignore this situation? Dentists are convinced that no. If acute or aching pain occurs when pressing on a tooth, you must definitely find out its cause. Otherwise, the risk of crown failure or root damage will increase in the future.

Pathologies of ENT organs

Unilateral dentalgia may be a consequence of diseases of the ENT organs, which is due to the structural features of the oropharynx, nasopharynx, and ears. We are talking, first of all, about adenoiditis, otitis media and sinusitis. The help of an otolaryngologist to exclude and differentially diagnose ENT diseases will be required in cases where unilateral dentalgia is combined:

• nasal congestion, when the patient loses the ability to breathe fully;
• headaches;

• the occurrence of discharge from the ears (a clear symptom of purulent otitis media);
• high temperature;

• pain in the ears;
• sore throat;
• copious purulent discharge from the nose.

When the inflammatory process in the paranasal sinuses or middle ear acts as a provoking factor for unilateral dentalgia, the pain goes away on its own after it stops. Broad-spectrum antibiotics (macrolides, cephalosporins, penicillin medications) are used for treatment. Additionally, anti-inflammatory and antibronchoconstrictor drugs (Fenspiride), as well as drugs to stimulate the motor function of the respiratory tract (Sinupret) are prescribed.

Diagnostics

Diagnosis of “increased tooth sensitivity” involves a complex and lengthy stage. This is a diagnosis by exclusion, which is reached when all other possible explanations for the pain have been ruled out. This requires a thorough examination of the patient's history and clinical examination. Diagnosis involves testing for pain provocation by exposing a blast of air from a dental instrument to a sensitive area or rough scratch. If the pain provocation test is negative, treatment for dentin hypersensitivity is not indicated and another cause should be sought.

Inflammation of the dental pulp “pulpitis” causes true hypersensitivity of the nerves.

The disease is classified as irreversible - pulp inflammation progresses irreversibly towards necrosis due to compression of the venous microcirculation and tissue ischemia, and reversible - the pulp is still able to return to a healthy and non-inflamed state, although this usually requires dental treatment. Irreversible pulpitis is easy to distinguish from hypersensitivity. There is mildly localized, severe pain that is aggravated by heat stimuli and that continues after the cause has been eliminated. Spontaneous pain without any stimulus usually occurs. Reversible pulpitis can easily be confused with dentin hypersensitivity, but there are some obvious signs such as cavity, crack, etc. that indicate the presence of pulpitis. Dentin pain is short and sharp.

Toothache as a sign of a heart attack

A heart attack is a cardiovascular pathology. It is also one of the clinical forms of ischemic disease. The mortality rate for heart attack is more than 60%.

Intact toothache on the left side of the jaw is considered one of the precursors of vascular pathology. It occurs 12-24 hours before an attack. Along with dentalgia, patients complain of headache, shortness of breath, nonproductive cough and changes in the normal heart rhythm.

The main symptom of a heart attack is considered to be angular pain. It appears 10-20 hours after the first manifestations. The duration of the attack itself varies from several minutes to an hour. To stop it, you need to take a Nitroglycerin tablet.

Classification of hypersensitivity

At the moment, there are two types of hyperesthesia: systemic (pain affects several teeth at the same time) and limited (the reaction is observed in only one tooth).

Regarding the clinical manifestations, pain of the 1st degree differs - discomfort in the presence of cold or heat. 2 degrees – increased sensitivity to thermal factors, as well as to spicy, salty, sour and sweet foods. Grade 3 – teeth react painfully to any contact with external factors.

Health care

The occurrence of dentalgia is a signal to seek medical help. If toothache appears above and below, you should not self-medicate. You need to make an appointment with the dentist. If the pain syndrome does not allow you to sleep and do your usual activities, it is better to contact the emergency clinic.

At home and only as an emergency measure, non-narcotic analgesics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are allowed. The most popular drugs from these groups, their approximate dosage are presented in the table below.

The dosages presented in the table are advisory in nature and selected for adult patients. For children, these indicators are calculated individually and only according to the instructions included with the drug.

Prevention

Healthy teeth do not hurt and do not react to heat. The following recommendations from dentists will help preserve their health and natural beauty.

• Proper nutrition - the diet should contain the required amount of calcium, fluoride, magnesium, vitamin D and C.
• Strengthening the immune system.
• Proper and regular dental hygiene – you should carefully choose toothpaste and brush for care. Do not ignore the use of rinses and flosses.
• Limiting the consumption of foods high in sugar, acids and food chemicals.
• Regular professional teeth cleaning procedures to remove plaque, deposits and tartar.

Do not ignore timely visits to the dentist - at least 1 - 2 times a year, even if the condition of your teeth and oral cavity does not bother you. Pay special attention to the problem of correcting malocclusion pathologies in children and adults. And then you will never encounter hyperesthesia.

Preventive actions

It is easier to prevent any disease than to subsequently engage in long-term and energy-consuming treatment. This rule also applies to dentalgia. To prevent toothache, experts give the following recommendations:

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1. Teeth should be brushed twice a day. For this procedure, it is important to choose the right brush and paste. After each meal and whenever possible, you should rinse your mouth. Both ordinary water and special solutions are suitable for these purposes.
2. We must not forget about the existence of such assistants as irrigators, dental brushes and floss. These devices allow you to reach hard-to-reach places. As a result, bacteria and plaque will not accumulate, which prevents the risk of caries.
3. You need to visit the dentist every six months. This approach allows you to notice the problem at an early stage of development and immediately eliminate it. This helps to prevent complications of the pathological process later.
4. You should give up bad habits. Tobacco smoke is considered the most dangerous. It can change the composition of saliva, which only further contributes to the accumulation of plaque.
5. It is better to minimize the amount of overly sweet and soft foods in your diet. The thing is that sugar is a favorable environment for the life of pathogenic flora. Soft foods do not allow teeth to naturally cleanse themselves of plaque.

Dentalgia is a very common and at the same time unpleasant phenomenon. It can unbalance any person and significantly worsen the quality of his life. Dentalgia prevents you from eating and sleeping properly, working, and doing household chores. If your teeth hurt on one side, you should not self-medicate. It is necessary to seek help from a dentist as soon as possible. After identifying the cause of the pain, he will prescribe appropriate treatment or refer you for consultation to specialized specialists.

Clinical researches

During clinical trials using a series of Asepta products, conducted in the department of periodontology of the Central Research Institute of Dentistry and Maxillofacial Surgery of Rosmedtekhnologii, Moscow, the high effectiveness of Asepta products for moderate periodontitis was proven. The use of Asepta mouth rinse turned out to be quite effective. In addition, no phenomena of mucosal irritation or brown staining of fillings were recorded. This indicates that the use of this rinse for a two-week period provides an obvious clinical effect in the absence of negative side effects.

Sources:

1. Report on determining/confirming the preventive properties of commercially produced personal oral hygiene products: Asepta toothpaste used in combination with Asepta mouthwash and Asepta gum balm Head. Department of PFS Doctor of Medical Sciences Professor S.B. Ulitovsky St. Petersburg State Medical University named after Academician I.P. Pavlova. Faculty of Dentistry. Department of Preventive Dentistry.
2. Clinical experience in using the Asepta series of products Fuchs Elena Ivanovna Assistant of the Department of Therapeutic and Pediatric Dentistry State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Professional Education Ryazan State Medical University named after Academician I.P. Pavlova of the Ministry of Health and Social Development of the Russian Federation (GBOU VPO RyazSMU Ministry of Health and Social Development of Russia)
3. Clinical and laboratory assessment of the influence of domestic therapeutic and prophylactic toothpaste based on plant extracts on the condition of the oral cavity in patients with simple marginal gingivitis. Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor Elovikova T.M.1, Candidate of Chemical Sciences, Associate Professor Ermishina E.Yu. 2, Doctor of Technical Sciences Associate Professor Belokonova N.A. 2 Department of Therapeutic Dentistry USMU1, Department of General Chemistry USMU2

Temporomandibular joint dysfunction

It is not always possible to accurately determine problems in the temporomandibular joint, since this disease is difficult to diagnose. Tooth pain may only occur occasionally or be mild. There are no nerve endings in the jaw joint and it is extremely difficult to determine the disease. The main symptom is an extraneous sound when opening and closing the jaw. You can check this yourself by moving your jaw from side to side; if you hear clicks and other extraneous sounds in your ears, this may indicate dysfunction of the joint, displacement of its discs or muscle strain.

Neuralgia

Pain in all teeth at the same time can occur due to neurological diseases, even though all the teeth and gums in the mouth are completely healthy.

The disease occurs due to inflammation of the trigeminal nerve. It is responsible for many functions and one of its branches goes to both sides of the jaw.

With neuralgia, all teeth may hurt. Only a doctor can determine the cause

The cause of this disease can only be determined by a specialist; it is difficult to treat, and recovery can take a long time.

Thinning enamel

Tooth enamel can become thinner for a variety of reasons, such as:

• improper bleaching or poor-quality professional cleaning;
• using brushes that are too hard;
• using pastes with abrasives that expose the enamel to chemical and mechanical stress;
• vitamin deficiency (the pain in this case is characterized by an aching, twitching character and manifests itself during cleaning, rinsing the mouth, eating and drinking).