First off, it’s possible the toothache could be a sign of a non-dental problem, and not a problem associated with the tooth itself. If the problem is with the tooth, than early treatment is imperative because Dr. Markowitz wants you to keep as much original tooth structure as ...

Besides causing the aggravating symptoms mentioned above, dry mouth also increases a person’s risk of gingivitis, tooth decay, and mouth infections, such as thrush. Dry mouth can also make it difficult to wear dentures.

Bruxism can lead to pain and cause damage to gums and teeth.

• Sore facial muscles. The same muscles you use for chewing food are used when you grind. These muscles often feel sore or tender in the morning. It could make your jaw feel tight or cause pain on the ...

Tooth decay is a destruction of the tooth enamel. It occurs when foods containing carbohydrates (sugars and starches) are frequently left on the teeth. Bacteria that live in the mouth thrive on these foods, producing acids as a result. Over a period of time, these acids destroy tooth enamel, resulting in tooth ...

TMJ disorders include a variety of conditions that cause tenderness and pain in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). Your TMJ is the ball-and –socket joint on each side of your lower jawbone (mandible) joins the temporal bone of your skull. Between 5% and 15% of people in the U.S. experience pain associated with TMJ ...

Gum diseases, including gingivitis and periodontitis, are serious infections that, if left untreated, can lead to tooth loss. Periodontal disease is a chronic bacterial infection that affects the gums and bone supporting the teeth. This disease can affect one or many teeth. It starts when the bacteria in plaque causes the gums ...

Simply put, gingivitis is inflammation of the gums. It is the initial stage of gum disease and the easiest to treat. The direct cause of gingivitis is plaque. If plaque is not removed by daily brushing and flossing, it produces toxins that can irritate the gum tissue, causing gingivitis. At this early stage ...

The term “toothache” usually refers to pain around the teeth or jaw. In most cases, toothaches are caused by cavities, a cracked tooth, an exposed root, gum disease, disease of the jaw joint (TMJ), or spasms of the muscles used for chewing. A tooth ache can range from chronic and mild to ...

A cavity is a hole in a tooth that is caused by tooth decay.

It occurs when the underlying layer of your teeth-the dentin-becomes exposed as a result of receding gum tissue (when the gums shrink away from the tooth exposing the root of the tooth). The roots, which are not covered by hard enamel, contain thousands of tiny tubules leading to the tooth’s nerve center ...