Introduction to Toothache (Dantshool)

The word is referred to the pain around the

jaws or the teeth. Most of the times, toothache is developed by the jaw or the tooth problems. This may include cracked tooth,

Toothache is considered to be the pain in the area of the face or the jaw. There is a space containing dental pulp in the middle of every tooth. Dental pulp is spongy and soft tissue containing lots of blood vessels and sensitive nerves. This cavity is surrounded by the layers of tough tissues to protect it. The outermost layer is known as enamel and is the hardest part of the human body. Toothache develops when the pulp inside the tooth is inflamed. This is called as pulpitis and is often caused by dental carries or decay. Dental decay is when the bacteria in the mouth break the enamel of the tooth and enter inside. If left untreated, this turns into the holes or the cavities exposing the nerves underneath.

Definition of Toothache (Dantshool)

Toothache is nothing but the paining teeth or gums or jaws. The pain around the jaws and teeth can be disgusting and can trouble the person all the time. The tooth pain or toothache is caused when the nerve root of the particular tooth is irritated or damaged. Injury, loss of the tooth, dental or tooth infections, decay are the most common cause for the same. An ache may also occur when the tooth is pulled out, known as tooth-extraction. Sometimes the pain is originated from the other areas and may radiate to the jaw appearing as if there is a pain in tooth. The most common area for this is TMJ – Temporomandibular joint, heart problem or even the earache.

Ayurveda considers this to be Dantashool, where Danta refers to the tooth and Shool to the pain or the ache. In combination, the Dantashool refers to the toothache. The teeth are most important part of the body. The Ayurveda believes that almost all the diseases are occurred if one has not digested the food properly. The digestion begins from the mouth itself. Due to toothache, there will be no proper chewing so the grinding of the food particles. The half grinded or chewed particles enter into the digestive system and produce the Aama (the undigested toxic materials) in the body that produces many diseases.

Sometimes, a toothache may be caused by a problem not originating from a tooth or the jaw. Pain around the teeth and the jaws can be symptoms of diseases of the heart (such as angina or heart attack), ears (such as inner or external ear infections), and sinuses (air passages of the cheek bones). For example, the pain of angina (inadequate supply of oxygenated blood to the heart muscle because of narrowing of the arteries to the heart) is usually located in the chest or the arm. However, in some patients with angina, a toothache or jaw pain is the only symptoms of their heart problem. Infections and diseases of the ears and sinuses can also cause pain around the teeth and jaws. Therefore, evaluations by both dentists and doctors are sometimes necessary to diagnose medical illnesses causing "toothache."

Causes of Toothache (Dantshool)

There are many causes for the toothache. Some of them are mentioned below.

Dental Cavities

This is considered as most common cause for toothache. Dental caries or cavities are the holes in the two outer layer of the tooth knonw as the enamel and the dentin. Enamel, the outer layer is white and hard surface. The dentin, yellow layer is lying just beneath the enamel. Both layer protect the inner living tooth tissue called the dental pulp. The dental pulp is containing the nerves and blood vessels.

It is known fact that certain bacteria in the mouth turn the sugars into the acids. This acid breaks up the layer of the enamel and dentin and finally creates the cavity. The shallow and small cavities may not harm or cause the pain and hence often unnoticeable to the patient. The deeper and larger cavities collect the food particles where the bacteria grow further and finally cause the toothache.

Gum Diseases

This is second most common causes for the toothache. The term is referred to the inflammation of the gingiva (the soft tissue) and abnormal loss of the bone that surrounds the teeth and grips them in their place. The gum diseases are caused by the toxins secreted by the bacteria that accumulate over the time along with the gum-line. This is known as plaque. The plaque is the mixture of bacteria, food and saliva. Loss of the teeth with cavity in it is known as gum pockets in which the bacteria get seated and spread infections, pain, swelling and finally destruction of the teeth.

Tooth root sensitivity

When there is chronic gum disease, the root becomes sensitive to it and produces the toothache. The root lies at lower 2/3 rd of the teeth which is buried in the bone. The toxins secreted by the bacteria dissolve the bone around the roots and make bone and gum to recede by exposing the roots. The exposed roots then becomes sensitive to sour foods, hot and cold items as they are no longer protected by any of their layers. This sensitivity could be serious up to an extent that patient may avoid taking those items.

Symptoms of Toothache (Dantshool)

The jaw pain and the pain in tooth is very common. The pain may aggravate due to cold or hot or to pressure. The pain may last long up to couple of seconds even after the stimuli is removed. As the area of swelling increases, the ache becomes more troublesome. The pain may radiate to the ears, jaws or cheek. Other signs and symptoms that may seek for the personal care are…

It is noticeable that if toothache is produced by the cavity, the sensitivity to cold, hot, sour and sweet foods is increased. When the decay reaches the middle layer of the tooth, it starts entering the root and spreads to the nerve center of the pulp or the tooth. This may result in throbbing pain or dull or agonizing pain.

If one has the recent dental work done like routing cleaning, surgery, or filling the gums and teeth are very sensitive and get hurt easily by biting something. If someone has decayed teeth or gums, they always suffer from the bad breathe and feeling of the oozing within the affected area.

Complications of toothache (Dantashool)

However it is quite difficult to reach at the complication to the dental problem as the problem is always so severe and the patient can't keep quite without seeing the dentist. The toothache interrupts in daily routine and hence it is shown immediately to the doctor by the sufferer.

If left untreated, which is unusual, the toothache can become hazardous condition as the toothache itself suggests some problem with teeth or gums. The decayed tooth may start developing the abscess or the pus pockets which is very dangerous site. This may lead to the maggots and finally destruction of the tooth. When there is the severe infection, this may lead to fever and septic. Once the infection enters the bone, which is very usual when the tooth is affected, it is quite difficult to treat it. The bone infections is always been headache for the doctors.

Sometimes the infections may cover the surrounding areas as here it may catch the tongue, lips and even throat. Ayurveda describes many teeth diseases which come under the Dantaroga. The toothache or the tooth diseases left untreated, this may lead to the Krimidanta (the maggots within the teeth).

Prevention of toothache (Dantashool)

Once the tooth starts getting diseased, it is quite difficult to reverse the process. Hence it is advisable to prevent it from getting decayed. Certain tips can help you preventing the diseases of the tooth. Here are some of them.

Diet for Toothache (Dantashool)

During the episode of the toothache, one should go for the soft diet. This may include rice or the corn flakes with milk. One has to be careful by not taking curds or yogurt as it may vitiate the condition. Try to avoid the hard substances which are difficult to bite and to break.

Try to avoid the cold drinks and chilled items like ice-creams. Hot items like sizzlers are to be avoided. Among all the toothache treated with garlic is most popular. A clove of the garlic with pinch of rock salt should be placed on the affected area on regular basis. This helps curing the toothache. The onion has the bactericidal properties and can be used as healthy diet. Survey says that chewing the raw onion for three minutes is sufficient to destroy the germs present in mouth.

The vitamin C is useful maintaining the health of the teeth. It prevents the dental caries, toothache, bleeding of gums, decay and bleeding of the gums. The lime or the Indian gooseberry (Aamla) is good to have. Another wonder drug is asafoetida. This is to be mixed with little lime juice and applied by cotton on the affected area.

One should avoid using the sugar in excess. The sugar and sweet are an invitation to the microorganisms into the mouth. Chocolates, jelly, candy etc a

Ayurvedic treatment for Toothache (Dantshool)

There are many herbal formulae that work on the toothache. They are either disinfectant or known to cure the bad odor from the mouth.

re best to be restricted. One can go for the vegetable soup which is not too hot. Roughage foods like green leafy vegetables are good to digest and friendly to intestines too. Usage of dairy items like cheese, paneer and yogurt are to be taken carefully and the brushing becomes necessary after eating them.