Randomly aching tooth - what's this about?

[petrovia]

About two weeks ago one of my teeth started to hurt - it was mainly when I drank something hot, and it felt like it was very sensitive. It's a back tooth btw.

I read up and found that heat sensitivity can mean it needs an RCT, so went to the dentist who said it was already an RCT and had a crown, so not that. He tapped them and it did hurt slightly, but not a lot.

He gave me a/b's to take if it got worse but it seemed to get better so I left them.
(I'm not sure what he thought was wrong)

A few days later it came back but wasn't so much the heat thing any more, it just ached randomly when say I was walking to school in the cold air. Then it'd stop for a bit, then come back, on and off for about a week now. It's sore when it's hurting but it goes away at night, which is the opposite to most tooth problems I've had. It doesn't really throb or anything.

Also I feel like my other teeth are hurting quite often too - which makes me wonder if it could be due to tension? I mean, could it be from clenching my jaw as I'm under a bit of stress at the moment iyswim?

It is worse when I'm worried, I get anxious going into the playground (am a bit shy) and it always hurts more then.

Sorry, am obv. just a bit of a fraek!

Hi, Yes it could easily be tension!

I've had the jaw/tooth saga from hell over these past 2 years.

I have tmj disorder which means for me that the nerves in the whole of my lower jaw are very easily affected by tension.

Last year it got so bad, the toothache, which wasn't due to the teeth, that I was throwing up.

Has your jaw had some sort of trauma to it, something like a difficult tooth extraction, wisdom tooth, car accident?

Gosh poor thing Kitty
That sounds awful.

No, no direct trauma - my teeth have been bad for several years, I wrecked them when I had an eating disorder - so have had lots of crowns and a couple out, but this was all a few years ago and it's been calmer since then except they always seem to fall to bits more when I have a baby/breastfeed.

He also suggested it might be sinuses or something - I had flu and a popped eardrum before Christmas, but no other symptoms for a week or so until tooth started hurting. That ear feels very slightly funny/blocked still, but not sure if that could be it?

What's TMJ btw?

It's damge to the T empro M andibula J oint, which is basically your jaw hinge. Mine was damaged during a difficult wisdom tooth op.

Of course it took a good year of agony before I worked out what was going on, even a "top" dental consultant didn't think of it.

Have a look at this.
I'm not suggesting you have neuralgia(possible though) but it gives you idea of how the nerves in the face can affect the teeth, even ones that are 'dead' and should have no feeling.

My worst pain always occurs on my crowned and root teeth!

BTw, when my jaw is playing p and I get tooth ache I often become very sensitive in the crowened tooth to heat, cold, sweet foods!

Wow, that is really interesting (and a bit scary)
I don't think the pain I get is as bad as that - it's horrid but it isn't what I'd call excruciating, at the moment.
But I'll keep it in mind as a possible cause.

Sorry to hear what happened with your jaw. Is anything being done about it?

Sorry x posts Herbietea.

He didn't x ray it though as it was an emergency appt, and I'm reluctant to take them if it isn't definitely needed - it doesn't feel like an infection iyswim, I've had so many and they are normally worse at night. This is just sort of odd times. It barely hurts when tapped - not like usually when you have an infection and he didn't seem sure.

I wonder if just having blocked up tubes in my ear could affect it. I still hear it kind of popping quietly now and then?

I have an alternative treatment called BOWEN, sorts me out everytime.

The thing about tmj is that the toothache it can cause can completely mimic proper tooth ache, from the stabbing pain to acute sensitivity when touched.

it's so bizare and doesn't make sense. i've spent the last 3 years reading and reading up about it. it's become a real passion of mine! I wish more dentists/doctors were aware of the implications of tmj disorder and thnat its anifestations are not simply a bit of 'jaw ache'. I think there have been n=many a needless tooth extraction when tmj has been the cause.

There have been times when I have absolutely convinced I have a horrible tooth infection. I've had xray after x ray, tender teeth, tooth ache etc etc. The x rays have shown all to be ok!!!

Did your dentist xray your mouth or simply dole out ab's?

Yes, it could be blocked tubes, but then popping in the ear is also one of the many symptoms of tmj!!!

Oooh I've got this! In my case I know that there's a filling in that tooth and a couple of months ago the dentist tried patching it as it had a crack in it and the tooth had become sensitive. Well now I think that patch has fallen out and I have had some brief but nasty pain in it. I'm just waiting to see what happens though because last time when I went for the patch it had settled down and was painfree anyway. Like lots of pain I've noticed that it's worse if I think about it iyswim. If I calmly 'think' it away it goes. It's definately not infected - bacteria doesn't repond to thought power!

Oh and Herbietea that's very interesting too because my sinuses have been playing up and now I've got a cold!

Thankyou both, Kitty I hope you don't suffer too badly now you have the new treatment.

Herbie, I know - I really thought he would x ray it. He normally does, I expect he was in a hurry or something.

The others didn't feel exactly the same but it wasn't as painful as it normally is when you have an infection iyswim - normally it throbs at night and so on when that happens. It almost feels like it could be a gum problem?

If it starts to hurt more I'll either go back or take the tablets, I had C diff last year so am a bit wary of antibiotics now - also I don't really get on with eyrthromycin!

Thanks for your help, I really appreciate it. I have to have a crown prep soon so will ask then if it's still lingering.

It's upper right 5 btw

Agree with herbietea [another qualified DN here] the first thing to look for if a tooth is sens to hot & cold is nerve involvement.

If you have an RCT already, then a re-infection is a good possibility! Either that, or it could be the tooth next door, on either side. Without an xray you cannot pin point, even with TTP, as the pain can be transfered.

I would take the ABs & review. The thing with an untreated infection on the apex [tip of the root] is that it can [obv] get worse & then that might involve either 1] going in through the crown & re treating or 2] an apicectomy [cutting a flap in the gum, drilling away bone & going in to drain it at the source. Neither are great choices!

Take the ABs & hope for the best in the short term, IMO.

Thanks Sandcastles, it's good to hear from professionals and I got two on one thread!!

I have another crown behind it (a gold one) which may be the problem then...also the one in front, I think is another (yes I know )

He's threatened me with an apicectomy for a front tooth before but that calmed down too...it doesn't sound much fun

I think I read that the a/b's are not that effective though long term - I mean, it might still easily come back if I take this course?

It's such a risk taking anything, it was antibiotics that caused my problems last year and it was awful. I only want to take them if I know it's worth it iyswim...I can cope with a bit of short term sensitivity/pain. Perhaps he might do an x ray when I have my crown prep. At least we'll know then if it's an infection or not.

Thanks again x