Mystery recurring toothache

[Thiophilos]

I had a toothache about a week ago involving the two bicuspids on the lower right. Couldn't sleep. I couldn't chew on the teeth. The teeth were very sensitive to tapping. It's not clear which tooth is the most sensitive. The gums are fine - I can floss no problem. There are no symptoms around the jaw.

I don't know if it is significant, but just prior to the pain, I had food stuck between the two bicuspids for a couple of hours. It was uncomfortable but common enough I would have thought, but this time there was the ache that happened afterwards. Red herring?

Went to the dentist - x-rays indicate no cavity and no infection. I endured the condition for 3 days to see if it would clear up on its own, but it did not. I then took amoxicillin and it is effective. After 3 days of the antibiotic, I'm pain free and have hardly any symptoms any more.

The weird thing is that I had a very similar episode about 7 years ago, involving the same two teeth. It was an emergency then because I was going on vacation the next day. I saw an endodontist who did a root canal on the second bicuspid - but never said that he was sure about which tooth was the problem or what exactly the issue was. Anyway, I had no pain after the procedure - until the apparent recurrence a week ago.

I'm wondering what the next steps should be, and where to look for a permanent solution. Or perhaps it won't happen often and I just need to do amoxicillin every time it flares up.

I believe my dental professionals are highly qualified.

Thanks for any insights.

Thiophilos

 

[markhamgatewaydentistry]

Recurring toothaches are tricky - could be anything from a small cavity to grinding your teeth or even sinus issues. Best bet is to see a dentist and track when the pain happens. Don’t ignore it, teeth don’t heal themselves!

 

[Thiophilos]

Thanks. I do have some tooth abrasion from grinding. When I'm conscious of it, it is more mild chattering of the teeth. Not sure where it fits into the picture. My dentist is aware.

 

[Thiophilos]

I'm supposing there are infections that are accessible from the outside, like cavities... and infections that are not accessible from the outside, like in the pulp. Are these conditions recognized in dentistry? Do they have names?

If the infection communicates with the outside, then salt rinses should be effective to control it.

If the infection is effectively isolated, then a systemic antibiotic would be needed.