Navigating Healthcare: A Guide to Modern Medicine and Wellness

Common Causes of a Toothache

Causes of a ToothacheMost people throughout the country have experienced the pain of a toothache at one time or other in their lives. However, just because a toothache is a fairly common occurrence, does not mean that it isn’t all that big a deal, especially if you’re the person who’s experiencing it. What causes a toothache is one of the most commonly asked dental health questions patients pose to their dentists, and some of the answers may surprise you. Of course, everybody knows that a toothache can be caused by all manner of dental health issues, from cavities and other types and degrees of tooth decay, to chips and cracks in the teeth, to exposed nerve roots. But did you know that the cause of a toothache could be an ear infection or that chronic sinus problem you’ve been enduring? Following are answers to questions about some of the most common causes of toothaches, as well as tips on preventing them.

The Structure of the Jaw

Structure of The JawEveryone knows that the jaw is an extremely important part of the human body. Most of us do not think much about our mouths … it’s just a given that we can eat and speak. There’s a lot going on in the human jaw, and a lot that can go wrong if jaw health is not optimal.

The jaw, or ‘mandible,’ is the only part of the face that can move. Without this capacity, of course, we would not be able to eat. And, regardless of what acclaimed ventriloquist Jeff Dunham (especially well known to Floridians) and his famed puppet characters might say, without the capacity of the mandible to move, humans also would not be able to speak. The lower mandible, the movable part, holds the lower teeth in place, while the upper mandible holds the upper teeth in place but does not move. The structure of this part of anatomy is one of the most fascinating in human biology.