toothache

A toothache is pain in or around a tooth. It may feel sharp, throbbing, or constant, and it can come from a cavity, an infection, a cracked tooth, or irritated gums. Sometimes the pain stays in one spot, and sometimes it seems to spread through part of the jaw. In everyday life, the word usually refers to a real dental problem that needs care, even if home remedies give short-term relief.

A toothache is pain in or around a tooth, and sometimes in the nearby gum or jaw. It is usually caused by a dental problem such as tooth decay, an infection, a cracked tooth, a loose filling, or gum disease. The pain may be mild and annoying, or strong enough to make eating, drinking, sleeping, or even talking difficult. Some people feel a steady dull ache, while others feel a sharp pain that gets worse when they bite down or when something hot, cold, or sweet touches the area.

In most cases, the word is used literally to describe a problem with a tooth or the tissues around it. People may also use it a little more loosely for pain that feels like it is coming from a tooth, even before they know the exact cause. In conversation, it often suggests not just pain but a problem that should not be ignored, because the cause may get worse without treatment.

The word can also appear in a figurative way. For example, someone might say that a dessert, a love story, or a very sweet song "gives me a toothache" when they mean it feels overly sweet or sentimental. Even so, the main meaning is still the simple everyday one: an aching pain in or around a tooth.