How to Manage Your Child's Toothache Pain

toothache is usually the result of either a dental injury or dental caries (cavities). Dental caries is often a result of poor dental health.
What causes toothache?
Most toothaches are the result of a cavity. Sugars and starches in food are substances that cause tooth decay. Bacteria in the mouth feed on sugars and starches and produce acids that can eat through the tooth, causing tooth decay. Various types of bacteria involved in this process that can cause infection in the inside of the tooth that can spread to the jaw and face.
What are the symptoms of a toothache?
The following are the most common symptoms of a toothache. However, each child may experience symptoms differently. Symptoms may include:

• constant, throbbing pain in the teeth when chewing
• tooth is painful to touch
• pain in the tooth that worsens with hot or cold foods or liquids
• jaw in the area of ​​the teeth are sore, tender to touch and / or swelling
• fever
• malaise (generally tired and feeling bad)

How is a toothache diagnosed?
The symptoms of a toothache may resemble other medical conditions or dental problems. Always consult your child's doctor or dentist for diagnosis. A toothache is usually diagnosed based on a complete history and physical examination of your child and your child's mouth. Your pediatrician will probably refer your child to the dentist for complete evaluation and treatment. At the dentist, x-rays (a diagnostic test which uses invisible electromagnetic energy beams to produce images of internal tissues, bones, and organs to the film) from the tooth can be taken to assist in diagnosis and treatment of problems.
Treatment for toothache:
Special treatment for toothache will be determined by your child's doctor based on:

• Your child's age, overall health, and medical history
• extent of condition
• Your child's tolerance for specific medications, procedures, or therapies
• expectations for course conditions
• Your opinion or preference

Treatment may include:

• antibiotics by mouth may be prescribed
• pain medications may be prescribed
• removal of decay and fill placement (temporary or permanent)
• tooth extraction
• draining abscess, if there is
• root canal - the procedure that involves removal of damaged nerves and tissues of the tooth.

If infection is severe, the child may need to be hospitalized and receive antibiotics through a catheter (IV) infusion.