Dentist Pavel Lysenko points out that tooth pain is not always related to tooth decay or gum inflammation, but may have other causes.
He said: "One of the most serious examples is cardiovascular diseases, since in some cases of coronary artery disease, and even when a myocardial infarction occurs, the pain may spread not only to the left arm or shoulder, but also to the lower jaw, teeth and neck."
According to him, a person may sometimes think that he is suffering from tooth pain, even though the real cause is a disturbance in blood flow to the heart muscle.
He added: "The situation becomes very worrying if the pain appears during physical activity, or is accompanied by shortness of breath, cold sweats, a feeling of suffocation, or disappears after rest."
He pointed out that dentists are often the first to notice signs of some digestive system diseases.
He said: “For example, in the case of gastroesophageal reflux disease, the acidic contents of the stomach regularly reflux into the esophagus and mouth, gradually leading to the erosion of tooth enamel. The patient may complain of increased tooth sensitivity, although the problem does not lie in the teeth themselves.”
Ear, nose and throat diseases can also be a cause of tooth pain.
He said: "Patients with maxillary sinusitis often complain of pain in several upper teeth at the same time, even though the teeth themselves are healthy. This is usually accompanied by nasal congestion, a feeling of pressure in the cheek or forehead, and a runny nose."
He noted that trigeminal neuralgia can cause similar symptoms.
He said: "This condition is characterized by sharp and sudden pains, which the person often thinks are severe tooth pain. However, dental treatment in this case is not effective, because the problem is related to the nervous system."
The doctor warned that tooth pain can sometimes be associated with other conditions, such as tumors in the jaw area, salivary gland diseases, or some neurological disorders.
