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from the Academy of General Dentistry


Friday, July 4, 2025
Know Your Teeth Academy of General Dentistry Know Your Teeth

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What Causes a Toothache?

 
Chapter: Prevent Toothaches

The key to preventing toothaches is establishing a regular oral hygiene routine and sticking to it. For example, failure to brush and floss regularly after meals can significantly increase your risk of developing cavities. After you eat, bacteria in your mouth feed on sugar and starch and produce acid that can "eat" a hole (or cavity) in your tooth's enamel. If the cavity is not filled, it can cause considerable pain and potentially destroy the dentin, pulp and the tooth's nerve.

 

 

Here are a few tips to help reduce your risk for developing a toothache:

 

  • Brush at least twice a day, preferably after every meal and snack.
  • Floss once a day to prevent gum disease.
  • Visit your dentist twice a year for oral examinations and a professional cleaning.

Reviewed: January 2012