Pain around the teeth and the jaws can be symptoms of diseases of the heart such as angina or heart attack, ear infections, and even a sinus infection.  The pain of angina is usually located in the chest or the arm. However, in some patients with angina, a toothache or jaw pain are the only symptoms of their heart problem.  Since infections and diseases of the ears and sinuses can also cause pain around the teeth and jaws, evaluations by both dentists and doctors become necessary to diagnose medical illnesses causing “toothache.”

Dental cavity is the most common cause of toothache. Dental cavities are holes in the two outer layers of a tooth called the enamel and the dentin. These layers serve to protect the inner lining of the tooth tissue called the pulp, where blood vessels and nerves reside. Bacterial infections in the mouth convert simple sugars into acid which softens and dissolves the enamel and dentin, thus, creating cavities. Small shallow cavities usually do not cause pain and may be unnoticed by the patient.  It is the larger deeper cavity that becomes irritated by bacterial toxins when food debris collect causing toothache.  Foods that are cold, hot, sour, or sweet can also cause pain.

Dental filling is usually the treatment for small and shallow cavities, while larger cavity involves an on-lay or crown.  For cavities that have penetrated and injured the pulp, treatment requires either a root canal procedure or extraction of the affected tooth.  Pulp injury can lead to the death of pulp tissue, resulting in tooth infection or dental abscess.  The root canal procedure involves removing the dying pulp tissue and replacing it with an inert material to save the dying tooth from extraction.

Gum disease or gingivitis is considered to be the second most common cause of toothache characterized by the inflammation of the soft tissue and abnormal loss of bone that surrounds the teeth and holds them in place.  This condition is caused by toxins secreted by bacteria in “plaque” that accumulate over time along the gum line.   Gum bleeding without pain is an early symptom of this disease while pain is of more advanced gum disease symptom as the loss of bone around the teeth leads to the formation of gum pockets.  Advanced gum disease can cause loss of otherwise healthy teeth.

Early gum disease is treatment involves oral hygiene and removal of bacterial plaque. Thorough cleaning of the teeth and teeth roots called “root planing” and “subgingival curettage.” Root planing is the removal of plaque and tartar from exposed teeth roots while subgingival curettage refers to the removal of the surface of the inflamed layer of gum tissue.  Both of these procedures are usually performed under local anesthesia and may be accompanied by the use of oral antibiotics to overcome gum infection or abscess. Follow-up treatment may include various types of gum surgeries. In advanced gum disease with significant bone destruction and loosening of teeth, teeth splinting or teeth extractions may be necessary.

THINGS YOU SHOULD EAT TO REDUCE RHEUMATISM

Fish, espesially fat fish, fish oil, olive oil, walnut oil and raps oil should be a part of your diet. The fat in these types of food, omega-3-poly-unsaturated fat or omega-9-poly-unsaturated fat,  reduces inflammation. However, if you add these type of oils to your diet, you should reduce the intake of other types of fat, so that you do not get too much fat.
You should also eat much vegetables, since also these make a body chemistry that reduce inflammation.

THINGS YOU SHOULD NOT EAT TOO MUCH OF

Do not consume much soya oil and corn oil, since these types of fat increase inflammation. Most food you buy that is ready to eat from the factory or restaurant contain these types of fat. You should therefore reduce the consumption of food you do not cook yourself.

Bread, cereals and products  made of corn or cereals also increase the inflammation responce, especially if they contain wheat. Wheat causes a special type of inflammation in the intestines called celiac disease in some individuals, but may also trigger inflammation  of non-celiac type. However, full-corn cereals and full-corn bread are valuable types of food, so you should not stop eating them. But if you eat bread or corn products at every meal, you should reduce your intake of these and eat more potatos, beans and peas.

THINGS YOU SHOULD IDEALLY NOT EAT AT ALL

You should absolutely not consume fat that has been chemically altered to give it another consistence. This type of fat has a very negative effect on the health and may be very potent inflamatory agents. Margarine, snacks, fast food and ready made cakes or cookies often contain this kind of fat. Unfortunately this type of fat is also often added to bread. A good idea could be to bake your bread yourself.