Teething & Toothaches

What is it?

There are many reasons why your child could be feeling pain in his or her mouth.

Teething is one of the most common causes of dental pain in young children. Teething is when a child's baby or adult teeth break through the surface of the gums (erupt). At birth, infants usually have bulges of tooth buds waiting to erupt through the gums. The first teeth to erupt are often the lower incisors, or bottom front teeth, followed by the upper incisors. The other baby teeth erupt over a period of approximately 2 1/2 years. Eventually, these primary teeth are replaced by adult, or permanent, teeth. Teething is painful for young babies because the new teeth must break through the tissue of the gums. When adult teeth come in, pain is less common, although older children sometimes have discomfort too.

Children may get a toothache if they have dental decay, or cavities. Cavities start when bacteria build up in the mouth and a thin, sticky film called plaque forms around the teeth and gums. The bacteria in the plaque convert the sugars in food to acids that eat away at the tooth's protective enamel layer. Once the enamel is gone, the dentin, which surrounds the tooth's sensitive inner pulp and nerves, is exposed. Irritation to the nerves can be extremely painful.

If your child has braces, he or she may also have dental pain when they are tightened. The pressure on the teeth caused by orthodontic treatment and the presence of new appliances in the mouth can temporarily inflame tissues and tooth nerves. This pain may be worsened if your child bruxes (grinds) his or her teeth while adjusting to orthodontics.

A less common cause of dental pain in children is thrush, which is caused by an overgrowth of the fungus Candida in the mouth.