Duncan Howard DDS

NEW PATIENTS 50% off full mouth x-rays, routine dental cleaning, exam and consultation, normally $250.00. Must mention this ad at time of making appointment.

What causes a toothache? Some common toothache causes While tooth decay is often the primary cause of a toothache, it's important for you to have a complete oral examination to determine the cause. Other causes of a toothache can include the following:... Infection Gum disease Grinding teeth (bruxism) Tooth trauma An abnormal bite Tooth eruption (in babies and school-age children) TMJ/TMD (Temporomandibular Joint Disorder), sinus or ear infections, and tension in the facial muscles can cause discomfort that resembles a toothache, but often these health problems are accompanied by a headache. Pain around the teeth and the jaws can be symptoms of heart disease such as angina. If your dentist suspects a medical illness could be the cause of your toothache, he or she may refer you to a physician. If you have a toothache, you may have a cavity or advanced gum disease. The first sign of decay may be the pain you feel when you eat something sweet, very cold or very hot. If the pulp the inside of the tooth that has tissue and nerves has become irritated, this can cause pain in your tooth.

A woman and her husband interrupted their vacation to go to the dentist. "I want a tooth pulled, and I don't want Novacaine because I'm in a big hurry," the woman said. "Just extract the tooth as quickly as possible, and we'll be on our way." The dentist was quite impressed. "You're certainly a courageous woman," he said. "Which tooth is it?" The woman turned to her husband and said, "Show him your tooth, dear."

Toothbrushes have been in existence since 3000 BC. When ancient civilizations used a "chew stick" (a thin twig with a frayed end that was rubbed against the teeth). In 1498 in China the ‘bristle toothbrush’ was invented. It was made from the stiff hairs from a hog's neck and a handle made from bone or bamboo. Boar bristles continued to be used until nylon bristles were introduced by Dupont de Nemours in 1938. It was called ‘Doctor West's Miracle Toothbrush’. William Addis of Clerkenwald, England, made the first mass-produced toothbrush about 1780.