toothache

American  

[tooth-eyk] / ˈtuθˌeɪk /

noun

1. a pain in or about a tooth.

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toothache British  

/ ˈtuːθˌeɪk /

noun

1. Technical name: odontalgia.  a pain in or about a tooth

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Other Word Forms

• toothachy adjective

Etymology

Origin of toothache

before 1050; Middle English tothache, Old English tōthæce, tōthece. See tooth, ache

Explanation

A toothache is pain that you feel in your tooth or jaw, especially pain that lasts for a while. A cavity is one thing that can give you a bad toothache — so be sure to floss regularly. Breaking a tooth on a hard piece of candy, grinding your teeth at night, not going to the dentist for months, or eating too soon after dental surgery — all of these can result in a toothache. There's also the short, sharp pain of biting into something cold, which is less likely to be described as a toothache. For a true toothache, it's usually a good idea to see a dentist.

Example Sentences

It happens when a nerve is strangled by a blood vessel in the face, with it often misdiagnosed as toothache, and attacks caused by something as simple as a gust of wind.

From BBC • Feb. 3, 2026

Their attendance at hearings was intermittent and they gave excuses such as "toothache" and a "car accident" for not turning up.

From BBC • Jul. 14, 2025

Locals described the sound as similar to that of a 747 jet, or as grating as having a toothache 24 hours a day, claiming that the noise drowned out the sound of the nearby waterfalls.

From BBC • May 22, 2025

Not long ago, dentists were about as welcome as a toothache at shopping centers.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 12, 2025

Franny was now sitting with the flat of her free hand pressed against the side of her face, like someone with an excruciating toothache.

From "Franny and Zooey" by J. D. Salinger