Oral pain can happen for a lot of different reasons. Take note of some details of pain you’re feeling, like whether it’s dull, sharp, or throbbing. Also take notice of when the pain occurs, such as when you bite down. Your dentist will have a number of ways to identify any problems, but extra information can help solve the issue more quickly. Common causes for toothaches include: tooth decay gum disease inflammation of tooth pulp (the tissue in the center of your tooth) Impacted teeth (often caused by wisdom teeth) Dental abscess (a serious infection).