2 dental pain issues...please read

1.) I have pain on side teeth and it travels to the left ear and down side-neck. I guess it's a nerve issue? Is it solely a tooth thing or is it something more? It brings about a feeling of aching in the ear. Any dental advice here.

2.) Also, sometimes I've been told I have cavities. Then I had cleaning, fillings, flossed daily, and brushed 3 times a day. Yet, the cavities would come back. Why? How can the cavities come back if I'm doing everything I was told to do?

[scottma]

1. You may need tosee ENT, tmj or orofacial pain specialist.
2.Occlusal intetrference may cause enamel crack and facilitate caries formation.

[mammo]

If cavities are returning in your filled teeth, then your dentist isn't getting all of the cavity prior to filling it.  Make sure you're not deficient in any vitamins or minerals, as this can weaken teeth.  With your pain on the one side, it could be an infection in a tooth, or a few other things.  Start with your dentist, and go from there.  But if cavities are returning in filled teeth, it may be time to switch dentists.

[globalastro]

1) Unfortunately, dental pain tends to travel, i dont know how many toothaches i've had that caused the whole side of my face to feel like it's been smashed with a brick.  Also, if you have an infection, it can cause swelling in all of the glands in your face including the parotid gland (which is the largest, spanning from your temple to your jaw) and your submandibular gland which is right below the jaw.  Swelling in these glands can cause pain in your neck and face. (for more info on the glands typically affected by toothaches and salivary gland infections and better descriptions of where these glands are located, go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parotid_gland )

2) Make sure that you are not brushing too much or too hard.  Also, try a different toothpaste.  Over brushing or brushing too hard can actually help to deplete the enamel which helps to prevent cavities.  My sister had a similar problem due to weak enamel through heredity and brushing too often.  Sometimes no matter how well we take care of our teeth, other factors that we do not typically think about can make it more of a hassle than others have to deal with.