Phrases › At the Dentist › Questo dente mi fa male quando mangio.

Questo dente mi fa male quando mangio.

This tooth hurts when I eat.

Pronunciation

KWAN-do — 'qu' is always pronounced 'kw' in Italian. MAN-jo — 'gi' before vowel is soft.

When to use it

Describe the triggering condition of the pain. Important diagnostic information for the dentist.

What it means

'Quando mangio' (when I eat) is a subordinate time clause. You can substitute 'mangio' with other activities: 'quando bevo qualcosa di freddo' (when I drink something cold), 'quando mordo' (when I bite), 'quando mastico' (when I chew). This helps the dentist identify the cause.

Variations

Mi fa male quando bevo qualcosa di freddo.

It hurts when I drink something cold.

Classic symptom of tooth sensitivity — 'sensibilità dentale'

Ho i denti sensibili al caldo e al freddo.

I have teeth sensitive to hot and cold.

Describe temperature sensitivity — common with exposed dentin

Mi fa male quando premo sul dente.

It hurts when I press on the tooth.

Could indicate a cracked tooth or abscess

Mini Dialogue

— Dove le fa male esattamente? — Questo dente qui, in fondo. Mi fa male soprattutto quando mangio cose dolci e fredde. — Da quanto tempo? — Circa un mese, ma adesso è peggiorato. — Vediamo. Apra bene la bocca. Sì, sembra che ci sia una carie profonda. — È grave?

— Where exactly does it hurt? — This tooth here, in the back. It hurts especially when I eat sweet and cold things. — Since when? — About a month, but it has gotten worse now. — Let us see. Open your mouth wide. Yes, it looks like there is a deep cavity. — Is it serious?

Cultural Note

Tooth decay ('carie') is one of the most common dental problems in Italy. Italian dental statistics show that adults average 4-5 decayed or missing teeth. The Italian health authorities recommend brushing twice daily with fluoride toothpaste ('dentifricio al fluoro') and flossing daily. School dental programmes check children's teeth periodically in public schools.

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