title: Tweeting about pain: comparing self-reported toothache experiences with those of backaches, earaches and headaches.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The authors conducted a study of tweets posted on Twitter to compare self-reported toothache experiences with those of backache, earache and headache in regard to pain intensity, action taken, perceived cause and effect of pain.
  
  
  METHODS
  From a total of 508,591 relevant tweets collected on seven nonconsecutive days, the authors randomly selected 1,204 tweets (301 per pain type) and conducted content analyses of each tweet.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Toothaches were described as having higher pain intensity than were earaches or headaches but pain intensity comparable with that of backaches. Despite people who experience toothache being more likely to seek health care than those experiencing backaches (odds ratio [OR], 3.91; 95 percent confidence interval [CI], 1.57-9.71) or headaches (OR, 6.11; 95 percent CI, 2.16-17.25), only one in 10 people with toothaches mentioned seeking health care for their pain. People with toothaches were less likely to report an effect on daily functioning compared with those with backaches (OR, 0.13; 95 percent CI, 0.03-0.56) or earaches (OR, 0.19; 95 percent CI, 0.05-0.77).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Using unsolicited self-reported data from Twitter, the authors found similarities and differences in the experiences of people with toothaches compared with those of people with other common pains. These findings offer insights into understanding dental pain and dental care utilization.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of social media, such as Twitter, to discuss health issues provides opportunities for dental professionals to better understand dental care experiences from the patients' perspective. Furthermore, social media such as Twitter offer providers the opportunity to share information with the public and to facilitate provider-patient communication.
authors: Dr. Ahlwardt was a fourth-year dental student, School of Dentistry, University of California, San Francisco, when this article was written. She now is a general practice resident, School of Dentistry, University of California, Los Angeles.
authors: Kristina
authors: K
authors: Ahlwardt
authors: Dr. Heaivilin was a general practice resident, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, California, when this article was written. She now is an assistant professor, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Dentistry, University of California, San Francisco.
authors: Natalie
authors: N
authors: Heaivilin
authors: Dr. Gibbs is an assistant professor, Department of Endodontics, College of Dentistry, New York University, New York City.
authors: Jennifer
authors: J
authors: Gibbs
authors: Mr. Page is a software developer, Datajockey.org, New York City.
authors: Jens
authors: J
authors: Page
authors: Dr. Gerbert is a professor emeritus, Department of Preventive and Restorative Dental Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of California, San Francisco.
authors: Barbara
authors: B
authors: Gerbert
authors: Dr. Tsoh is an associate professor, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, 401 Parnassus Ave., Box 0984-TRC, San Francisco, Calif. 94143, e-mail jtsoh@lppi.ucsf.edu. Address correspondence to Dr. Tsoh.
authors: Janice Y
authors: JY
authors: Tsoh
mesh_terms: D001416:Back Pain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004433:Earache / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006261:Headache / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010147:Pain Measurement; D057566:Self Report; D061108:Social Media; D014098:Toothache / Q000503:physiopathology*
keywords: Toothache; Twitter messaging; dental care utilization; dental public health; orofacial pain; social media