I've got (a) toothache (BE/AE)

[Mnemon]

English Vocabulary in Use book


As far as I understood "toothache" is used differently in BE and AE. In BE it's treated as an uncountable noun while AE use it countably. Is that true?

a. I've got toothache.
OR
b. I've got a toothache.

 

[5jj]

I (British) do not use the article with 'toothache'.

 

[probus]

We North Americans always include the indefinite article with toothache. Also with headache and bellyache. Except in kwitcherbellyachin'.