Having to deal with a toothache is not your idea of how to spend a fall day. What can contribute to this painful situation? Furthermore, if you’re facing a toothache, what can you do to decrease the discomfort and to stabilize the problem until you can receive emergency dentistry? Get the answers you’re looking for as you continue reading!
What Causes a Toothache?
In some cases, the pain from a toothache can radiate throughout the teeth, gums and jaw, so while its important to get some immediate relief, it’s also necessary to know what can contribute to the noticeable discomfort. Here are some of the possible causes:
- Broken tooth
- Gum infection
- Abscessed tooth
- A damaged filling
- Advanced tooth decay
- Teeth grinding over a prolonged period of time
If you find yourself with a toothache, the first step is to reach out to an emergency dentist to request an appointment. Then, you can take steps to decrease the pain and to prevent any further damage as best as possible.
What You Can Do at Home
It’s not always a guarantee that you can be seen by an emergency dentist immediately, so it’s best to have some ways to effectively respond to a toothache. You can start by carefully flossing around the pain site to make sure nothing is lodged between your teeth.
Here are some other ways to get some temporary relief:
- Use an over-the-counter pain reliever like ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin) or acetaminophen (Tylenol).
- Keep your head elevated to prevent blood from rushing to your mouth, which could intensify the pain.
- Avoid eating or drinking acidic or cold foods or beverages, especially before retiring for bed.
- Rinse with an alcohol-based mouthwash to disinfect and numb your teeth.
- Apply an ice-pack to the outside of your jaw to reduce the pain and any swelling.
How Your Dentist Can Help
Even if you experience some momentary relief, it’s still important that you visit your dentist for emergency care. That’s because dental problems don’t just right themselves. Even if the initial pain subsides, the issue can quietly continue to develop and fester into an even greater problem like an abscess or a lost tooth.
Visiting your dentist will also alleviate any guessing and get to the core of the problem to fully restore your oral health.
If you find yourself with a toothache that requires emergency care, it’s not the end of the world. There is help available. All you have to do is take heed to what you’ve learned and seek treatment from a qualified emergency dentist. By doing so, you can soon have your oral health restored.
About the Author
Dr. Mark M. Farthing is a graduate of Indiana University School of Dentistry. He has since gone on to provide over 30 years of comprehensive and compassionate care. Dr. Farthing helps his patients recover from toothaches by providing superb emergency dental care at Indianapolis Family Dentistry, and he can be reached for more information through his website.