Are you lately experiencing tooth pain? Toothache is a way of your body communicating to you that your dental health needs attention. The intensity of tooth pain can vary from very mild to severe, which can interfere with your routine and create discomfort especially while speaking and eating. Most of the visits that a dentist’s office receives are linked to an unbearable toothache that is caused by different underlying reasons.
You may not be able to rush to a dentist’s office in the middle of the night if you are going through excruciating pain, however, there are some effective home remedies that can ease it down and keep it bearable till you schedule your dental appointment.
It is strongly advised to see your dentist if the toothache persists for more than two days.
What are the symptoms of tooth pain?
Understanding the symptoms to identify the suitable line of treatment is very important. A simple tooth infection can turn life-threatening if left undiagnosed, in some cases the infection worsens and travels into the bloodstream, sending the body into shock or coma.
Your dentist may ask you a detailed series of questions to get a clear idea of the problem you are facing, however, ensure to let your dentist know if you have a constant throbbing pain in your teeth, strong headaches, foul odour from the mouth, swelling on the site of pain and high-grade fever.
The presence of these symptoms requires immediate professional dental care.
Factors causing tooth pain
There is a plethora of factors that can be the primary reason behind your toothache. Some of the most common ones are listed below.
- Your tooth is surrounded by soft gum tissue, if that tissue is infected or inflamed, it will tease your tooth causing waves of pain.
- Poor oral hygiene is the basic culprit that gives way to the majority of dental issues including bad cavities and heavy plaque build-up.
- Nutritional deficiencies deprive your teeth of basic nutrients causing weak structure which easily gets damaged and fractured.
- Dental abscesses and gum infections that have not been treated
- Extreme tooth sensitivity causes teeth to be painful to hot/cold sensations.
- Dental fillings and appliances (e.g. crowns, bridges etc.) that have not been renewed or have fallen off.
- Sinus infection can also trigger toothache pain mostly in the upper part of your jaw which is near the cheekbone where the sinus is present.
- Eruption of a wisdom tooth can also cause bad tooth pain especially if it is an ingrown one
- The habit of grinding and clenching teeth damages the outer enamel of the teeth over the course of time.
- Receding gums, shrink and expose the sensitive part of the tooth making it prone to damage.
How to stop tooth pain fast?
There is no perfect way to deal with a toothache at home but some remedies shared below for you can come in handy in times of need.
Warm Saltwater Rinse
It’s an old age wisdom to gargle with salt water for throat relief, just as it provides relief to the sore throat, it works great with teeth too.
You need to mix one teaspoon of salt with a glass of warm water and swish it in your mouth for 20 seconds. Make sure you don’t swallow and spit it out well. Saltwater is high in sodium and swallowing it can be a problem especially if you’re a patient with high blood pressure.
Garlic
Packed with antibacterial properties, garlic is a magical ingredient.
You can ground a piece of peeled garlic and apply the paste on the site of pain. If you feel uncomfortable with the raw smell of it, then you can saute it up in a few drops of olive oil and then use it when it cools down.
Clove Oil
Clove oil can relieve tooth pain within minutes. Put a few drops of clove oil on a cotton ball and smother it on the sore tooth or gum.
If you do not have clove oil, then use a piece of clove, place it on the site and press it down with your teeth.
Turmeric Paste
Turmeric paste can do wonders for your tooth even during the infection stage. A study in 2020 revealed that using turmeric paste on painful teeth worked better than most anti-inflammatory mouthwashes. It has been known to prevent gingivitis and even oral cancers.
Cold Compress
Cold compress is another very effective natural remedy. Use an ice pack with a break of 10 minutes between each application.
If an ice pack isn’t available, then you can make your own cold compress. All you need to do is wrap up ice in a clean muslin cloth or a soft face towel and press it down on the affected tooth to reduce the pain.
Over-the-counter pain medications
Your local drugstore has a variety of over-the-counter pain medications, some of which act as anti-inflammatories too. Naproxen sodium, diclofenac, paracetamol, ibuprofen and Calpol are some common ones.
You must determine the correct dosage after professional medical advice.
Lying in an elevated position
When you lie down straight the blood rushes quickly towards your head, putting pressure on the nerve endings of the tooth that are already inflamed. Keeping a little high pillow will elevate your head and provide you with some pain relief.
If you still experience sharp pain after trying these remedies then do not delay the visit to your dentist.
Peppermint tea
Peppermint contains menthol which is a soothing agent, especially for gums and tooth pain relief. You can place a tea bag in a cup and then once it is cooled down put that on the aching tooth. After this, you can sip the tea, keep it in your mouth for 20 seconds and spit it out. It acts as a quick pain reliever.
What will the dentist do to relieve pain?
Your dentist will begin by inquiring about your general health and asking questions about specific diseases if you have any health issues like high blood pressure and diabetes.
Diabetes and high blood pressure put you at a higher risk of inflamed gum disease and over bleeding in case of any surgical procedure.
Testing such as a dental x-ray can be recommended to have a clear picture of any internal dental damage. The dentist checks your sinuses, throat, ears and complete jaw to ensure nothing is neglected before giving a clear diagnosis.
Treatments for toothache
Treatments for toothache are administered by your dentist after coming to a conclusion on the cause of pain. For example, if you have a dental cavity, then your dentist will suggest a filling.
If you have a damaged or broken tooth, then restoring the tooth using a crown would be suitable. A root canal can also be advised if there is an infection in the tooth’s nerves and in some cases tooth extractions too.
Non-invasive treatment includes the prescription of antibiotic tablets/gels or pain-relieving strong drugs.
How can you avoid toothache pain?
A lot of dental problems including tooth pain come down to having no oral hygiene. You can start with basic hygiene practices such as brushing and flossing.
- Brushing twice a day with a high-strength fluoride toothpaste and flossing before bedtime can do wonders for your oral hygiene.
- Mouthwashes are also great for the removal of bacteria that causes tooth decay.
- Regular yearly dental visits will save you the hassle of extreme toothache as well as money. A basic check-up can highlight any minor issues before they become major ones.
- Maintain a healthy lifestyle by consuming less sugar and eliminating processed fruit juice from your diet.
- Take age-appropriate multivitamins. Teeth also grow weaker with age, so in order to keep them in good shape, you must make sure you fulfil your body’s nutritional needs to avoid any health issues resulting from weakness and deficiencies.
What not to do?
Don’t use Aspirin directly
Some quick tips to cure toothache fast recommend placing aspirin directly on the tooth or sore gums. It is not a good idea and may worsen the symptom since it contains caustic soda and can burn the gum tissue.
Avoid acidic juices or food
During a toothache, any intake of acidic food will be followed by more painful stinging. Avoid orange juice, grapefruit juice, carbonated sodas and tomatoes.
Never pull out your own tooth
If you find your tooth to be loosened or painful, never pull it out yourself. Pulling teeth creates an open wound that exposes your jawline and inner nerves. Any infection can settle in there giving you weeks of extreme pain and heavy antibiotics.
Where to look for an emergency dentist?
There are days when the teeth seem to be remedy resistant, and for such days you need to make an urgent visit to your dentist. At Woonona Dentists you will be offered a series of professional dental services available, to choose the most suitable treatment.
The most exciting thing is that Woonona Dentists operates as a family dentistry clinic with a complete range of paediatric dentistry treatments.
You can book your appointment online or call us at (02) 4210 9078 to enjoy a confident smile.
References
Toothache home remedies
https://www.webmd.com/oral-health/home-remedies-toothache
Everything you need to know about toothaches
https://www.healthline.com/health/toothaches#causes
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