You’ll eventually need to see a dentist. But, there are a few home treatments you may try to relieve tooth and gum pain until you can see a dentist.
Dental discomfort can be caused by anything from a seed lodged in a molar to a major illness that necessitates surgery. Thus, if you’re having tooth discomfort, schedule an appointment with your dentist to get it looked out. Delaying treatment may need more comprehensive — and costly — treatment, according to Efrain Coronado, DDS, a Tucker, Georgia-based dentist.
Dental Emergency Services
A toothache, according to Dr. Coronado, should always be assessed by a dentist as soon as feasible. If the pain arises on a weekend, a holiday, or in the middle of the night, contact your dentist’s office and ask if an answering service can direct you to an emergency dentist. If an infection is detected, a dentist from the practice may accept your call and prescribe you an antibiotic. Even if it relieves the discomfort, you should schedule an in-person consultation as soon as possible to treat the underlying issue.
Another alternative is to check online for a nearby emergency dental facility. If there is no local clinic, your dentist does not accept emergency calls, and the pain is intense, Coronado recommends traveling to the emergency hospital for pain treatment. But, keep in mind that you will still want a follow-up consultation so that a dentist can inspect and treat the tooth condition.
As You Wait for Your Appointment at Home
If your dental appointment is a few hours or a day away and you’re in agony, there are a few things you may do at home to relieve the pain.
For one thing, cold meals and drinks can aggravate discomfort from a cavity, fractured tooth, or exposed nerve, so avoid them. Furthermore, avoid chewing on the painful tooth to avoid exacerbating the discomfort.
Pain relievers can be useful, but they should only be used for a brief period of time. Popping them for days may make the pain go away, but it will also delay you from going to the dentist to discover and treat the source of the discomfort. When used over a lengthy period of time, pain medications can potentially have undesirable side effects.
Rinse with saltwater
According to Howard Pollick, MPH, bachelor of dental surgery, professor of preventive and restorative dentistry at the University of California, San Francisco, a saltwater solution can assist gently rinse away food particles that are caught between your teeth and may be causing the pain.
12 teaspoon salt in a cup of warm water, swirl it about in your mouth for 30 seconds, then spit it out. This may be done two or three times a day and can help relieve pain from canker sores and irritated gums.
Compressing Cold
A cold compress can assist blood vessels surrounding an injury contract, which might relieve discomfort if you’ve experienced an accident, such as a fall that involved a hit to the lips. Wrap a towel over ice or a cold pack and apply to the afflicted region for 15 to 20 minutes at a time. Continue the process for numerous hours.
Tea Bags for Bleeding
Tannins in black tea bags can help halt bleeding in the mouth and may also reduce edema. This can assist alleviate discomfort before and after a dental appointment, as well as after an extraction or operation.
According to Dr. Pollick, if some little bleeding occurs after a tooth is extracted, biting down lightly on a wet tea bag for 5 to 15 minutes exerts pressure to assist minimize swelling and facilitate blood clotting.
“But, if the bleeding worsens after a few attempts, consult with your dentist,” Pollick advises.
Don’t Limit Yourself to Home Care
“A tooth doesn’t just hurt for no reason,” explains Linda Rasubala, DDS, PhD, an associate professor of clinical dentistry at the University of Rochester Medical Center in New York.
Even if your toothache improves with home treatment, she recommends visiting a dentist. According to Dr. Rasubala, tooth pain might be an indication of dental decay or an abscess, both of which require treatment before they worsen.
Erin Balsa is a highly skilled and knowledgeable health journalist with a passion for educating the public on important health and wellness topics. With extensive experience in both traditional and digital media, Erin has established herself as a trusted voice in the field.