What affects over 20% of the population and costs Americans over $32 billion each year? The answer is orofacial pain (also known as toothaches). People with toothaches generally have one chief concern: finding relief. While severity ranges, a toothache can be a relentless annoyance that can ruin your day or keep you up at night. Here are some ways to handle toothaches at home and how dental health professionals handle them in-office:
Home Remedies
Before visiting the dentist, here are three at-home remedies that you can try to relieve discomfort in the comfort of your own home:
- Apply a cold compress.
Keeping a cold compress on the cheek for 15 minutes or holding ice in the mouth for several seconds can numb the area and reduce inflammation.
- Take over-the-counter medications.
Medicines that target inflammation (NSAIDs) can help relieve discomfort. Additionally, people can directly apply certain gels (Orajel) to numb the tooth and gums.
- Rinse mouth out with a solution.
A rinse can serve three purposes: (1) to dislodge substances stuck between teeth, (2) kill oral bacteria, and (3) reduce inflammation. Here are two recipes for popular rinses:
- Saltwater: Mix ½ teaspoon of salt with warm water.
- Hydrogen Peroxide: Mix one part 3% hydrogen peroxide with two parts water.
Directions: Gargle, rinse, and do not swallow the solutions (like a mouthwash).
Professional Care
When should you visit the dentist for a toothache? Toothaches are considered a dental emergency when the toothache:
- Lasts longer than one or two days
- Causes severe pain
- Prompts fever, earache, or discomfort when the mouth is opened widely
- Sparks swelling in the face or mouth
Step 1: The dentist identifies the cause and severity.
The dental team asks questions about when the pain started, the location of the discomfort, and the severity level. Additionally, they perform a physical exam and potentially take x-rays of the mouth. Depending on how intense the pain is, a toothache can be a manifestation of any of the following dental problems:
- Emerging teeth (in young children or wisdom teeth in older teens)
- Food accidentally wedged between the teeth (can exasperate the tooth roots and gums)
- Dental decay, damage, or erosion
- Missing or absent dental fillings
Step 2: The dentist decides on treatment.
The dentist will solidify a treatment plan based on the cause and severity of your toothache:
- Cavity: If tooth decay generates toothache, the dentist may fill the cavity or remove the tooth.
- Infected tooth pulp: The dentist may recommend a root canal if the inner tooth (pulp) is infected. The dentist removes the infected pulp. Then, he or she replaces it with a sealing material and strengthens the tooth with a dental crown.
- Gum infection or disease: Dentists use scaling and root planing to deep clean the gums and prevent the spread of gum infections and diseases. Thankfully, gingivitis, the initial stage of gum disease, is reversible. However, further therapy may be needed if your gums are past the gingivitis stage of periodontal disease.
- Impacted teeth: When a tooth is trapped beneath the bone or gums and is not emerging correctly, it becomes impacted. Wisdom teeth (or third molars) commonly become impacted.
Need Toothache Pain Relief Now? Contact Us Immediately.
Although toothaches can cause unbearable pain, they should be relieved after treatment. Also, prompt and proper diagnosis and treatment can prevent oral infections from spreading into other parts of the face or bloodstream.
Dr. Glud helps alleviate discomfort and inhibits the spread of infection associated with toothaches. If you are suffering from severe tooth pain, contact our office by calling 630-629-5700 or messaging us online now so that we can respond and treat your toothache as quickly as possible.
