Various Ways To Deal With a Toothache

A toothache can come from a cavity or an inflamed gum. There is a variety of contributing factors to an achy tooth, factors that can include trapped food or bacterial infections. Toothache pain is one of the most common reasons to seek out a dentist or dental professional. However, unless you go to an emergency dentist, you may need to schedule an appointment. 

There are a few routes we can take to relieve toothaches. Patients can go the organic and holistic route, or take over-the-counter medications. If you are experiencing tooth pain, you are not alone: Many different forms of medication have been developed to treat that issue. Depending on your level of pain, you may opt for a more natural approach to pain relief. If you are experiencing severe pain, you might want to look into something a little more substantial. 

Over-the-counter methods

If you are experiencing severe tooth pain, you may want to obtain an over-the-counter numbing gel. This approach will dull the pain, but it is important to note that it does not heal the pain. Numbing gels can only stop your ability to feel sharp pain for the duration of the gel’s effect. If you consider numbing gels as a short-term option, you will want to make sure that it has benzocaine as an active ingredient. Benzocaine will help numb the area and should provide relief shortly after application. 

If you do not want to go the numbing gel route, there are many forms of pain relievers out there,  including ibuprofen or acetaminophen, that you can get over the counter. You may have taken these in the past for a headache, but they can help alleviate tooth pain as well. This is not a permanent solution, but it will certainly help for a short time. 

Natural solutions for a toothache

Now that we have taken a look at some quick fixes for toothache pain relievers, we can also dive into a more natural approach. Depending on your pain levels, these might be sufficient in helping your pain subside. You can also opt for a combination of natural and over-the-counter medications to administer pain relief fast. 

If your toothache is closer to your cheeks/jaw, a cold compress for 20 minutes will help alleviate discomfort. This will constrict blood vessels linked to your pain, and should hopefully provide relief. Apply the cold compress before bed, to help relieve pain before you try to fall asleep for the night. 

One of the reasons this method of pain relief works is that pain can be caused by blood rushing to inflamed areas. This is your body’s natural response, and a cold compress, along with sitting upright or keeping your head and torso elevated, should help alleviate pain. 

Other pain-relieving alternatives

Other alternative methods for toothache relief include items you might already have in your kitchen cabinets. For example, it is believed that peppermint can help alleviate pain. We would recommend peppermint tea, something you can sip throughout the day. This should help relieve your toothache for a short time. In addition, you can always try a salt water rinse.

Eating with a toothache

We recommend eating softer foods until you can get to the dentist. Think of foods like applesauce, pudding, smoothies and mashed potatoes. If you can manage to eat solid foods regularly, you should continue to do so. If you are, however, avoiding foods due to tooth pain, seek an emergency dental professional when you can. 

Now that you have all the tools to help relieve tooth pain, it is time to consider scheduling an appointment with a dentist. Your dentist will be able to treat pain at the root, rather than simply providing temporary relief for a permanent problem. If you have any questions — or if you’d like to set up an appointment — feel free to give us a call at 702-852-2829.