Toothache
A toothache is pain that you feel in your tooth. It is a sign that something is wrong with your tooth or gums. It should never be ignored. Toothaches are generally not life-threatening, but sometimes they can be signs of serious conditions and need immediate medical treatment.
What does a toothache feel like?
Toothache pain can be mild or severe. It may be consistent or intermittent. If you have toothache, you feel like:
- pain or swelling in or around your tooth or gum
- tenderness in or around the tooth
- sensitivity in your tooth to hot or cold foods and drinks
- burning pain
- sharp pain when you touch your tooth
- pain when you bite food
- fever
Is the pain due to a dental cavity or something else?
If you have a toothache, it’s important to figure out what’s its root cause. Often the cause is tooth cavity or related-issues such as loose fillings etc, but there can be other reasons such as an abscess, which is a pocket of infection at the gum line or a sinus disease. These all can bring pain and cause discomfort due to sometimes unbearable pain.
What can you do to get rid of toothache immediately at home?
Try these methods at home for immediate relief:
- A regular salt water rinse
- Cold compress application can improve minor irritation
- A hydrogen peroxide rinse may help you get rid of pain and inflammation
- Peppermint tea bags can also be used to numb pain and comfort sensitive gums. Try to use a slightly warm tea bag to the affected area. But it should not be too hot.
- Garlic can kill harmful bacteria that cause plaque. It also works act as a pain reliever.
- Vanilla extract contains alcohol. It can help to numb pain. It has antioxidant properties also and works as a healer.
- Clove is available in kitchen and can numb the pain and reduce inflammation
Meet your dentist immediately
If the toothache is severe or is the result of a serious medical condition, you should meet your dentist so you can treat it properly on time.
Many pains in tooth require medical attention. You can use over-the-counter pain reliever until you see a dentist.
You should meet your dentist if you note any of the following symptoms:
- Toothache that lasts more than one or two days
- Pain when you bite food
- Red gums
- Pus in the teeth or gums
- Foul-tasting smell from mouth
- fever
Treating toothache
Toothaches generally need medical treatment. Home treatment may relieve the pain and inflammation temporarily while you wait for your dentist’s appointment.
Your dentist will likely give you painkillers and antibiotics to treat an infection and relive the pain. If your toothache is due to tooth cavity, your dentist will remove the affected teeth and fill the space with other materials. Sometimes, the affected tooth requires a minor surgery.
Read about treatment of dental cavities.
