Are you suffering from a toothache? If so, you’ve probably had warning signs for some time now, but kept saying, “Oh, I’ll get around to it,” or “It’ll go away.” The issue with either way of thinking is that the problem just keeps getting worse while you delay, until one day you’ve got this full-blown pain radiating up the side of your face. But this is not the time to beat yourself up over this. You need some relief. That’s why your dentist has decided to weigh in with some information on how to ease the pain of a toothache until you can be seen.
Ways to Relieve Your Toothache at Home
A severe toothache can be considered a dental emergency. If you have one, you should first reach out to your dentist, but until you can be seen, here are some things you can do at home:
- Saltwater Rinse – Put ½ teaspoon of salt into 8 ounces of water, allow it to dissolve, swish it around in your mouth and then spit it out.
- Over-the-Counter Pain Reliever – For young children, you can administer acetaminophen (Tylenol), and adults can use a pain reliever of their choice like Ibuprofen or aspirin. Just be sure to swallow the aspirin and not try to place it on your gums, because it will irritate them.
- Cold Compress – Apply a cold compress to the outside of your jaw adjacent to wear the pain is.
- Over-the-Counter Anesthetics – A final way to get some relief is to apply pain relieving gels and liquids directly to the affected area. Be mindful, though, that they only offer temporary relief.
How to Prevent Severe Toothaches
As the old saying goes, “An ounce of prevention is worth more than 10 pounds of cure.” That means that the best way to prevent an acute situation is to schedule a visit with your dentist, so that he can nip the problem in the bud early.
In certain situations, this can determine whether your dentist can save a tooth or not. When you allow pain to intensify, that also means that the bacteria growth and tooth decay are increasing as well. So your expedience in reaching out to your dentist could mean the difference between a root canal and a tooth extraction, which could lead to other costly procedures like a dental implant to replace it.
But it’s always great to know that just about all dental maladies are preventable. That means that the whole situation could be avoided all together by maintaining semi-annual visits with your dentist in Williamstown for cleanings and examinations. Then the root canal mentioned above may never even materialize and at worst, you may need a dental filling.
You are the master of your dental fate. Take control today and reach out to your local professional to protect your oral health for years to come.
About the Author
Earning his dental degree from Temple University, Dr. Wael Kassem is dedicated to providing his patients with exceptional care using some of today’s most modern equipment. He practices at iSmile Dental Arts and can be reached for more information through his website.
