When you are experiencing a toothache, the last thing you want is to simply have to live with the pain until you are able to make it into the dental office. Fortunately, there are many strategies for handling a toothache. This can help to ensure that you can remain comfortable until your appointment time. A visit to our office at Mills River Family Dental can help to ensure that we can identify the cause of your toothache. This will ensure that the appropriate treatments can be provided in order to restore the health of your teeth and alleviate your residual discomfort. If you are handling a toothache, you should contact our office for superior guidance and to schedule an appointment.
Prevention of Toothaches
It is absolutely essential that you care for your teeth and keep them healthy. When you fail to provide this, it is highly likely that you will experience more frequent toothaches. Damage to your teeth often leads to toothaches. By caring for the teeth and eliminating these issues, you can often prevent toothaches altogether. There are several steps that you have to take in order to care for your teeth. Ensure that you floss on a daily basis, visit your dentist regularly, and brush your teeth twice a day for at least two minutes at a time. These are essential steps when you want to keep your teeth healthy and in good condition. Without these steps, you are far more likely to see oral health issues that can be painful and lead to toothaches.
Actions to Avoid
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When you are handling a toothache, there are several things that you will want to avoid in order to prevent experiencing higher levels of pain. For example, when you chew on the side of your mouth where the toothache is present, the pressure can cause sharp escalations of the pain. You should also take care to avoid food or beverages that are particularly hot or cold. By avoiding these extremes, you can help to avoid excessive amounts of pain. You should ensure that you still care for your teeth when you are handling a toothache, but you will want to be particularly careful when doing so. This can help to prevent the action from causing you pain, without allowing the issue to necessarily exacerbate.
Common Causes of Toothaches
Cavities are generally the most common cause of toothaches. When you have a cavity, it is likely that the enamel layer of your teeth has worn away. When this deterioration has progressed to the point where the dentin of your tooth is exposed, it is likely to cause you substantial pain. However, cavities aren’t the only thing that can cause toothaches to arise. Other common causes of toothaches include gum disease, abscessed teeth, trauma of the jaw, and food particles that are stuck in the gums or between the teeth. In the last scenario, you may be able to resolve the issue by simply removing the food particle. However, you need to ensure that you are careful with the removal of the food particles to prevent additional damage to your teeth.
Over the Counter Pain Relievers
Pain relievers can be a great method for handling a toothache. There are multiple options available to take as pain relievers. The right method for you will likely depend on the situation. You may also want to consult your dentist prior to taking any pain relievers to ensure that it is safe for you to do so. Certain kinds of over the counter pain relievers are designed specifically for oral pain. These often need to be applied directly to the area. Other general pain relievers, like Ibuprofen or Tylenol, can aid in pain reduction and can even reduce overall swelling around the area.
Peppermint
Peppermint is commonly used as a natural remedy for relieving pain. This is due to the mild numbing properties that are possessed by peppermint. There are many ways that you can use peppermint to help reliever your pain. Peppermint leaves, peppermint extract, and peppermint tea bags can all be used in order to help relieve your discomfort and minimize your pain. If you want a natural remedy for handling your toothache, you may want to consider the use of peppermint.
See a Dentist
Dental visits are often necessary when you are handling a toothache. Toothaches tend to be caused by oral health issues, which may benefit from treatment from a dental professional. In some scenarios, you may need to obtain emergency treatments from your dentist. Contact our office as soon as possible when you have additional symptoms along with your toothache, such as trouble breathing, trouble swallowing, discharge around the tooth, swelling, or a fever. You should also consider obtaining dental treatment if your toothache lasts for longer than a few days.
Cold Compress
Ice is a traditional method for alleviating pain and discomfort. The same thing can be used to help reduce the pain from your toothache. However, you should never put the cold compress directly against your tooth. This exposure to cold temperatures can lead to extreme pain and can make the toothache much worse. Instead, place the cold compress on the side of the face, over the area where the toothache is present. You should also take care to wrap the cold compress in a cloth in order to protect your skin.
Implementing the right solutions can go a long way toward handling a toothache. These steps can minimize your discomfort and ensure that you can make it through the time until your dental appointment. When you consult with our expert team at Mills River Family Dental, you will be able to obtain the dental care that is necessary in protecting your oral health. Several of these strategies can be used to help strengthen your teeth and ensure that they remain in the best possible condition. To learn more about handling a toothache or how to protect your oral health, contact our professional team at Mills River Family Dental today!
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