A severe toothache can be painful and worrisome. The tooth or affected area may throb, ache, or swell and cause difficulty eating, talking, and sleeping. So, it is important to consider what to do, how to get the best toothache relief, and when to seek treatment with a regular or emergency dentist.
Here we answer your toothache questions and guide you towards the best course of action.
To begin, we should identify the possible causes of tooth pain. Toothache can be caused by:
- Tooth decay or cavities
- Oral trauma (cracked, knocked out, or damaged teeth)
- Dental abscesses
- Broken or loose fillings
- Issues with braces
- Prolonged tooth grinding (bruxism)
- Infections
You can protect against toothache by maintaining healthy gums and teeth. Brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, having regular check-ups, flossing, and reducing your sugary drink and food consumption all help you avoid toothache.
The Best Pain Relief For Toothache
If you have a severe toothache, you may want to treat the pain before your dentist’s appointment and receiving emergency dental care. You can ease pain by:
- Taking paracetamol or ibuprofen, following your pharmacist’s advice
- Using a pain-relieving gel
- Rinsing your mouth with salt water (not appropriate for children)
- Consuming soft foods such as eggs or yoghurt
- Using an ice pack
- Avoiding eating or drinking very cold or hot food
- Avoiding smoking
When You Should Seek Treatment
You should seek toothache treatment from a dentist if:
- You have severe toothache for more than two days
- Your jaw or cheek is swollen
- You have pain that doesn’t go away when you take painkillers
- You have a high temperature and red gums, pain when you bite, or a bad taste in your mouth
Do not put off seeing a dentist if you have a tooth that is causing a considerable amount of pain. Ignoring the problem may lead to more costly complications. The people who work in dental clinics are experts in ensuring your comfort and providing fast and effective relief of painful symptoms.
The dentist will identify the cause of the severe toothache and the course of action to resolve the problem. If an infection is present, you may be prescribed a course of antibiotics, which will need to be completed before further treatment is possible.
Your emergency dentist has specialist equipment often unavailable in hospital emergency rooms, such as dental X-ray machines. Your dentist can best assess tooth damage or the cause of pain. If you have knocked out a tooth, you should rinse the tooth, insert it back into its socket, and arrange an emergency dental appointment.
However, if you have swelling around your neck or eyes or mouth swelling that makes it difficult to swallow, breath, or speak, you should attend A&E. If you have been in an accident and sustained multiple injuries, you should also attend a hospital.
If you have a severe toothache, you can arrange an appointment with the dentist by contacting us.
