In the previous issue, I talked about the causes and symptoms of a toothache. Usually you need to see your dentist at once if you have toothache. How can you alleviate the pain if you cannot see your dentist right way? In case, you are unable to schedule an emergency appointment, a self-care treatment can temporarily alleviate pain and inflammation from a toothache:
• Rinse with warm salt water.
• Floss teeth to dislodge any food particles trapped between teeth.
• Take an over-the-counter pain reliever such as aspirin, ibuprofen or acetaminophen to relieve pain. If your child has a toothache, use acetaminophen for any pain, rather than placing aspirin on the teeth or gums.
• Never put aspirin or any other pain killers against the gums near the aching tooth, as it may burn the gum tissue.
• Apply an over-the-counter antiseptic containing benzocaine directly to the irritated tooth and gum to temporarily relieve pain.
• If there has been some trauma to the tooth, a cold compress may be applied on the outside cheek to relieve pain or swelling. If your tooth has been knocked out, forced out of position, loosened or fractured, visit the dentist’s office or a hospital emergency room immediately.
How to prevent a toothache? The key to preventing toothaches is establishing a regular oral hygiene routine and sticking to it. For example, failure to brush and floss regularly after meals can significantly increase your risk of developing cavities. After you eat, bacteria in your mouth feed on sugar and starch and produce acid that can eat a hole (or cavity) in your tooth’s enamel. If the cavity is not filled, it can cause considerable pain and potentially destroy the dentin, pulp and the tooth’s nerve.
Here are a few tips to help reduce your risk for developing a toothache: brush at least twice a day, preferably after every meal and snack, floss once a day to prevent gum disease and visit your dentist twice a year, at least every six months for oral examinations and a professional cleaning.
For more information, please call Dr. Sun at 661-799-8800, visit www.DrSunDDS.com or go to her dental office at 23450 Lyons Avenue, Suite B, Newhall.