When you have a toothache, it is an indication that something is wrong with your teeth or their roots, and you should see a dentist to determine the cause. There may be some cases in which pain in your teeth or gums is coming from another source, but if a toothache is persistent or comes back, you should see a dentist as soon as possible. In the meantime, there are ways that you can lessen your pain while you are waiting for your dental appointment.
Over the counter toothache medications can give quick relief, but usually the pain returns very soon. These are topical medicines that simply numb the area where you are feeling the pain, and while they can provide complete relief for a few minutes, frequent reapplication would be needed to keep the pain away for any length of time.
Pain relieving medications that you take for headaches can also work for toothache pain. These medications work by blocking your body’s response to pain, and they are able to lessen or prevent pain temporarily anywhere in your body. If you choose to take a pain medication for a toothache, take it as soon as possible when you start to feel the pain, because the preventative action of these medications is often more effective than their ability to stop pain that is already severe.
There are many so-called home remedies for toothache pain that are actually known to be effective. Rinsing with a mixture of salt water and peroxide cleans your mouth and can provide some relief, and using an ice pack or even a bag of frozen vegetables to numb the area can dull the pain. A warm teabag on the painful area can soothe your gums and reduce swelling. An old remedy involves chewing on a garlic clove for toothache pain. If this is unappealing, you can substitute with garlic oil on a cotton ball and place it near the affected tooth.
The most common cause of toothache is infection, which is caused by the buildup of bacteria. Good oral hygiene practices that include brushing twice a day and flossing at least once a day can greatly reduce the occurrence of toothaches. You should see the dentist for checkups twice a year so that problems can be corrected as soon as they arise.
