Causes of toothaches

A toothache can be caused by a decaying, fractured, or cracked tooth, leaking filling, or exposed gums, among other causes. If you feel your tooth aching, you’ll want to get to the dentist as soon as possible so you can treat the cause of the ache. Until then, you may be able to remedy the toothache or stave off the worst of the pain with a home cure.

What to avoid

Many people feel a toothache when they eat hot, cold, or sweet foods. Especially if your toothache is caused by an irritated or exposed tooth root, direct contact with these types of foods can make the pain much stronger. Make a note of what triggers your toothache so you can let your dentist know.

Temporary symptom relief

If you’re looking for temporary relief from your symptoms, try rubbing toothpaste formulated for sensitive tooth onto the aching spot, or brush normally with it. This can take days to work, but try to keep it up if you frequently experience toothaches so you can reduce their severity and frequency over time. You can also take painkillers to help cope with the pain, though this treats just the symptom and not the cause.

Salt water rinses

Gently rinse your sore tooth with warm salt water and you may find some relief. Mix a teaspoon of salt into a cup of hot water, then use this solution two or three times a day if you find it helps. Otherwise, discontinue use, as it may not relieve all toothaches.

It’s always a good idea to see your dentist as soon as possible when you notice a tooth aching or twinging more than usual. A toothache can be a sign of a serious dental problem, and the sooner you can catch and treat it, the more convenient, inexpensive, and painless your treatment will be.

If you’re suffering from a toothache, contact your Vancouver dentist, Kerrisdale General and Cosmetic Dentistry as soon as possible – your tooth may be abscessed and require emergency dental care. Come in to Kerrisdale General and Cosmetic Dentistry to avoid complications such as surgery or a tooth extraction if you experience any type of toothache.

The good news is, there are some tried and true toothache pain relief methods and here they are, brought to you by the caring team of oral health care experts at Kerrisdale General and Cosmetic Dentistry, your Vancouver dentist.

• Cold Compress

Applying a cold compress to your jaw should alleviate a toothache. The cold reduces blood flow to the site and therefore reduces swelling and pain. Apply a cold compress as often as necessary until the pain subsides.

• Pain Medication

Pain medication can help relieve a toothache but be sure not to exceed the recommended dose. Pain relievers such as aspirin and Advil typically contain anti-inflammatory medicine which can reduce the pain and swelling associated with a toothache.

• Warm Salt Water and Baking Soda

Salt and Baking Soda combine to make an excellent anti-bacterial mouth-rise that can help reduce the amount of bacteria in your mouth and potentially reduce the swelling and pain that stems from a toothache.

• Clove Oil and Garlic

Pure clove oil, available in most drugstores, can act as a numbing agent if applied directly to the tooth. Don’t apply to the gums or apply too much as clove oil can be poisonous in too-high quantities. If you don’t want to use clove oil, a clove of garlic is an excellent substitute – simply hold it against the tooth for a few minutes and rinse with warm water afterward.

“Always consider the options available and the gravity of your situation before phoning any local emergency dental clinic.”

Emergency situations occur all the time in Vancouver. Medical emergencies are typically treated in emergency room facilities at the hospital, but how about emergency dental treatment?

If you have ever experienced a broken or knocked out tooth, you know that treatment is needed IMMEDIATELY. However, if a patient is not covered by dental insurance or cannot see a dentist, often they resort to taking emergency dental measures. It is important to understand what is an important dental emergency, and what can wait for a few hours or days.

Examples of “Not as Serious” Dental Emergencies:

• Lost fillings
• Chipped tooth
• Wisdom teeth issues
• Toothache
• Root Canal problems
• Loose Crowns
• Mouth Ulcers

With these problems, you will be able to wait until a time when you can make an appointment with us at 123 Kerrisdale Dental Centre. Take some painkillers in order to experience temporary relief.

Examples of “Serious” Dental Emergencies:

• Severe, unstoppable bleeding
• Swelling in the face or neck
• Dislocated, broken or fractured jaw
• Loss of consciousness
• Infections

In these cases, emergency dental treatment is required. These injuries may commonly occur in sporting accidents, car crashes, or children and should be taken immediately to an emergency dental facility.

These serious dental emergencies are also the only problems that require a visit to the emergency dental room. Always consider the options available and the gravity of your situation before phoning any local emergency dental clinic.

Contact us today to learn more about what to do in the case of a dental emergency.