TOOTHACHE

or Tooth Pain, or Odontalgia, or Odontalgy, or Dental Pain

A toothache is an throbbing pain in or around the tooth. Severe pain may be considered as a dental emergency.



Toothache Causes

Tooth decay is the most frequent origin of dental pain.

Gum disease is the second most common cause of tooth pain.

Teething in babies and young children can often cause milk or primary tooth pain. This starts just about 6 months and can extend as the adult or permanent teeth begin to succeed.

The Most Common Complications and Problems

Dental pain can be worse when you are eating, chewing or drinking hot or cold food. The tooth pain can also get extreme when you lie down.

The jaw around the tooth may be sore and tender to the touch. Swelling, pain when you bite, a foul-taste and redness point toward infection, a dental abscess leading to Tooth Extraction.

Tooth pain sometimes expands to the jaw, in your head, eye and ear (look at Wisdom Tooth) Dental pain could be constant or comes and goes.

Pain sometimes originates from other areas of the body and spreads out to the jaw, seems to be toothache. The most common areas include ear and sinuses infection, arthritis of the temporo-mandibular joint (TMJ or the jaw joint), and even occasional heart problems.

Dental Pain Treatment

Your Dentist is a correct person to see for safe dental pain relief. Timely dental treatment should provide a positive conclusion for dental pain.

• Toothache is very severe
• You have a fever (over 100°F, or 37.8°C)
• Your face is swollen
• You have the pain initiating from another area
• You have trouble breathing or swallowing

Call your Dentist during office hours if:

• Toothache persists for more than a day or two
• You have other toothache situations or questions

Home Remedy for Toothache

While you are waiting for an appointment with your dentist, try these self-protection tips for toothache:

Over-the-counter (OTC) pain medications or Painkillers may be used for temporary pain relief. Take these as directed on the package and around the clock. Do not overdosing on these generic drugs:

• ASPIRIN, IBUPROFEN, KETOPROFEN, NAPROXEN SODIUM, ACETAMINOPHEN

If face is swollen, apply a cold compress or ice pack on the jaw for 20 minutes.

Avoid very cold or hot foods or drinks because this could make toothache worse.

• rinse the mouth vigorously with warm salt water
• apply toothpaste reducing tooth hypersensitivity
• use dental floss to dislodge trapped food or debris
• if a tooth cavity is visible, clean it very gently with a toothpick or water in a syringe
• DO NOT place ASPIRIN or another Painkiller on the gum or on the aching tooth. It may burn your gum

Apply Over-the-counter (OTC) local pain relief medications:

• put dental products containing Oral Anesthetic BENZOCAINE directly to the irritated tooth and gum
• place a few drops with EUGENOL into the tooth cavity only

A holistic approach may be helpful for temporary pain relief:

• Oil of Cloves (Syzygium aromaticum) may be added to a small cotton pellet that is then placed into or over a hole in the tooth

Homeopathic products can also be effective as a toothache remedy:

• ACONITUM - ARNICA - BELLADONNA - CHAMOMILLA - COFFEA - HEPAR SULPHUR - HYPERICUM - MERCURIUS - NUX MOSCHATA - PLANTAGO - RUTA - STAPHYSAGRIA

Aleksandr V. Melekhin, DDS

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