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Den's Dental Blog

Hello! My name is Den. This blog is going to cover a range of dental topics. I am not a dentist or a dental nurse but I have recently undergone a lot of dental treatment. This treatment has given me a great insight into the world of dentistry and I would like to share everything I have learnt with you here. Last year, I developed terrible pain in my mouth. I was diagnosed with severe tooth decay. The dentist removed the problem teeth and then inserted false ones in their place. He also whitened my teeth to improve my smile. I hope you find my blog useful.

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Den's Dental Blog

Dealing With A Toothache

by Myrtle Banks

When it comes to dental emergencies, a quick response is always the key to preventing the loss of your tooth and reducing pain.  A toothache is one of the dental emergencies you may have to deal with. It can be mild or severe depending on the underlying issue. It can be a result of a range of dental issues such as a cavity in your tooth, a cracked or chipped tooth or filling, or sensitivity resulting from the thinning of the enamel or receding gums. Since a toothache can be excruciatingly painful, it is important to know what you can do to ease the pain while you're on your way to an emergency dentist. Here's more on this.

Take Some Painkillers

Over-the-counter painkillers or relievers can work to ease the pain. They will work by reducing inflammation around the affected tooth. Therefore, always have some painkillers in your home for such emergency purposes.

Apply a Cold Compress

The next thing you want to do is apply a cold compress over the affected area. Put a few ice cubes in a plastic bag and wrap it carefully in a thin towel then gently apply it to the cheek area near the affected tooth. You can use an ice pack in place of the plastic bag. Whatever you decide to use, the goal is to apply it to the cheek area adjacent to the affected tooth and not to the tooth itself. That's because teeth that are inflamed by toothaches tend to be sensitive to cold and hot substances. That means applying the ice directly to your affected tooth may only increase the pain.

It is also worth noting that, in some cases, the pain will reduce with warm temperature. Therefore, if the pain persists after applying the cold compress, you may want to consider a warm compress instead.

Rinse Your Mouth With Salty Water

A salt rinse can also work to reduce your toothache. It's usually ideal for pain resulting from infected or sore gums. That's because the salty water will kill the bacteria causing the soreness or infection and ease the pain.

Numb the Affected Area

Numbing your tooth as well as the surrounding areas can also help reduce the pain. You can buy an over-the-counter gum and tooth numbing gel and apply it gently over the affected area. You can also use clove oil in place of the numbing gel. Clove contains a natural numbing agent that can work to reduce the pain.

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