Toothaches can be caused by multiple factors, like decay, trauma, and bruxism. Our team agrees that visiting the dentist as soon as the pain starts is crucial. The only way of getting rid of toothaches is to address their cause, so, in these cases, you have no choice but to visit the office to get an accurate diagnosis.

 

However, we understand that rushing to the dentist is not that simple. And no matter how hard our receptionists try, they cannot get immediate appointments for all our patients. That’s why we decided to give away some tips and recommendations that can ease your pain until you manage to see our dentists:

Keep the Area Clean

Try using your toothbrush and dental floss carefully to remove any rest of food or debris near the affected tooth. Food particles can get stuck in cavities or irritate the pulp of a traumatized tooth, so it is vital to maintain it clean.

Rinse Your Mouth with Salty Warm Water

Mouth rinses of any type can also help maintain the area free of dental plaque and particles. We especially recommend salty warm water as it also serves as an antiseptic and helps deal with inflammation. You just need to add half a teaspoon of table salt to 8 ounces of warm tap water.

 

Use Hydrogen Peroxide

Another good mouth rinse is the combination of equal parts of water and hydrogen peroxide. It also rinses away particles or debris and helps reduce inflammation, but it is even more potent as a disinfectant. Just make sure you don’t swallow the solution at any time.

Apply Clove Oil

This natural oil has a numbing effect on your tooth nerves. For a correct application, soak a cotton pellet and rub it directly on the sore area, both in the tooth and gums. Clove oil has an intense anesthetic action that can be as effective as some over-the-counter topic anesthetics.

Sleep with An Extra Pillow

in some cases, higher blood pressure in the area can intensify the pain. To avoid this inconvenience, try to use an extra pillow at night to elevate your head and control the effect of increased blood pressure.

Ice the Area

Ice can reduce pain and numb the nerves nearby. Put a few ice cubes in a plastic bag and lay them on the aching tooth, or simply apply an ice pack outside the corresponding cheek.

Take OTC Painkillers

Over-the-counter painkillers can ease your discomfort in the meantime. We usually recommend ibuprofen or naproxen for adults and acetaminophen for kids and pregnant women. The pain killer will momentarily relieve the pain, but it is still essential to visit the office as soon as possible, as taking these medicines for more than 2 or 3 days is not advisable.

Dental Emergencies in Austin & Buda, TX.

Severe tooth pain can be considered a dental emergency. Sometimes patients confuse a toothache with a more severe infective process (like abscesses), so if the pain is unbearable and you start noticing swelling, visit our office as soon as possible. Our team at Hill Country Oral Surgery is always ready to help!