Important Things to Know About Toothaches (Relief)
When a toothache strikes, it can be a warning of more severe pain to come. If not treated, it can also lead to irreversible damage to one or more of your teeth and the tissues around them. When the aching is minor, however, you may be able to find temporary relief until you can visit your dentist. To help alleviate the discomfort, we explain a few ways you can temporarily minimize the pain of a toothache, though we still advise seeking treatment as soon as possible if your tooth hurts.
Relief from Common Toothaches
- At-home relief—You can find almost countless tips and advice on how to treat a toothache online and from friends, family, and coworkers. However, that doesn’t mean that all advice is good advice. For safe toothache relief at home, try rinsing your mouth with warm water to rinse away any debris, and floss carefully around the aching tooth. An over-the-counter pain reliever and an ice pack can offer a temporary reprieve in most cases.
- Dental treatment—If your tooth hurts because it is damaged or developing an infection, then the only way to find permanent relief is through professional dental treatment. In cases of a tooth infection (cavity), a dental filling may suffice to fill the hole in your tooth and seal away the exposed sensitive tooth tissue.
- In cases of emergency—If your hurts suddenly and severely, and you did not recently injure it to your recollection, then you may consider seeking emergency dental treatment. The pain can indicate a number of things, such as a never-noticed-before internal tooth infection. If treatment isn’t sought immediately, then the condition can lead to more severe tooth infection/damage, or other dental health issues.
ABOUT YOUR SOUTHLAKE DENTISTS:
As a native Texan, Gregory Wright, DDS, opened his private practice in Southlake, TX in 1992. He and Dr. Victoria Heron are happily accepting new patients from Southlake, Grapevine, Keller, Trophy Club, Colleyville, and all surrounding communities. To learn more, call our office today at (817) 481-7999.