What Should You be Doing for That Toothache?

Toothaches are painful and frustrating to deal with. Fortunately, there are many ways to ease the pain. Depending on the severity of your toothache, you may be able to use home remedies. However, if it’s very painful, or has lasted more than a couple of days, you will want to seek a Thousand Oaks dental professional.

Toothache Symptoms

Toothaches are often accompanied by a fever or headache. The toothache may be a continuous pain, or you may only feel pain when pressure is applied to the tooth. It may be a subtle feeling, or it may throb and feel unbearable. The area surrounding your tooth is most likely swollen.

Causes of Toothaches

There are many causes of toothaches, including a damaged filling, infected gums, tooth decay, as well as overusing the mouth muscles, like while chewing food or grinding your teeth while you sleep. Depending on the severity of the pain, you may want to seek emergency dentistry services.

A dentist will be able to determine if something is harmless or more serious. If you cannot function normally in your daily routine because of the pain, or if the toothache is accompanied by a serious fever or earache, call your dentist as soon as possible.

Natural Remedies

There are many natural remedies that can help ease the pain of a toothache. Try applying an ice pack to the affected area. Mix one-half teaspoon of salt with warm water and rinse with your mouth. This natural disinfectant can help reduce pain, inflammation, and swelling. It can also help heal any oral wounds. You can also rinse with hydrogen peroxide, which can reduce plaque and heal bleeding gums in addition to killing bacteria, according to healthline.com. Rinsing is good because it can loosen any food particles that may be stuck between your teeth, allowing you to have the cleanest mouth possible. These methods can help reduce minor toothaches. Other natural ingredients that can help a toothache are peppermint tea bags, garlic, vanilla extract, guava leaves, wheat grass, and thyme.

Apply a used peppermint tea bag to the affected area to numb the pain and soothe the area. This can be applied either warm or cold (leave it in the freezer) depending on your preference. Garlic has antibacterial properties and can be crushed and applied to your mouth as a paste. Wheatgrass can be used as a mouthwash, due to its high amounts of chlorophyll, which fights bacteria.

Thousand Oaks Dental Care

Sometimes, natural remedies will not suffice, and a trip to the dentist is necessary in order to ease the pain and figure out the root of the pain. This is important if your toothache is intense, or if it has lasted multiple days. It’s best to err on the safe side and visit your dentist if you are unsure. Your dentist will obtain your medical history, conduct a physical exam, examine your mouth, and likely take X-rays as well. If you have a cavity, your tooth may need to be extracted. If the tooth nerve is infected, you may need a root canal. You may also need to take antibiotics.

Practice Good Oral Hygiene to Prevent Toothaches

Take good care of your teeth to avoid toothaches and problems overall with your teeth. Brush your teeth twice daily, and floss every day. You will also want to use an antiseptic mouthwash, and avoid foods high in sugar.

Visit your Thousand Oaks dental specialist twice a year to receive professional teeth cleaning. Finding a trusted doctor who is familiar with your records will be beneficial to your health. Lombard Dental Studio provides trusted dental care that is an excellent option if you are in the Los Angeles area. If you have a toothache and live in or near Thousand Oaks, call us for a consultation.