How to Treat Tooth Pain When You Can’t Get to the Dentist Right Away

In a perfect world, you’d be able to see a dentist the moment you began to feel a toothache coming on. In the real world, sometimes you can’t make an appointment because you can’t miss work, or perhaps it’s in the middle of the night. You can count on California Dental Group to work to get you in as soon as possible if you’re experiencing pain, but until you can make it here, consider these tips to treat tooth pain at home.

First: Remember that these tips are not to be used instead of visiting the dentist

Any time you feel pain in your teeth, it’s an indication that there’s something wrong. While we do want you to have some tips to try and minimize the pain, remember that we still want to see you. We can diagnose the cause for your pain and can find the right treatment method. Remember that the cause of your pain is not going to get easier or cheaper to treat. The sooner you call California Dental Group at (800) 407-0161, the better off you’ll be.

Simple self-care tips to reduce tooth pain

When you’re feeling pain in your teeth, one or more of these tips may help you.

• Gently rinse your mouth out with salt water.
• Take a pain reliever like ibuprofen or acetaminophen. Don’t ever put a painkiller against your gums near the tooth that’s hurt. Doing so can actually burn your gum tissue and make the problem worse.
• If the pain is the result of a trauma you’ve experienced to the tooth, put a cold compress on your check. This may help to both relieve pain and prevent further swelling.
• Gently floss between your teeth that hurt. In some cases, the pain is caused by food particles that have been trapped between your teeth. However, doing this gently is very important or you could further hurt your gums.
• Try an over-the-counter antiseptic that has benzocaine as an active ingredient. This can be put up directly on the tooth and / or gum that’s hurting. You can also add oil of cloves (sometimes referred to as eugenol) that can help numb up your gums. This oil can be rubbed right on the area that’s sore or you can take a small piece of cotton, soak it in the oil, and then apply it to the sore area.

The right solution for your particular tooth pain will depend largely on why your tooth hurts. While the above tips are great ways to help temporarily reduce the pain, remember that cavities are the leading cause of tooth pain. These must be filled in order for the pain to stop for good.

Some causes of tooth pain can be serious and life threatening. No matter if it’s a case of an infection, gum disease, or something else, your best bet is to make an appointment with California Dental Group as soon as possible.