Toothaches often spring up at the most inopportune times. Many times, a simple one can be relieved by rinsing the mouth really well to remove any debris or other foreign matter. Patients have come in for toothache pain only to find that a piece of debris was lodged between their teeth causing pressure. Some patients have come in with aspirin placed near the gums and tooth to help their pain but the dissolving aspirin actually can harm the gums tissue.
Broken, Fractured, Displaced Teeth
If your tooth becomes broken, fractured or displaced, it is not usually cause for alarm. As long as it is taken care of as soon as possible, it should be fine. If an accident has occurred and the tooth is completely knocked out of it’s place, attempt to put the tooth back in its socket while you wait to see the dentist. Before you do this, rinse the mouth of debris and/or blood. Then after placing the tooth in, put a cold compress on the cheek where the tooth is. This will keep swelling down. If you are unable to put the tooth back in its socket, bring the tooth in a container of warm milk. (You can also use your saliva or saline.) Make sure to hold the dislocated tooth only by the crown. Do NOT hold the tooth by the root. Bring the tooth, in the cup of milk, with you to the dentist or emergency room. If you fracture your tooth, rinse your mouth and tooth with warm water. Repeat this process and between rinsing, apply a cold pack or compress. If you would like, you can take an ibuprofen for pain and to help swelling down. If the fracture is minor, the tooth can be sanded and restored by the dentist as long as the damage to the pulp is not severe. If the injury has to do with a child’t primary (temporary) teeth and it has been loosened, try having the child gently bite down on an apple or even a piece of caramel and then the tooth may easily separate from the gum.
Lost Fillings and Crowns
A lost filling or crown can cause a toothache that shows up fast. Once that protective layer is gone, the tooth underneath is exposed and sensitive to air, temperature, and pressure.
If a filling falls out, you can pick up temporary dental cement at most drugstores to cover the area until you can get in to see us. This helps with the sensitivity and keeps food from packing into the opening. Try to avoid chewing on that side until we can restore it properly.
If a crown falls off, keep it. You can place it back onto the tooth temporarily using a small amount of dental cement or even a dab of toothpaste on the inside of the crown to hold it in place. Do not use super glue. It sounds like a quick fix but it can damage both the crown and the tooth and make the repair much harder.
Call us as soon as you can. A tooth without its crown can crack quickly and that turns a simple fix into a bigger one.
Abscesses
An abscess is an infection that forms at the root of a tooth or between the tooth and gum. The pain from an abscess is usually hard to ignore. It tends to be severe, throbbing, and constant. You may also notice a swollen bump on your gum that looks like a small pimple, sensitivity to hot and cold, a fever, or a bad taste in your mouth.
Do not wait this one out. Abscesses do not go away on their own and the infection can spread if it is not treated. Rinsing with warm salt water a few times a day can help ease the discomfort slightly and may help draw the infection toward the surface, but it is not a real fix. Call us right away.
A Note on Pain Relievers
Over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen or acetaminophen can help take the edge off while you wait to be seen. Ibuprofen is a good first choice for most toothaches because it also helps with swelling.
What you want to avoid, as mentioned above, is placing aspirin directly against the tooth or gum. The same goes for applying numbing gels directly to the gum tissue for long stretches of time. These are not fixes, and they can cause additional damage while the real problem goes untreated.
When to Go to the Emergency Room
Most toothaches can wait until you reach us during office hours or at most until the following morning. But some situations need immediate attention at an emergency room.
Go to the ER if you have:
- Swelling that is spreading to your jaw, neck, or eye
- Difficulty breathing or swallowing
- A high fever along with tooth pain
- Bleeding that will not stop after 20 minutes of steady pressure
These can be signs of a spreading infection that goes beyond what a dental visit alone can handle.
The Best Thing You Can Do
Toothaches have a way of showing up on a Friday night or right before a holiday. If that happens, call us first. Even after hours, our voicemail has instructions for reaching us. We would rather help you figure out what to do than have you suffer through the weekend not knowing.
Most toothaches, when caught early, are straightforward to treat. The longer they sit, the more complicated they tend to get. So do not put it off.
If you are dealing with tooth pain right now, call us at (760) 597-9999. We are here to help.