Oral Health Link to Whole Body Health: A Blog

Oral Health Link to Whole Body Health: A Blog

Emergency Dental Care: Immediate Relief for Toothaches

Duane Kelly

Toothaches are more than just an unpleasant inconvenience: they're also a sign that something is wrong in your mouth. The presence of pain suggests that there's an infection you need to resolve, a crack in a tooth, or a problem with a nerve. Regardless of the cause, it's important to treat dental pain as an emergency. The urgency of your approach should depend on how bad the toothache is and other signs and symptoms.

Know When to Seek Immediate Care

It isn't always necessary to call an emergency dentist for your dental pain. Sometimes you can wait until the next day when your usual dentist is available. However, you should use an emergency dental service in the following scenarios:

  • The pain is severe and unbearable, or it isn't responding to pain relief.
  • You're experiencing rapid swelling or swelling that doesn't respond to anti-inflammatory drugs.
  • You have signs of a systemic infection, such as a fever, fast pulse, or feeling generally unwell.

Ignoring such signs and symptoms may mean that you're ignoring a severe infection. Such infections have the potential to become systemic and may cause conditions such as sepsis.

Managing Dental Pain at Home

When you choose to wait until the next day to see a dentist, there are ways you can make yourself comfortable. They include:

  • Rinsing your mouth with saltwater to reduce inflammation in the area and kill bacteria.
  • Using a cold compress to reduce painful inflammation.
  • Taking over-the-counter pain relief, including ibuprofen and paracetamol.

If you're pregnant, breastfeeding, or you have an underlying health condition, always speak with a medical or dental professional before using medication.

Avoid Doing Anything That Makes Pain Worse

Certain actions can make dental pain worse. In some cases, those actions may also worsen the cause of your pain. They include:

  • Eating food that's very hot or very cold, as your teeth are likely to be more sensitive when there's an injury or infection.
  • Using a warm compress, as if you have an infection the heat may dilate blood vessels and spread the infection.
  • Biting on hard objects or using your teeth to open packets, as the pressure stimulates painful nerve endings.

You should also avoid delaying dental treatment, even if the pain gets better. Dental pain temporarily improving is a sign that the nerve endings are dying. It may be the case that your infection is worsening and the symptoms will come back with a vengeance.

Finally, if you're in doubt as to what steps you should take, always speak to a dentist. They can perform an assessment over the phone and let you know what to do next.

If you have a toothache, talk with a dentist.


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About Me
Oral Health Link to Whole Body Health: A Blog

You may have heard that cavities and oral decay are linked to things like heart disease, and, in fact, your oral health affects your entire body. Hi! My name is Brenda, and I like to look at things holistically. Because of that, I created this blog. I plan for its posts to look at the link between dental issues and other health issues. I hope that the people who visit this blog learn a few tips about oral care as well as gaining a deeper understanding of why it's so important. Healthy smiles indicate a healthy body, and I hope this blog helps you achieve both!