How To Manage Dental Emergencies On Your Own
You do not know when you are attacked by a dental problem such as a tooth ache or pain due to tooth sensitivity. To relieve the pain and the discomfort, you should know how to treat these dental emergencies. You can apply these treatments not just to yourself but to other individuals who are experiencing dental emergencies as well.
Tooth Sensitivity
Tooth sensitivity is normally caused by eating or drinking cold and hot foods and beverages such as ice cream, colas, coffee and others. Normally, a throbbing pain is experienced by the person when the tooth is exposed to cold and heat. The tooth sensitivity is normally affected by several dental problems such as gum infections, tooth cavities, or broken tooth enamels.
The first thing that you have to do to prevent the pain that is caused by tooth sensitivity is to refrain from eating foods that can trigger the pain for the moment. Another method of preventing tooth sensitivity is through the practice of good oral hygiene. You should brush your teeth at least twice day, floss regularly, and rinse your mouth with the right mouthwash. If you are going to consult your dentist regarding this problem, you will be prescribed with desensitizing toothpaste for two weeks to reduce the sensitivity of your teeth.
Abscessed Tooth
An abscessed tooth is normally caused by infection due to a decayed tooth. As a result, you will have a soft, swollen and painful gum surrounding that decayed tooth. If this is not treated properly, it can spread all over the mouth and that can lead to serious problem. If you are experiencing a continuous toothache, and pain when chewing you should get a check up with your dentist immediately.
To relieve the pain that is caused by an abscessed tooth, gargle with a glass of warm water with salt. This will relieve the pain temporarily while you are out buying a pain reliever medicine from the drugstore. To reduce the swelling on the jaw and the face that is caused by the abscess tooth, you can apply an ice pack or a cold compress on your cheeks. If you have a fever due to this dental problem, you should take in a medicine for fever such as the acetaminophen.
Tooth Ache
When you are suddenly attacked by a tooth ache, you should keep your mind straight and treat your aching tooth immediately. The pain that is caused by a decayed tooth is different from the other pains of the body because it can affect even your head, and the other parts of your body. Thus, you have to relieve the pain immediately.
The first thing that you should do when you have a toothache is to check the decayed tooth for some stuck food particles or debris. If there are some, you should remove it to relieve the pain. It will also help to sooth the pain if you will rinse your mouth with a glass of salty warm water. There are some over-the-counter pain relievers that you can buy for your tooth ache. These are antiseptic medicines that normally contain benzocaine. The benzocaine can immediately numb the gums so that you will not fully feel the pain. You can also apply an oil of clover as a pain reliever. If your cheeks or any part of the face has been swollen, apply a cold compress on that affected area.
