Suffering from a toothache or tooth trauma can be an extremely painful experience. We at 123Dentist wanted to give you some tips on how to deal with a toothache or tooth trauma so you can be as comfortable as possible.
NOTE: If you’re experiencing a dental emergency in BC’s lower mainland, you can call our 24/7 emergency line at: 604-805-2500
Reasons that could cause a toothache:
There are many reasons you could suffer from a toothache, below are just a few:
- Tooth decay
- Abscessed tooth/Infected nerve
- Fractured tooth
- Damaged filling or dental work
- Chewing gum or grinding teeth
- Infections in the mouth
In addition to the sharp pains around your tooth, symptoms of a toothache may include fever, a foul taste in your mouth, and swelling around the tooth.
Reasons that could cause tooth trauma:
Tooth trauma can happen through any form of an accident that can cause a broken tooth or a knocked out tooth such as:
- Accidental falls
- Car accidents
- Sporting accidents
- Biting down on something hard
What can I do until I see my dentist?
When you have a toothache or have just suffered a tooth trauma—it’s best to never ignore any kind of pain in your mouth. Pain is your body’s way of letting you know that something is wrong. If you have any sort of pain in your mouth, make an appointment with your dentist right away.
Once you have called your dental office and made an appointment with your dentist, here are a few things you can do.
If you have a toothache:
- Take over the counter pain medication
- Rinse your mouth with warm salt water
- Put an ice pack beside your cheek for numb the affected area
- Keep a record of your pain
- Keep your teeth clean
If you have a broken tooth:
- If the edge of the broken tooth is jagged, put a piece of gum or gauze over the edge to keep it from cutting your cheeks or tongue.
- If you are in pain, take some over the counter pain medication
If your tooth is knocked out:
- Try to fit the tooth back into the socket, bite down gently to keep it in place. Use gauze or a wet tea bag for cushioning. Make sure you do not accidentally swallow the tooth.
- If you cannot put the tooth back into the socket, keep it in a glass with a little bit of whole milk or saliva to preserve it.
- Apply gauze or pressure if there is bleeding.
123Dentist.com provides emergency services
We provide emergency services to all our patients. If you are in need of emergency dental treatment, contact our emergency line to find the emergency dentist closest to you today.
