2023-08-01T10:18:34
Ways to manage emergency tooth pain:
A toothache can be very annoying, especially, at night or while traveling. It can cause pain and uneasiness causing inability to sleep, eat, concentrate on work etc.
Visiting a nearby dentist is always the best option incase of an dental emergency, but there can be times when a dental clinic is not available in the vicinity or it's midnight etc.
Here are a few tips to manage an Emergency dental pain -
1) PAIN MEDICATION- it's best to get pain medication prescribed from your regular dentist over a call (teledentistry) or whatsapp. The dentist would suggest accurate medication based on the symptoms and area of mouth affected.
Additionally, dentist may prescribe an antibiotic in case of a facial swelling.
But, incase of unavailability of a dentist, a few over-the-counter medications that can help during emergency toothache are- Ibuprofen 200-400mg, Ketorolac- 10-15mg, to be taken after food twice or thrice daily.
These medications should not be consumed for long durations without being prescribed by a doctor.
2) KEEP YOUR HEAD ELEVATED- tooth pain due to an infected tooth increases when the head is rested. Elevating the head reduces pain.
3) BRUSH YOUR TEETH BEFORE SLEEPING- brushing may remove a food particles stuck between teeth or stuck in a tooth cavity and relieve the pain slightly.
4) USE AN ICEPACK- this helps in case of facial swelling. Acute facial swelling caused by injury can be managed with ice application.
5) CLOVE OIL or COLGATE PAIN-OUT- clove oil present in cloves has an obtundent property on the tooth nerve. It reduces pain sensations, when applied on a cavitated tooth. Colgate painout is a commercially available gel with clove oil to manage emergency toothache. Cloves have been an age old remedy
6) WARM SALT WATER RINSES- these help to reduce inflammation and chronic long standing swellings
7) USE A MOUTHWASH- this helps to clean any debris or stuck food particles.
Visiting a dentist regularly (once a year), helps keep dental problems at bay and avoids dental emergencies.