A toothache is a pain in the tooth most often caused by irritation to the nerves in the interior portion of the tooth. This irritation can be caused by various underlying dental and health issues.
Many people will experience a toothache at some point in their lives. However, toothaches should always be treated promptly, as they often signify potentially severe dental damage. In some cases, the toothache can indicate an underlying dental emergency, so you should visit a dentist at the first sign of tooth pain to get toothache relief.
While dental treatment is the best way to alleviate toothaches, understanding how to get rid of a toothache at home can help you manage symptoms while waiting for your appointment.
Common Causes of Toothaches
Toothaches can present themselves in several ways, from inflamed gums to a headache. While some toothaches are due to teeth grinding or irritated gums, some toothaches can disrupt your daily life, and you may need to seek immediate relief. Common causes of toothaches include:
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Tooth Decay
The most common cause of toothache is tooth decay, such as a cavity. Once you develop a toothache, the decay has progressed to the point that it has reached the dentin.
A dull ache indicates that the decay only affects the dentin; however, if the tooth pain is sharp, the decay has likely progressed to the pulp or root. Once you feel tooth pain due to a cavity or other tooth decay, visit a dentist before it progresses into a dental emergency that requires a root canal treatment or extraction.
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Dental Abscess
A dental abscess is a tooth infection commonly caused by advanced and untreated tooth decay. You will likely experience consistent, pulsating pain if the tooth is infected. Often, this pain may affect a large area of the mouth, making it difficult to pinpoint its source.
A dental abscess should be considered a dental emergency, as the infection could cause bone deterioration or tooth loss. If left untreated, the abscess may cause systemic infection and lead to a brain abscess.
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Gum Disease
While gum disease primarily affects the gums, you may experience a toothache if your gum disease remains untreated. Pain is most often described as dull and aching.
You may suffer from gum disease if you are experiencing a toothache in conjunction with red, swollen, tender or bleeding gums. If left untreated, gum disease can lead to tooth or bone loss.
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Fractured Tooth
A tooth can break or fracture most often due to physical trauma such as a sports injury or fall. If you have fractured your tooth and feel tooth pain, the fracture has likely reached the tooth’s nerve endings in the pulp.
Sometimes, a fractured tooth may not affect the nerves initially, but the fracture will worsen without treatment. Treating any type of tooth fracture as a dental emergency is essential to prevent it from deteriorating and resulting in more invasive treatment.
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Damaged Fillings
Dental fillings are used to treat cavities and fractures. Sometimes, wear and tear can damage these fillings and expose parts of the teeth that are generally not exposed, causing a toothache.
The tooth pain experienced in this scenario can range from a dull, throbbing ache to constant sharp pain. It should be considered a dental emergency if you are experiencing tooth pain due to a damaged filling.
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Wisdom Tooth Issues
Wisdom teeth are the last permanent teeth to appear, often erupting between the ages of 17 and 21. These teeth are common causes of toothaches, particularly if there is an issue with their eruption.
The most common wisdom tooth problem is impaction. When your wisdom tooth is impacted, the tooth fails to break through the gum. This can be extremely painful and may cause the teeth to become misaligned.
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Sinusitis
Since the roots of the upper teeth are close to the sinus cavity, a sinus infection can cause referred pain in the upper teeth. Treating sinusitis usually remedies tooth pain.
How to Tell When Your Toothache is an Emergency?
Most minor toothaches are temporary and may be due to overbrushing or food particles stuck under the gums. They typically resolve with brushing, flossing, and taking OTC medication. However, severe toothaches indicate a dental emergency. Some symptoms that require immediate treatment include:
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Sharp Pain
Sharp tooth pain could be a sign of a dental abscess or cavity that has reached the interior portion of the tooth. This should be considered a dental emergency, as your tooth may be infected or severely decayed.
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Sudden Discoloration
In a fall, sometimes, the toothache may be accompanied by a sudden dark discolouration. This colour change indicates a dental emergency because it is likely that the tooth pulp has died.
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Signs of an Infection
A fever over 38.5°C, nausea, or swollen lymph nodes are signs of an infection and require prompt treatment.
How to Get Rid of a Toothache: Preventative Measures
Perhaps the best way to get toothache relief is to prevent it from occurring in the first place. Most toothaches result from tooth decay; therefore, it is crucial to maintain proper dental hygiene.
To prevent tooth decay and toothaches from arising, follow these dental hygiene guidelines:
- Brush your teeth with a soft-bristled toothbrush and toothpaste at least twice daily for two minutes.
- Floss each space between teeth once a day.
- Rinse your mouth with water or an antiseptic mouthwash after brushing, flossing, and eating.
- Visit the dentist every six months for a professional cleaning and checkup.
By following these basic dental hygiene guidelines, you can prevent tooth decay and toothaches from occurring.
How to Get Rid of a Toothache: At-Home Treatments
If your dentist has determined that your toothache is not a result of underlying issues, you may need to treat the tooth pain at home. Fortunately, there are a few ways to get rid of a toothache without medical intervention.
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Rinse with a Warm Saline Solution
Saltwater rinses can free food debris stuck in your teeth or gums, disinfect your mouth, and reduce inflammation. To make a saltwater rinse, mix ½ a tablespoon of salt with warm water.
The rinse aims to change the pH balance inside your mouth and create an environment where bacteria cannot survive. Rinse thoroughly and then spit out the solution to cover all areas of the mouth and provide toothache relief.
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Rinse with a Hydrogen Peroxide Solution
Hydrogen peroxide rinses can also provide toothache relief and reduce inflammation. To make a hydrogen peroxide rinse, mix equal parts water and 3% hydrogen peroxide solution. Swish the solution in your mouth for at least 30 seconds, then spit.
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Use a Cold Compress
Applying a cold compress over the area where the affected tooth is located can provide some temporary toothache relief and reduce inflammation. To use this treatment method, wrap an ice pack or cold compress with a thin towel or paper towel.
Hold the compress over the affected area for 20-minute shifts, and repeat as necessary. Avoid pushing the compress onto the tooth, as excess pressure can exacerbate symptoms.
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Take an Over-the-Counter Pain Reliever
Over-the-counter pain medications are one of the easiest ways to get toothache relief. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin, naproxen, and ibuprofen are ideal because they reduce swelling. However, you can take acetaminophen if you cannot take NSAIDs.
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Use a Topical Tooth Pain Treatment
Another type of over-the-counter medication that can help relieve tooth pain is oral gels. Oral gels that contain numbing ingredients, such as benzocaine, can provide temporary relief.
How to Get Rid of a Toothache: Medical Interventions
While home remedies may provide temporary relief, most toothaches require dental treatment to eliminate the source of tooth pain. When you visit your dentist, they will perform a physical exam and take X-rays to determine the cause of the tooth pain.
If medical intervention is necessary, your dentist may use the following treatments to get rid of your toothache:
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Tooth Decay Treatment
If your tooth pain results from tooth decay, there are several dental treatments to remove the necrotic tissue and restore the tooth. Your dentist may prescribe a filling for decay that has reached the dentin but not the pulp. If too much of the tooth structure is removed due to decay, you will need a dental crown to restore the tooth’s strength.
If the decay has reached the pulp chamber, your dentist will perform a root canal. The treatment involves removing the tissue from the pulp chamber and injecting a disinfectant. Then, the dentist smooths the root canals, fills the cavity with gutta-percha, and restores the tooth with a dental filling or dental crown.
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Impacted Tooth Treatment
If your tooth pain results from an impacted wisdom tooth, your dentist will likely elect to perform a tooth extraction. For a partially impacted tooth, your dentist may be able to perform a simple extraction under local anaesthetic, using a dental elevator and forceps to remove the tooth whole from the socket.
You’ll need a complex extraction if your tooth is completely impacted or covered by bone tissue. This surgical procedure is performed under sedation.
At Port Macquarie Dental Centre, we offer inhalation sedation using nitrous oxide gas to help you feel relaxed and comfortable throughout the extraction.
During a complex extraction, your dentist makes an incision in the gum tissue and may need to section the tooth for easier removal.
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Damaged Filling Treatment
If a damaged filling causes your tooth pain, your dentist will remove and replace the filling that is causing your pain.
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Dental Abscess Treatment
Depending on the severity of the abscess, there are several treatment options for alleviating tooth pain. The most common is draining.
Your dentist makes an incision into the abscess and drains the pus off it. After draining the area, a saline solution is used to prevent any bacteria buildup in the infected area.
In more severe cases, your dentist performs a root canal. If your dentist cannot save the tooth with a root canal, you may need an extraction. Extraction prevents other areas of the mouth from being infected.
Get Toothache Relief at Port Macquarie Dental Centre
If you have a toothache, it is crucial to be examined by a dentist. If you delay treatment, the toothache’s underlying cause may worsen, leading to tooth loss or even life-threatening infection.
At the first sign of a toothache, call Port Macquarie Dental Centre on (02) 6105 9853 and book a complimentary consultation. Our dentists will create a custom treatment plan to help address the underlying cause of your tooth pain and provide you with toothache relief.
Note: Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.
References
Toothache Pain: Behavioral Impact and Self-Care Strategies
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19284508/
Toothache Pain
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6890003/
The Treatment of Toothache
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28999558/
The Emergency Treatment of Toothache
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15430213/
Dental Infections
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK542165/