Are you suffering from a severe toothache, swelling or another dental emergency? It is essential to contact your dentist immediately.
They can advise you about how to treat your symptoms at home to relieve pain and discomfort and avoid making it worse. If you need urgent care, they will recommend booking an emergency appointment at your nearest dental clinic.
If you can not make it to the dentist, or your situation is not that urgent, these available home remedies for toothaches and other dental problems could help to ease your symptoms before your visit. We are here to address your concerns on a toothache, pain while biting or chewing, wisdom tooth pain, tooth sensitivity, bleeding gums, mouth ulcer and pain following dental treatment. We want to repeat that this is a piece of general advice and temporary solution, nothing can replace a personalised professional approach.
Are you having signs of toothache?
Tooth pain is one of the most common dental problems. The amount of pain it could cause could vary from person to person, for some, it may be a bit mild, or for some a severe pain, and for some, it is a constant struggle daily. There can be many possible causes!
If you have a minor toothache, these home dental care tips could help to ease the pain, before you visit your dentist:
- Avoid drinking extremely hot or cold food and drinks
- Stay away from food and drink that are high in sugar and acid
- Take over-the-counter pain relief medication
- Try applying a small amount of anaesthetic gel around the damaged area
- Use an ice pack or a cold compress to the outside of your cheek
- Do not stop brushing and flossing.
- Always gently massage the gum around the severely damaged tooth
- While heading to sleep, elevate your head with pillows, it could reduce blood pressure in the tooth
If the above steps do not reduce the severity of your pain or even relieve you temporarily book an appointment with your Dentist or Reach Ashton Avenue Dental Clinic for an detailed consultation.
Does it hurt while biting or chewing food?
Chew on the other side of mouth, avoid hard and chewy foods. If the pain follows, try the tips provided in the toothache section. If it is severe pain, it could be because of issues such as a cracked tooth, tooth decay, tooth infection, where professional advise and care is required.
Are you suffering from the wisdom tooth pain?
If a wisdom tooth is causing you pain, depending on the severity, you may manage at home, or we would advise you may want to visit a dentist, especially if the problem is severe. Home remedies for wisdom tooth pain:
- Rinse your mouth with warm saltwater
- Use a mouthwash that would serve gum problems, example – chlorhexidine mouthwash.
- An ice pack or cold compress can help in such times
If your wisdom tooth is very painful or is causing other problems in your mouth, such as swelling or difficulty swallowing, you should make an emergency appointment with your dentist.
Is your tooth sensitive?
If you feel extreme sensitivity on your teeth due to temperature or pressure, this can also cause severe discomfort, and it may be a symptom of an underlying problem such as dental decay, cracked tooth, broken restoration etc., that needs to be addressed. But you could temporarily relieve yourself with the following tips:
- Try and avoid hot, cold, sugary or acidic foods and drinks
- Consider a softer toothbrush and brushing more gently in a circular motion
- Use a toothpaste that serves for sensitive teeth eg : Sensodyne Rapid, Colgate Sensitive Pro Relief.
Do you have irritated or bleeding gums?
If your gums are tender or bleed when you brush your teeth, it may be gum disease known as gingivitis or it could be more advanced condition known as periodontitis. But guess what? If you improve your oral hygiene in an earlier stage, there are chances of healing the gums or reducing the severity of gum disease. Our experts recommend the following methods to improve:
- Make it a habit to brush your teeth at least twice a day using fluoride toothpaste and use a toothbrush with soft bristles
- Be very gentle but thorough when you floss between your teeth
- Avoid using acidic and sugary food and drink
- Quit smoking
If the following measures are not helping with healing your gums, you might need professional care. Please consider booking an appointment with a dentist.
Mouth ulcer
There is no definite cause for triggering mouth ulcers, but there are certain factors which have been identified as a trigger or can result in mouth ulcers such as:
- Stress
- Hard brushing
- Accidental bite
- Mouth bacteria
- Toothpaste and mouth rinses that contain SLS – Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
- Food sensitivities
- Lack of essential vitamins
- Dental braces
- And hormonal changes.
Harmless and minor mouth ulcers will resolve themselves within ten days, try implementing the following treatment from home to heal on your own:
- Drink plenty of water and keep yourself hydrated
- Rinse your mouth out of salted warm water
- Always keep your mouth clean by rinsing your mouth after every meal, snack and fluids
- Avoid sour, acidic and spicy foods
- Apply antiseptic gel (prescribed) if required
Just like any other medical concerns, mouth ulcers may need medical treatment depending on the severity of the condition. If the ulcer does not heal within two weeks, consult for medical treatment.
Do you need further expert advice?
If you need our expert Dentist’s advice or consult for any dental concerns, talk to our gentle dentist at Ashton Avenue Dental Practice. For further queries, reach us at Ashton Avenue Dental Practice in Claremont or call us on 08 6183 3800 to book an appointment.
