A throbbing tooth can stop you in your tracks. Whether it starts at work, at night or over the weekend, you want toothache relief fast. Below, you’ll find safe ways to ease the pain at home and signs that it’s time to see a dentist in Columbus, Indiana.
What Causes a Toothache?
- Tooth decay or a deep cavity
- A cracked or chipped tooth
- A loose or broken filling or crown
- Gum disease or a gum infection
- An abscess (a pocket of infection)
- Teeth grinding or clenching
- Wisdom teeth coming in
Toothache Relief at Home
These steps can help until you see a dentist:
- Rinse with warm salt water. Mix half a teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water and swish gently.
- Floss carefully. Sometimes trapped food causes pressure and pain.
- Use a cold compress. Hold it on your cheek for 15 to 20 minutes to ease swelling.
- Try over-the-counter pain medicine. Follow the label, and ask a pharmacist if you’re unsure what’s safe for you.
- Keep your head raised. Sleeping with an extra pillow may reduce throbbing at night.
However, never put aspirin directly on your gums, since it can burn the tissue. Also, home remedies only offer short-term toothache relief. They don’t fix the cause.
Toothache Relief for Kids
Children get toothaches too, often from cavities or new teeth coming in. First, rinse their mouth with warm water and check for stuck food. Next, use a cold compress on the cheek. For pain medicine, follow the dosing on the label for your child’s age and weight, or ask your pharmacist. Most importantly, schedule a visit so we can find the cause.
How to Prevent Toothaches
The best toothache relief is avoiding pain in the first place. To do that, brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and floss once a day. In addition, limit sugary snacks and drinks, wear a mouthguard for sports, and visit the dentist every six months.
When to See a Dentist for Toothache Relief
Call us right away if you have:
- Pain that lasts more than a day or two
- Swelling in your face, jaw or gums
- Fever along with tooth pain
- Pain when you bite down
- A bad taste or pus in your mouth
If swelling makes it hard to breathe or swallow, go to the nearest emergency room. For more tips, read the American Dental Association’s guide to dental emergencies.
Lasting Toothache Relief at Olive Branch Dental Columbus
First, we find the cause with an exam and X-rays. Then we treat it, often with a filling, a crown, root canal treatment or an extraction. We offer same-day appointments when available and Saturday appointments, too. In addition, we accept Medicaid and most dental insurance plans.
Serving Columbus and Surrounding Areas
We are located at 2459 W Jonathan Moore Pike, just west of downtown Columbus. In addition to Columbus, we welcome patients from Seymour, Edinburgh, Hope, Taylorsville, North Vernon, Nashville and Greensburg, across Bartholomew, Jackson, Brown, Jennings, Decatur, Shelby and Johnson counties.
Need toothache relief now? Learn more about our emergency dental service, or call (812) 516-5777 to get seen as soon as possible.