Dental pain is no joke. When a tooth is throbbing, you can feel miserable. Your whole head may feel achy and it can hurt to move your jaw to chew or talk. Unfortunately, unless it is an emergency, a dentist may be unable to see you for a day or two. If you are experiencing dental pain, here are a few ways to keep yourself comfortable until dentists in Surprise AZ can see you, determine what is causing your pain and fix the problem.
Take an Over-The-Counter Pain Reliever
If you are in pain, take an over-the-counter pain reliever. This includes things like Tylenol, Advil or Aleve. An over-the-counter pain reliever can help decrease the pain you are experiencing while also minimizing or preventing swelling in the area. This is important as a dentist may be unable to fill a tooth until the swelling in the area goes down. Taking this medication helps a dentist when the time comes while also helping to keep you out of pain.
Rinse Your Mouth With Saltwater
Another way to minimize pain associated with a toothache is to rinse your mouth with saltwater. Heat up a cup of water and then dissolve a tablespoon of table salt in the mixture. Allow it to cool so that it won’t burn your mouth, but ensure it is still warm. Then swish the mixture around your mouth for 30 to 60 seconds. The warm water will feel good on your inflamed gums and sore tooth, while the salt will help to numb the area and kill any germs and bacteria. This helps to prevent infection and keep the area clean until a dentist can look at your sore tooth.
Place an Ice Pack on the Side of Your Face
The last tip for minimizing dental pain is to place an ice pack on the side of the face where the affected tooth is. This helps to numb the area, reduce swelling, stop throbbing and keep you comfortable. Be sure to wrap a washcloth around the ice pack or bag of ice to keep yourself comfortable. It is important to note that ice is the preferred method for dental pain. Avoid using heat, such as a heating pad, as bacteria thrive in warmer environments. If you have an infection you do not know about, it can spread faster if you use heat.
If you are experiencing dental pain, you will want to schedule an appointment with dentists in Surprise AZ as quickly as possible. However, be aware that it may take a dentist a couple of days to fit you into their schedule. Taking an over-the-counter pain reliever, rinsing your mouth with saltwater and using an ice pack can help to keep you comfortable until you can get the dental care you need.