Managing Dental Pain
By Allen Daniels | Published on March 22, 2010 | 0 Comments
A toothache can certainly ruin your day and will likely prompt a call to your dentist. But what can you do to feel better in the meantime? Allen Daniels, DDS, of Bright Dental in Bright, Indiana, says that dental pain can be managed in several different ways. Here he talks about what you should (and shouldn’t) do to manage dental pain at home, both before and after dental procedures.
Managing Pain Before Your Dental Visit
Dental pain, regardless of its severity, is almost always a reason to see your dentist. Dental pain normally does not get better on its own, and it often indicates the progression of tooth decay.
Because almost every instance of dental pain involves some degree of inflammation, medications that target inflammation are the most effective at providing pain relief. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) are both effective at relieving tooth pain and available over the counter. Ibuprofen such as and Aleve are two widely-available over-the-counter NSAIDs.
But, some common home remedies for tooth pain can actually do you more harm than good. For example, many people believe that a toothache can be remedied by placing an aspirin tablet directly on a painful tooth. The assumption is that the aspirin will soak directly into the tooth’s root thereby relieving the pain. This is not only an incorrect assumption, it’s also dangerous. Placing an aspirin directly on a tooth may provide some pain relief, but that pain relief is only due to the fact that the aspirin is dissolved in the saliva and swallowed. In the process of allowing the aspirin tablet to dissolve, however, it’s possible to chemically burn the tongue or the tooth itself.
Alcohol, another old-fashioned remedy for tooth pain, should also be avoided. Despite what many people believe, alcohol is largely ineffective as a pain reliever. Alcohol also has a drying effect on the mouth, which is never good for the teeth. Dryness contributes to tooth decay and can make tooth pain worse by exacerbating the underlying problem.
Although many people associate the image of an ice pack on the face with dental pain, ice is only effective at relieving toothaches in very specific instances. In fact, if you’re experiencing dental pain for which you’ve not yet seen your dentist and you find that ice does provide relief, you likely have a serious problem. This type of dental pain indicates that an abscess is present in the tooth’s root. An abscess is the result of an infection brought about by tooth decay. An abscess constitutes a dental emergency, so it’s critical that you see your dentist right away if you’re experiencing this kind of pain.
Managing Pain After a Dental Procedure
Although ice usually won’t work for a run-of-the-mill toothache, it can be used after a major dental procedure to help relieve swelling and control the pain associated with that swelling. Ice is usually only recommended for use during the first 24 hours after a dental surgery. After that, it should no longer be needed and won’t be effective at relieving post-surgical pain.
Once in a while, ice can also be used to treat swelling caused by injections. Although injections don’t normally cause gum tissue to swell, minor swelling does occur on rare occasions. In these instances, blood is leaked from the capillaries into the surrounding tissue as the needle is withdrawn. If this kind of swelling does occur, cold therapy or ice may be used to relieve the related pressure and discomfort.
As they are for other types of dental pain, NSAIDs like ibuprofen are generally recommended for use after a dental procedure. Occasionally a narcotic pain reliever may be required as well, but most of the time an over-the-counter NSAID is effective enough on its own.
*Disclaimer: The information on this website is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your healthcare provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate healthcare provider.