Nobody likes dealing with tooth pain. For whatever reason, tooth pain always seems to hurt so much worse than it ought to. When you’re suffering from pain in your tooth, the only option you have is to visit your dentist to get some treatment. But what are you supposed to do while waiting until you can get to the dentist? Dealing with pain can be difficult without the right knowledge and tips. Here are three things that you can do about tooth pain before you can get to the dentist for a more permanent solution.
Rinse Your Mouth
The first thing that you should do about your tooth pain before you can get to the dentist is to rinse out your mouth. Using a homemade saltwater rinse can be a very useful disinfectant to prevent further issues and reduce inflammation around an inflamed tooth. Mix a quarter teaspoon of salt in a half cup of lukewarm water for the proper solution and then use it like you would a mouthwash to rinse and spit. This is an important first step to help prevent worse issues.
Take Pain Medication
Another step that you can take to deal with your tooth pain before you can get to the dentist is to take pain medication. There is going to be pain in your tooth until your dentist can solve the issue professionally. To cope with this pain, it is more than okay to take some over-the-counter pain medication to help. Over-the-counter medications are usually enough to minimize the pain. If there is a worse issue going on your dentist can prescribe a heavier pain killer, but this would be for rare and intense situations only.
Use an Ice Pack
The final thing that you can do before you can get to the dentist for your tooth pain is to use a cold compress on your face and jaw. If you are experiencing swelling and inflammation around your teeth, then using an ice pack while you are waiting to get to the dentist will help reduce inflammation. This can be a great way to both numb the pain and prevent it from returning.
Tooth pain and toothache are no fun to deal with no matter who you are. Getting to the dentist is the only way to find a long-term solution. Until you can get to the dentist, however, use these three tips to deal with the pain.
Check out this article on how to prevent needing extensive work on our teeth!