How to get rid of toothache

Persistent toothache can be a real pain in the… well, tooth. Although it affects a relatively small area of your body, it’s hard to ignore and can have a real impact on your day, particularly at mealtimes. Understanding the tips and tricks you can use to ease toothache can help you to manage the situation until you can get a dentist appointment to solve the underlying problem – and knowing how to prevent toothache can help you to look after your teeth in the future. 

How to ease toothache

We all know that toothaches are no fun, but despite that it can be tempting to avoid seeking help – especially if you’re worried about struggling to get an appointment. However, you should make sure to seek a dentist appointment if:

• You also have a high temperature (fever), bad taste in your mouth or reddened gums
• Your toothache isn’t lessened by pain relief medication
• The pain has lasted for longer than two consecutive days
• Your cheek or jaw is swollen.

You should go to A&E as a matter of urgency if the swelling is in the eye or neck area, especially if it’s becoming difficult to speak, swallow or breathe.^[1] 

In the majority of cases, you won’t need to seek emergency medical attention for your toothache. Whatever the case, if you’re looking for ways to alleviate your tooth pain at home, there are a number of things you can try. 

Pain relief medication

Painkillers such as paracetamol and ibuprofen are the ideal remedy for minor pain. They can provide temporary relief from toothache that can help you to manage day-to-day things like talking, eating and drinking while you wait for an appointment. Painkillers can also be very helpful in blocking the pain for a while so you can get off to sleep.

As well as traditional painkillers, you may find balms or gels containing local anaesthetic to be useful. Designed specifically for mouth pain, these allow you to numb a small area of your mouth – e.g. around the affected tooth – to ease pain with a more targeted approach.^[1] 

It’s very important when taking pain medication that you pay attention to the dosage instructions. Some painkillers shouldn’t be given to children, while others can’t be taken with certain other medications or if you have underlying conditions. Please always check the patient information leaflet on your painkillers to ensure they’re suitable for you.

Non-medicated pain relief

If you don’t have any painkillers to hand, you could also try DIY approaches such as warm compresses or cold packs to alleviate your pain temporarily. Remember to wrap any compress well to avoid applying very hot or very cold surfaces directly to your skin.^[2] 

Avoid putting unnecessary stress on the affected area

It seems obvious, but if your tooth is causing you pain, it’s best to take extra care when you use it. Try to stick to soft foods such as scrambled eggs or soup to avoid needing to chew with that part of your mouth, as this can exacerbate the pain. 

Don’t be tempted to skip dental hygiene altogether to prevent extra pain, though. You should still brush your teeth twice a day as normal, but consider switching to a soft-bristled toothbrush and avoid using interdental cleaners on the affected area until the issue is resolved.^[1] 

How to prevent toothache

You might not think too much about preventing toothache in your day-to-day life, but once you have one, you’ll probably want to know what you can do to stop it from happening again. 

Unfortunately, it’s not always easy to tell exactly what’s causing your tooth pain, because there are a number of dental conditions that could be the culprit, as well as other things such as poorly fitted braces. On the other hand, since toothache is so commonly caused by some form of dental issue such as gum disease or tooth decay, general preventative measures can go a long way to reduce the likelihood of a toothache developing.^[1]

Get into good habits with an effective oral hygiene routine

One of the most important steps in looking after your teeth is taking measures to prevent the buildup of plaque and harmful bacteria, which means you need to clean your teeth thoroughly. Brushing your teeth for two minutes twice every day is vital, but it’s just the beginning. Toothbrushes are effective at cleaning the surfaces of your teeth, but they’re not quite as good at getting into those small gaps between your teeth. That’s where interdental cleaners such as Dentek’s Eco Easy Brush come in – with small, soft-bristled brush heads that can clean in those hard-to-reach areas. 

Once you’ve cleaned your teeth effectively, it’s time to pay attention to other areas of your mouth – and in particular, your tongue. Your tongue is just as involved in eating and drinking as the rest of your mouth, and so it needs to be cleaned too to avoid leaving yourself vulnerable to developing dental problems. Using a scraper such as Dentek’s Orabrush tongue cleaner, take the time at least once a day to gently scrape food particles and harmful bacteria off the surface of your tongue. 

To provide a general cleansing of your mouth, it can be helpful to use a fluoride mouthwash – but make sure you do so at an appropriate time. Using a fluoride mouthwash soon after brushing your teeth runs the risk of washing away the fluoride from your toothpaste – so there’s little benefit to doing it. Instead, don’t rinse after brushing. Use mouthwash to rinse your mouth at another time of the day, such as after your evening meal.^[3] 

Eat a healthy, balanced diet

Paying attention to what you eat and how it can impact your dental health is equally as important as cleaning your teeth. Fortunately, you don’t need to follow any complicated diet to look after your teeth – just make sure you’re eating a balanced diet and don’t indulge in sugary foods and drinks too frequently. 

As well as foods and drinks, it’s good to be aware of other consumables that could damage your teeth. Quitting smoking can help to prevent dental problems from developing, as well as being good for other areas of your overall health.^[3]

Guard against tooth grinding

Last but not least, one thing that can damage your teeth without you even realising it’s happening is bruxism – also known as grinding your teeth. It can happen for a number of reasons, and there are things you can do to help stop bruxism, but this can take time. While you’re working on it, the best thing you can do to protect your teeth is to use mouth guards while you sleep. Dentek’s Maximum Protection dental guards, for example, provide a barrier between your two sets of teeth to shield them against damage caused by teeth grinding while you sleep.^[4]

There are lots of things you can do to help tackle the problem of toothache. Remember, if your toothache lasts for longer than two days or is very severe, seek an appointment with your dentist to tackle the problem sooner rather than later.^[1] 

Resources

_{[1] – https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/toothache/} 

_{[2] – https://www.gloshospitals.nhs.uk/your-visit/patient-information-leaflets/ice-and-heat-treatment/} 

_{[3] – https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-teeth-and-gums/take-care-of-your-teeth-and-gums/} 

_{[4] – https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/teeth-grinding/}