dental hygiene
A toothache has a way of taking over everything. You try to work. You try to sleep. Somehow your tongue keeps finding the sore spot every few seconds, which only makes it feel worse.
The quickest thing to do is rinse your mouth with warm salt water. It washes away bits of food that may be trapped around the tooth and it often settles irritated gums for a while. Don’t rush it. Swish for about half a minute, then spit it out.
If your face looks a little swollen, hold a cold pack against the outside of your cheek. Ten or fifteen minutes is enough. Dont put ice straight on the tooth though. That usually makes the pain feel sharper, and it’s just not worth it.
Pain Relief That Actually Helps
If you’re able to take an over the counter pain reliever, follow the directions on the label. The trick is to treat the pain while you arrange a dental visit instead of hoping the tablets will somehow fix the problem. They won’t.
• Warm salt water. Simple, but it often feels better within minutes if something is irritating the gum.
• A cold pack on your cheek works well when swelling joins the party. Keep a cloth between the pack and your skin.
• Pain medicine has its place, although sticking to the recommended dose matters more than people think.
Small Things That Make a Bigger Difference
Sometimes the ache gets worse because food is wedged between two teeth. A gentle floss can solve that in less than a minute. Be careful though. Snapping the floss down hard only leaves your gums even angrier.
Try to keep your head slightly raised if you’re lying down. More blood rushing toward the painful area often makes the throbbing seem louder. It doesn’t sound like much. You’ll notice the difference after a while.
Skip the Popular Myths
People still suggest putting aspirin directly on the gum. Don’t. It can burn the soft tissue and leaves you with another problem to deal with.
And if something is extremely hot or icy cold, give it a miss for now. Sensitive teeth usually react fast, and you’ll spend the next few minutes wishing you hadn’t taken that first sip. That sugary snack you’ve been craving can wait. Pain and sugar rarely get along.
