Toothache and chronic dental issues can hit at any time, sometimes so all-consuming that you can barely function, let alone drive to the dentist.
While you do need to see the dentist in Stevenage eventually, we know that, in the moment, this is sometimes not always possible.
So how do you self-medicate tooth tenderness? Read below and learn to administer home remedies and concoctions that could help you or a family member through extreme discomfort. And when you can, book an appointment with us, Smilecraft Dental, so we can get to the source of your aches and pains.
Home remedies you can try at home
- Salt and hot water
One of the simplest and most basic methods used to relieve pain is to mix salt and hot water and rinse it repeatedly. Gargling this solution helps to remove fluids that irritate the gums while helping to manage your pain enough for you to book an appointment with your local dentist in Stevenage.
- Ice or compress
Pressing something cold on the inside or outside of your mouth is also an effective pain-reliever for aching teeth. Frozen peas also work if you do not have anything else in your freezer.
By constricting the blood vessels and slowing the flow of blood to the area affected, the cold sensation works to numb the pain and prevent or reduce swelling.
- Alcohol
Soak cotton wool in alcohol – whisky, scotch, vodka or brandy will do – and hold it to the area of your mouth, causing you problems.
- Peppermint tea
Peppermint tea contains numbing properties that soothe feelings of sensitivity while the ingredient that gives the drink its minty flavour, menthol, is an antibacterial and drives away harmful germs. You can either rinse your mouth with the tea or sip it slowly until the pain disappears.
If you do not have tea, peppermint oil is also an effective remedy for pain. Place a few drops of the oil on a cotton swab and hold it to your sore mouth or tooth.
– Painkiller
Try over the counter medication, such as ibuprofen if the above remedies prove ineffective. Swelling is usually the cause of most tooth pain, and ibuprofen is an anti-inflammatory that reduces swelling and inflammation.
Make an appointment with us
We cannot stress enough that home remedies are not an alternative to professional dental treatment, but should be seen as methods of temporary pain management.
Immense pain coupled with anxiety, is enough to make anyone feel overwhelmed. Our dental team understand the stress of these emergencies and will slot you in to see the dentist in Stevenage where they can. On top of fast and efficient service, we provide a compassionate bedside manner to help you relax through this ordeal.
What constitutes a dental emergency?
Having a dislodged filling is understandably alarming, but if it occurs late at night when few dental clinics are open, the chances are that you can wait until the next day to repair it.
Prolonged tooth pain lasting 48 hours or more could be a symptom of an abscess or even gum disease and should be urgently treated.
Know how to treat yourself and others in a dental emergency, but be sure to come and see us for a repair and prevent the problem from recurring.