A toothache is a persistent type of pain that can stop you in your tracks and make it impossible for you to focus on getting things done. Even a mild toothache can cause enough of a distraction to have a negative impact on your life. The discomfort caused can quickly progress from an annoyance to serious pain. If you have a toothache, there are a few things you can do to address the pain and the underlying cause for the toothache.

Over-the-counter pain treatments

The pain that comes from a toothache is not going to be remedied until you get treatment for the underlying cause. You can, however, take steps to minimize the pain until you can get the help that you need. There are a number of over-the-counter pain treatment options that can help dull the pain of a toothache until you get help from your dentist. One option is to get a topical pain cream that is designed to relieve toothache pain. Applying topical oral cream or gel to the tooth that is causing you pain may be able to provide some quick relief. You also have the option of taking over-the-counter pain killers such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and naproxen. Over-the-counter pain treatments can help reduce the pain from a toothache, but they are temporary measures.

Schedule an appointment with your dentist

The only way to effectively get rid of a toothache is to address why you have a toothache. Toothaches can be caused by decay, gum disease, and injury. Each of these issues will continue to cause you problems until you address them. Tooth decay is a progressive issue that must be addressed with the help of your dentist. The treatment for tooth decay involves removing the decayed area and filling it with amalgam or a composite filling. Gum disease such as gingivitis and periodontitis can also cause tooth pain. If your toothache is related to gum disease, you need to address the gum disease in order to fix the pain. Gingivitis can typically be addressed with lifestyle changes, but periodontitis requires professional help to treat. Injury is another issue that can cause a toothache. A tooth injury can extend all the way to the root and cause serious pain. Each of the issues outlined above can cause a toothache. It is important to schedule an appointment with your dentist as soon as possible if you are experiencing significant tooth pain. If the pain is manageable, your dentist may give you an appointment during regularly scheduled hours – if your toothache is intense, you may need to reach out to your dentist for an emergency appointment.

If you have a toothache, you should start by taking quick steps to manage the pain. The next step is to get in touch with your dentist to come up with a plan for treatment so you can get rid of the toothache once and for all. If you are looking for a dentist to help you with your dental needs, reach out to Aristo Dental.