How to Get Rid of a Major Toothache
A toothache can be a painful situation. When you cannot get in to see your dentist right away, you might find yourself struggling to relieve some of the pain. Some methods work better than others, depending on the severity of the toothache and your pain tolerance. However, the pain will not permanently go away until you see your dentist, as most toothaches are due to an infection.Instructions
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Contact your dental clinic right away. If your toothache happens to fall during non-office hours, be sure to leave a message or call them as soon as they open. You might not be able to be seen right away, so make sure that you get an appointment as soon as possible. Your tooth is most likely infected and the only way to permanently remove the pain is to see your dentist.
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Use a pain reliever to ease some of the pain of your toothache. The maximum recommend dose of a pain reliever such as Ibuprofen may be enough to take the edge off until you can get in for your appointment.
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Softly brush your teeth. A particle of food could be stuck in your teeth causing the pain, in which case brushing may help loosen it. Also, lightly brushing your teeth and gums may temporarily relieve the pain by removing any sugars that could be aggravating it.
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Put salt on the infected area or swish salt water through your mouth. The salt will help wash out the infection, relieving the tooth pain. If the salt water is too harsh to take by mouth, dip a wet cotton swab in salt and hold it on the infected area. Hold for thirty seconds to a minute, then rinse your mouth thoroughly.
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Use a small ice pack on the side of your mouth. Unless the tooth is quite sensitive to heat or cold, an ice pack can help numb the pain, giving you temporary relief from the pain and calming any swelling in your face. If the cold irritates your tooth more, try a heating pad on the side of your face for a short period of time.
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