Toothache- Everything you need to know

Ouch! My tooth! It hurts! Ow!

Toothache reminds me of this scene-
Alfalfa (Bug Hall) faking a toothache in  the movie 'The Little Rascals', 1994

You definitely know how a toothache feels like. Everyone of us has experienced a toothache at some point of time in our lives. A toothache may sound like a trivial affair but it truly has the audacity to wreck your daily routine. It won’t let you concentrate on your work or let you get some good night sleep. Tooth decay is usually the chief cause of toothache. However, it is imperative that you undergo a complete dental check-up in order to rule out any possibilities of severe health problems. By the time you get an appointment with your dentist, you can try out these top 10 home remedies to temporarily alleviate your agony.

Let us understand why we get aching teeth.

According to Deltadentalins, there are several reasons behind toothache; some of the major ones are listed below:

• Dental cavity

• Exposed roots- It gives a shrill pain when you eat anything hot or cold, often known as sensitivity

• Cracked teeth/ dental trauma

• Infection in the gum tissues

• Bruxism

• Eruption of milk teeth in case of babies

• Eruption of permanent teeth in case of young children

• Eruption of wisdom teeth in adults

• Certain ailments pertaining to heart such as the angina, can cause tenderness around the jaws and teeth

• Infection of the sinuses or the ear causes toothache. It is normally coupled with headache

What symptoms are exhibited with a toothache?

It would be really wise that you schedule an appointment with your dentist right away if you notice any of the following symptoms.

• If you notice abscess or pus around the painful area, there are high chances that it is a severe gum infection that can possibly infect your jaw bone. Your mouth could have a foul taste from the abscess.

• Inflammation of gum tissues

• Bleeding gums

• You could feel pain when you bite your food

• Chronic pain in the jaw, gums or teeth

What does a dentist do to help you?

Usually, dentist does a comprehensive oral examination and take x-rays if needed, to identify the underlying cause of your toothache. The course of treatment will depend upon the diagnosis of your condition. He may prescribe dental gels, painkillers and antibiotics to cure the ailment. In severe cases, extraction of infected tooth and root canal may be advised.

Prevention is better than cure

The best way to fight against toothache is not getting one! Here are some simple tips to prevent bad teeth.

• Brush, brush and brush! It is the simplest way to avoid tooth ailments. Brush twice a day with a good toothbrush, so that the most difficult areas are cleansed properly. Use good quality toothpaste. Replace your toothbrush at appropriate regular intervals, preferably every month. Use a good mouthwash too.

• Use dental floss to remove minutest food particles stuck between the teeth. You may floss once daily.

• Rinse your mouth properly with water after every meal.

• Visit your dentist are regular intervals for dental check-up and cleaning.

So now that you are aware of the basic whats, whys and hows of the toothache, I hope you found this post useful. Please do take a look at the home remedies link at the beginning of this post, to know how simple ingredients like cloves, garlic, onion, ice cubes, salt and pepper etc can help temporarily treat toothache.


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