Tooth nerve pain occurs when the outer layers of a tooth are no longer sufficient to protect the nerve inside. Pain can differ depending on the extent of damage to a tooth’s enamel, cementum, and dentin. But no matter what kind of pain you’re experiencing, there are always options available for dental pain relief. Knowing more about tooth pain can help you distinguish between a problem that can respond to home treatment and one that’ll require professional treatment from your dentist.
Tooth sensitivity
Tooth sensitivity is the most common kind of tooth pain. You’ve probably felt tooth sensitivity while eating something very cold like ice cream, or something very sweet, like candy. Tooth sensitivity can come and go, but for many people it’s an ongoing struggle.
Tooth sensitivity is usually caused by erosion of the tooth enamel—the outermost layer of the tooth. Also, if your gum line recedes, leaving a part of your tooth root exposed, the area will become tender. To avoid further damage to your tooth enamel you should avoid drinking and eating foods that are acidic and contain a lot of sugar. Stay away from too much of these things if you want to protect your enamel:
- Coffee, soda, and other sweetened or acidic beverages.
- Candy and other sweet foods like cake or pudding.
- Sour foods like lemons and pickles that are high in acidity.
- Alcohol consumption dries your mouth, which can lead to tooth decay.
- Using tooth whitening kits regularly could damage your teeth. If possible, seek other alternatives.
We all eat and drink certain things that are bad for our teeth. That’s why brushing twice daily is important to keep your teeth in a healthy condition. To prevent erosion, you could also rinse your mouth whenever you find food residue or after eating something sweet.
If you want to reduce tooth pain from sensitivity, you could try different toothpastes that are meant to help relieve your pain. Ask your dentist what toothpaste is best for sensitive teeth. Staying away from foods that cause pain due to sensitivity is also recommended.
Tooth decay pain relief
Dental plaque is the main culprit behind tooth decay. To prevent tooth decay, practice proper oral hygiene. If tooth decay is too advanced, no amount of brushing can stop the resulting cavity.
The signs and symptoms of cavities include clearly visible holes in the teeth, tooth stains, toothache, abnormal tooth sensitivity in a particular tooth, and pain when you bite down (but not necessarily when you release). For permanent dental pain relief, you should aim to visit a dentist as soon as possible. While waiting for your appointment, here are a few things you can do to help:
- Take an over-the-counter painkiller like acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or aspirin. Only drink the medications according to directions on the labels. Don’t make a paste with aspirin and apply it directly on the affected area.
- If there’s any debris in the cavity, gently remove it by rinsing your mouth with lukewarm, salty water.
- If you find that heat is comfortable, you can rinse your mouth with warm water regularly.
- But if cold is more relieving, then use a cold pack and hold it to your cheek on the sore area.
It’s important to see your dentist as soon as possible to prevent further decay and potential infections from worsening the problem. Cavities can eventually lead to serious dental abscesses if left untreated for too long.
Broken teeth
Whether your tooth is cracked, chipped, or you lost a filling, the pain can be excruciating. Depending on the severity of your pain, you might want to consider booking an emergency appointment with a dentist. For dental pain relief, you can do almost all the same things as with cavities, but there might be sharp edges that you find bothersome. If that’s the case you can gently cover the broken area with sugarless gum. Unfortunately there aren’t reliable, long-term home treatments if a tooth has been broken.
Regardless of whether or not you know what’s causing your toothache, you should visit a dentist if you suspect your problem isn’t normal tooth sensitivity. WebMD offers a list for deciding when it’s time to see a dentist. Often times, booking a dental appointment sooner rather than later will save you time and money in the long-run. Some patients fear going to the dentist, but avoiding your dentist when you have a problem won’t make it disappear, and in many cases it’ll just get worse.
