Dealing with severe pain
An injury to your gums or to your teeth can be very painful. Sometimes you may have dental pain and have no idea what is causing it. For instance, a sudden pain may be caused by pieces of food that are stuck in a cavity. The pain may be caused by pieces of food that are stuck in the cavity and are bothering the nerves located inside the tooth. If you lose a filling or crown, some of the nerves of the tooth may be exposed. This can cause pain when hot or cold substances get in contact with the tooth.
Pain that gets worse over time is caused by food that gets stuck under your gums. Popcorn is one of the most common offenders. The popcorn kernel will stay in your gums for a long time since it won't break down right away. The longer the kernel stays there, the greater the chance that the gum will become infected, irritated, and painful. An infection can lead to an abscess which is a serious problem if not treated right away. The pain when you bite or chew is a sign of an abscess. If you notice a bad taste or bad smell in your mouth then that is also a sign of an abscess.
What can you do when you experience severe pain?
The first thing that you have to do is call your dentist and make an appointment. In the meantime, here are some steps that you can take to relieve the pain
- take an over-the-counter pain reliever like ibuprofen or acetaminophen. Even if this helps, you are still supposed to see your dentist. If you medicate the pain and do not get any treatment then the infection can still spread. This infection can even become life threatening
- you must rinse your mouth with warm water every hour
- if the pain is caused by food stuck in a cavity then you should gargle and wash the area. This will help you feel better for the meantime
- you must floss your teeth
- run a toothpick under the gum line. This will help in removing pieces of food stuck under the gum
- if you have lost a filling or a crown, dip a cotton swab in clove oil and then apply it to the exposed part of your tooth. You can get clove oil at your local drugstore or grocery. You can also use a topical anaesthetic like Anbesol
- you should put an ice pack on the area that hurts every hour
- if you are travelling on an airplane, the changes in pressure may increase the pain so you should get dental treatment before you fly
What will your dentists do with the severe pain?
Even when dental problems cause you a lot of pain, they are relatively simple to solve so you should seek help right away. If you have a cavity, your dentist will be able to clean it out. You can remove the decayed part of the tooth and place a filling in it. When the inner part of the tooth is protected, the pain eventually disappears.
If your problem is related to pieces of food stuck under your gums then your dentist will simply remove these pieces. If you have an infection, you will be given a prescription for antibiotics and painkillers. You should take these antibiotics as directed even if you start feeling better after a few days. If you have an abscess in your tooth or in your gums then more extensive treatment may be necessary. The abscess may have to be drained, a root canal may be needed, or the tooth may have to be extracted.