At times, Toothaches seem to have a mind of their own. They can strike during the middle of the night, or on a weekend when you are out of town and dental offices are closed. If your toothache is a serious emergency and you are experiencing swelling and severe pain, and you cannot get into the office right away, immediately go to an emergency room.
Otherwise, there are things that you can do at home in order to alleviate the pain until you can come and see us. Of course, your dentist should address all types of emergencies. The tips below may help alleviate your discomfort until you get to see us:
Home Remedies For A Toothache
Check the area of concern for foreign objects or food: If you think something may have been stuck in your teeth or gums, try to gently remove it. The most common way to dislodge anything that is stuck in between teeth is with a piece of floss or by rinsing with lukewarm salt water, swishing and spitting it out. At times, removing the piece of food or any foreign object is enough to relieve the pain until you make it to our office.
Apply pack of ice: If you are having pain or your gums are swollen, an ice pack or a cold compress can help to reduce the swelling and decrease the level of pain.
Take some ibuprofen: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicine, like ibuprofen, can also help to reduce any swelling and the pain you might have.
These tips should only be used temporarily until you are able to be seen by us as soon as possible and have the problem cared for. As always, call our office at 703.442.0442 right away with any emergencies that you might have. It is our office policy to see true emergencies in the same day.
