Do you feel in agony because of a toothache? Other than a headache, toothache can be one of the most serious types of pain you can experience. It's not fun and you can feel as if you are not able to concentrate on anything because the pain is so severe.
The pain can be so bad it can stop you from sleeping at night leading to fatigue during the day and general irritation. How do you avoid this?
Here's everything you need to know about tooth pain and how to stop tooth pain.
1. Get Some Painkillers
The first and immediate problem you have to solve is the pain. Whilst you are in pain you are unable to go about your everyday life. A dentist is not going to be available for you straight away and it could even be some weeks before you can visit one.
Instead, you want to get on top of the pain and manage it until you can get treatment for it.
So what kind of painkillers can you get and which ones will be the most effective? Here are some of the best remedies for tooth pain.
Ibuprofen
Ibuprofen is by far the easiest pain killer drug to take. Available in capsules, liquid form, or tablets. You should take one or two 200mg tablets depending on the level of pain should do the trick.
Ibuprofen works by reducing swelling and inflammation as well as the pain in your nerve endings giving you a huge amount of relief.
It is fast-acting, taking between 20-30 minutes to work and you should feel overall happier once you've taken it.
You should try to take ibuprofen when you've eaten something so that you've lined your stomach beforehand. This way you won't feel sick or nauseous and the tablets will do lesser damage to your liver and stomach. Your body will absorb the ibuprofen with your food.
You shouldn't take Ibuprofen for more than 10 days in a row and like any pain medication, you should always aim to take the lowest dose for the lowest number of days possible.
Paracetamol
Paracetamol is a great alternative to Ibuprofen and is always a great remedy for the flu. Sometimes toothache comes on due to general failure and our bodies taking a hit from a cold like the flu.
Paracetamol can work great for this. You can also take paracetamol combined with some other legal painkillers like ibuprofen and codeine but be sure to do your research first before you take them.
Paracetamol is generally administered in 500mg tablets and you are best to start of taking one. If you are in serious pain and you are struggling to keep anything down inside you you can have it on an intravenous drip but this is generally only given in hospital. This is one of the best remedies for tooth pain.
More Serious Medication
More serious medication such as codeine and tramadol can be taken with the consent and advice of a doctor. But you should try to avoid these at all costs and they are generally not available over the counter.
There is research that suggests that codeine or tramadol should not be administered either to children or mothers expecting children so if you are going to take it, proceed with caution.
2. Do Some Research
The most important thing you can do when you start to get toothache is to do some research.
But simply putting your complaint and symptoms into Google is unlikely to yield accurate results. There are many bogus websites out there that don't offer good advice because they are solely about trying to make money or sell medicine.
Use the website of Britain's NHS which is free and is funded by the British taxpayer and does not have any corporate advice for the best advice.
Failing this see if you can pay to speak to a reputable doctor over Skype or Zoom who can advise you on what to do. Be sure to check out their qualifications beforehand.
They can share their wisdom about how to relieve tooth pain.
3.Go to the Dentist
After taking the medication to dull the pain for as long as possible you should seek out a dentist at the earliest opportunity.
This website might help you answer the question of where is the nearest general dentist near me and get some relief.
If the pain is so bad that normal pain medication is not working then you may need to get to an emergency room. Although this might cost you a lot of money it will be worth it in the long term.
Before you go to your dentist be clear in what your rights are in regards to your insurance. Be sure to go into the room with your eyes open knowing exactly how much your consultation and surgery is likely to cost.
Be sure to get an accurate diagnosis of your condition from your dentist and a range of treatment options. Some dentists will insist or encourage you to have the most expensive surgery for monetary gain; get a second opinion if you are unsure.
Going to the dentist is the only guaranteed to work solution when it comes to how to stop tooth pain.
What to Do if You Have Tooth Pain? Medicate and Go to The Dentist
If you have tooth pain then you should try to see a dentist at the earliest opportunity. This is not always possible as dentists may be full. The situation might also be complicated by the Coronavirus pandemic.
In the meantime, you must medicate your mouth to ensure that you are not suffering in undue pain. Start with a basic medication first such as ibuprofen or paracetamol and then graduate to medications that might require a prescription.
If you are interested in learning more about what to do if you have tooth pain be sure to check out the rest of our site.