A dentist (face not seen) uses a mirror to examine the cavities in a patient's mouth.

What Are The Best Home Remedies For Toothache?

Five Natural Remedies To Relieve Toothache In No Time

A visit to your dentist will be your top priority when you experience a toothache, but waiting for your appointment will be terrible. As painful as they may be, toothaches can throw your life out of gear. But don’t worry! Toothaches have solutions, which can be found in your own home. This article offers some proven techniques to relieve your toothache. Take a look at what’s possible.

But before that, know what causes toothache and why it is essential to seek medical attention when in pain.

Also Read : Dental Cavity – How to Know if You Have One?

What Causes Toothache?

A variety of factors can cause toothache. It can result from a tooth fracture, a dental cavity, an abscessed tooth, damaged dental fillings, or an infected gum. If left untreated, these conditions can result in complications such as tooth loss or loss of the bones supporting your teeth. In some cases, infections can spread to other parts of the body, resulting in hospitalization. Therefore, if your toothache is accompanied by symptoms like fever, swollen or red gums, throbbing pain, swelling of the face or jaw, or blood or pus, you should seek treatment as soon as possible.

Until you reach the dentists, alleviate your pain with these quick tips.

  • Brush your teeth with warm water and keep your mouth clean
  • Apply an anti-inflammatory over the affected area. But avoid topical medications directly over gums or teeth.
  • Apply clove oil if available at home
  • Avoid intake of hot or cold foods/drinks
  • Do not eat sugary or acidic food

Also Read : How to Identify Whether You Have a Tooth Cavity?

You can ask for OTC pain relief over the phone if your dental appointments are delayed. Make sure you mention your medications when requesting medicines over the phone. You can also relieve your pain by using simple home remedies. Here are five easy home remedies you should try.

A woman (face partially seen) in pain because of tooth ache.

5 Home Remedies To Alleviate Toothache

A simple saltwater rinse

Saltwater acts as a natural disinfectant. It is quite effective at loosening debris or food stuck between teeth. In addition to this, rinsing with salt water can minimize inflammation and heal any oral injuries. A half teaspoon of salt and a glass of warm water are the only ingredients you need to mix and rinse your mouth thoroughly.

Cold compress

The best way to relieve toothache resulting from trauma is to use a cold compress. Wrap a towel with ice and hold it on the affected area for about 20 minutes. Repeat the process every few hours. Cold compresses can reduce the severity of pain in the area by constricting the blood vessels. It can also reduce swelling and inflammation.

Garlic

In addition to being an excellent antibacterial agent, garlic is also an excellent pain reliever. Crush a garlic clove into a paste and apply it over the damaged area. Adding salt to the paste will also help.

Clove

Clove reduces inflammation and numbness. Mix 15 drops of clove oil with one ounce of carrier oil such as Jojoba or sunflower oil. Use a cotton ball to apply the mixture over the affected area a few times a day.

Guava leaves

Guava leaves have anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties that effectively heal oral wounds. Chew a fresh guava leaf or add crushed leaves to boiling water for mouthwash.

Wrapping up:

Homemade pain relievers are a good way to alleviate pain. Even if the pain subsides temporarily, you should still see your dentist. You have a chance of re-developing the pain if you don’t treat it. Read More.Visit our posts on dental filling and tooth decay for more information.

A dentist (face not seen) examining the fillings of a tooth in a patient.

After a Dental Filling: What to Do and Not Do

Introduction

Dental filling is the most common treatment for dental cavity. A few patients will experience mild to moderate discomfort after the filling sessions. In this post, let us see more about the dos and don’ts after filling cavities to reduce discomfort. Learn More

Also Read : Dental Cavity – How to Know if You Have One?

What Are the Possible Complications of Dental Filling?

1.Pain
Pain is a common complication after any dental filling procedure. Even though the filling is perfect, you will experience mild to moderate pain as you move your jaw. Some will also have a pain in their nearby teeth. Most of the time, this is quite normal. You must contact the dentist if the filling reshapes or smoothens. There is a high risk of cracking when the filling is in an improper form. If the pain prevails for more than a week, there is some underlying problem.

2.Sensitivity
Sensitivity to hot, cold and air after a dental filling are natural. It might increase while biting or applying extra pressure. Sensitivity usually happens with filling a deep cavity. To reduce the sensitiveness, consider using special toothpaste to solve the problem. However, it would be best if you take care to refrain from hot and cold foods for a few days. Try chewing the food on the other side of the mouth until the filling sets completely.

Also Read : How to Identify Whether You Have a Tooth Cavity?

3.Toothache
Sharp, throbbing pain after filling the teeth shows that the decay is deep. If tooth pain does not go away, you have to get a root canal instead. Consult with your dentist and make a decision.

4.Discomfort
As the anesthesia wears off, it is pretty normal to feel discomfort. On moving the jaws, the new filling will not seem comfortable. Most of the time, the filling will have sharp edges with uneven surfaces. A follow up with the dentist is the only solution to smoothen out the filling.

An amalgam filling inside a tooth.

Eating Habits After a Dental Filling

White fillings are composite materials that harden with the dentist’s blue light. As it hardens, you can eat and drink immediately. However, metal fillings take time to set. In such cases, you will have to wait patiently for a few hours before eating solid food. The dentist will request you to wait and have food to prevent bruising your tongue, lips, or cheeks. This is to let the local anesthesia wear off.

Closure
All said and done; it is best to refrain from consuming sticky and hard foodstuffs after a dental filling. Doing so for at least a week will ensure that you prevent pain and discomfort or any further complications. Visit our posts on tooth decay and toothache remedies for more information.

A closeup of cavities in the lower set of teeth in the mouth.

What Will Happen if You Don’t Treat a Tooth Decay?

Introduction

When you hear the word tooth cavity, all that you think of is pain. No one wants to face the complications of a dental cavity. Serious issues will happen if you do not treat the cavity. Keep reading to learn more about what will happen without treating a tooth cavity. Know More

Also Read : Dental Cavity – How to Know if You Have One?

All You Need to Know About a Tooth Cavity

It will take several years for tooth decay to form prominently. The most common reason for tooth decay is unclean teeth with food particles. Plaque sets in, and bacteria make their way into the teeth’ enamel. As bacteria starts eroding the enamel, it reaches the dentin. As infection proceeds deep into the dentin, the decay creates pain.

It would be best to understand that tooth decay will never self-heal. It will worsen with time and spread to the other teeth with improper care. A cavity is like cancer. It will keep growing and cause great damage. To prevent spreading, the removal of the decay is the only choice. If the cavity:

  • Is in its early stage, dental fillings will be helpful.
  • Reaches tooth root; you will need a root canal procedure.
  • Further grows, the dentist will extract your teeth from the jaw.

Also Read : How to Identify Whether You Have a Tooth Cavity?

Once the infection sets in the body, it will cause trouble to various body parts. Without treating the infection, the patient will never be able to resume a normal life. Therefore, if you are experiencing similar symptoms, seek immediate help to treat the root cause of your problem. Remember that the bacteria from tooth decay can easily enter the bloodstream. In such scenarios, it will affect the entire health.

A dentist (face not seen) examines the cavities inside the lower teeth of a patient with a mirror.

Dental Cavity Symptoms

You can lookout for a few symptoms and signs to understand whether you are developing a tooth cavity.

  • Sudden toothache
  • Sensitivity surfacing suddenly
  • Pain while chewing food
  • Hot & cold sensitivity
  • Dark spots on teeth surface

How to Prevent a Tooth Decay?

With certain basic dental hygiene and good practice, you will be able to prevent the formation of a cavity.

  • Brush teeth twice every day
  • Use fluoride-rich toothpaste
  • Take regular dental check-ups
  • Use sealants

Summing It Up
Suppose you suspect a cavity schedule an immediate appointment with a dentist instead of concluding things. Remember that a cavity will develop even without the slightest sign or symptom. Therefore, along with proper oral hygiene, seek help from a dentist with frequent check-ups. Doing so will help preserve your teeth health in the long run. Visit our posts on dental filling and toothache remedies for more information.

Doctor talking with the child

How to Identify Whether You Have a Tooth Cavity?

Tooth decay has an impact on the overall health of a person. By analyzing the teeth, early treatments can prevent decays from getting worse. Hence it is essential to look out for signs and symptoms of decay with regular dental check-ups. Learn everything you need to know about dental cavity in this article.

Also Read : Dental Cavity – How to Know if You Have One?

What Is a Dental Cavity?

Tooth decay or dental cavity happens when the enamel erodes due to bacterial infection. A tooth becomes more susceptible to decay as certain foods or plagues react to the sensitive enamel. Eventually, when the enamel wears off, it becomes easier for bacteria to reach the inner dentin. Thereby, it causes a cavity.

Signs & Symptoms of Dental Cavities

You can spot a tooth cavity with a dental examination. In a few situations, a dental x-ray confirms the decay. Tooth decay mostly happens at the posterior teeth as it becomes challenging to clean them.

Signs and symptoms of tooth decay are:

Dark Spots
Discoloration or dark spots on the tooth surface is the first sign in identifying a cavity. Initially, they might seem like a stain, but they grow into large and dark spots over time. In rare cases, cavities also seem like white or light color marks on the tooth surface.

Tooth displaying signs of cavity

Sensitivity
As the cavity grows, the dentin exposes more. The nature of dentin is that it is porous, which increases tooth sensitivity. This aggravates the consumption of hot or cold foodstuffs. Over time it will also develop into pain on a specific tooth or area, clearly indicating a cavity.

Also Read : What Will Happen if You Don’t Treat a Tooth Decay?

Craters
The bacteria start to eat the tooth surface. This causes holes or craters on the enamel. Such pits will require a filling. The dentist will clean the hole and fix the tooth with an effective filling.

Bad Breath
Bacteria thriving in the cavity will produce waste. This causes an unpleasant taste in the mouth and bad breath. When the breath becomes impossible to mask, consult a dentist and get a check-up.

Pain
A cavity will cause discomfort and pain. You will experience sharp, shocking pain with every bite. The pain will make things worse and restrict regular activity. This is because the infection reaches the inner nerve of a tooth.

Final Words
Dental hygiene is the only way to keep your mouth and teeth healthy. Therefore, brush and floss twice every day. Rinse the mouth frequently to keep plaque and bacteria away. Most importantly, schedule dental examination and professional cleaning once every six months. Read More.Visit our posts on dental filling and toothache remedies for more information.

Dental Clinic - inside view

Dental Cavity – How to Know if You Have One?

Dental Cavities – What you Need to Know?

A cavity is another term for tooth decay. Cavities form as tiny holes in your tooth and cause permanent damage to your tooth. If left untreated, cavities can result in tooth loss.

Although some may be more susceptible to this condition, lifestyle habits can influence how likely you are to develop it. Of course, scheduled visits to the dental hospital can help keep the condition in check.

Now let’s look at how cavities form and how to prevent them. We shall also examine the treatment options. Learn More

What Causes Cavities and How to Prevent?

Cavities are caused when the enamel of your teeth gets damaged due to plaque formation. Plaque is nothing but a combination of food particles, saliva, acids and bacteria.

Every human being has some amount of bacteria in their mouth. When you consume sugary foods or those high in starches, these bacteria turn them into acids. These acids erode the enamel, resulting in cavities. Other factors that deteriorate the condition include:

  • Poor oral hygiene
  • Consuming sugary foods or drinks
  • Smoking
  • Dry mouth
  • Other underlying medical problems such as diabetes.

Though seemingly harmless, untreated cavities could cause more severe damages including permanent loss of tooth.

Symptoms
Only a dentist can diagnose and conclude if you have a decayed tooth. However, you can still recognize some common symptoms that indicate a developing problem.

  • A toothache that appears suddenly
  • Tooth sensitivity to hot and cold foods and drinks
  • Pits or holes in the tooth
  • Black or brown stains on your teeth

Prevention
It’s no secret that poor lifestyle habits cause cavities. This means they can easily be prevented by making appropriate changes to your lifestyle.

  • Brush your teeth twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste
  • Floss regularly to remove plaque accumulation between the teeth
  • Have a balanced diet and avoid sugary foods.
  • Have routine dental checkups and tooth cleanings

Remember, preventive care can lower the risk of these dental conditions and eliminate minor issues before they become major threats.

A Doctor examining patient for cavities

Diagnosis and Treatment options

As we have been saying, regular dental visits are the best way to ensure a cavity is diagnosed in its early stages and treated right. Treatment options depend on the severity of the problem and the tooth that has got affected. For cavities that have just started, there are several home remedies such as a salt water rinse that can help reduce pain.

Fluoride treatments
If your cavity has just started, a simple fluoride treatment can address the issue.

Fillings
If the cavity has progressed, your dentist will safely remove the damaged portion of the tooth and replace it with a dental filling.

Dental crowns
If a considerable portion of your tooth is decayed, your dentist will drill out all the decayed portions and replace the natural crown of your tooth with a custom-fitted crown.

Root canal treatment
If the decay has reached the root, a root canal treatment may be required to repair the damage. The damaged tooth pulp is removed, and the area is filled.

Extraction
A worst-case scenario, this will be the last resort when the damage to the tooth is so severe that it cannot be restored.

Bottom line
A cavity at the outset might seem like a minor issue. But the condition may escalate and cause severe problems, if ignored. The best thing you can do to ensure a healthy smile is to stay vigilant on your oral routine, watch for signs of decay and have scheduled dental visits.