Toothache often requires treatment by a dentist, because the pain is not only annoying, but can have serious consequences for health if left untreated. What helps against toothache and how you can prevent, you will learn here.
Consequences of toothache
The consequences of an untreated bacterial inflammation are particularly problematic, since the oral cavity is very well supplied with blood and the pathogens can spread quickly in the body and due to the immediate proximity to the brain also well there. In the past, for example, untreated dental inflammation often led to heart valve changes – the bacteria readily settled on the heart valve and slowly destroyed it. Fortunately, the increasing frequency of dental visits over the past 20 years has led to a steady decline in this secondary disease.
What to do about toothache?
While tooth extraction, while radical in the past, was known as the only effective remedy for toothache, today there are many ways to relieve pain while preserving the tooth. Basically, you should always visit your dentist – even if the last check-up was unremarkable and you are reluctant to go to the dentist. He or she will competently tell you what exactly is wrong with your teeth and will immediately set about remedying the cause of your toothache – whether it is providing a decayed tooth with a filling or, if necessary, removing a nerve root, i.e. performing a root canal treatment. You usually don’t have to wait long as a pain patient; you can get an early appointment.
Painkillers for toothache
You can bridge the time gap until the appointment with a light painkiller from the pharmacy in the short term – but you should avoid acetylsalicyl-containing drugs (for example, in aspirin), as these lead to an increased bleeding tendency, which may complicate a necessary operation. Suitable pain relievers for toothache include:
- Ibuprofen (analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic).
- Paracetamol (analgesic but not anti-inflammatory).
- Diclofenac (highly effective, only available in small doses over the counter).
- Metamizole (available only on prescription)
For severe toothache, your dentist will prescribe an appropriate painkiller. For mild toothache, you can also resort to home remedies.
Home remedies: what helps against toothache?
A popular home remedy for toothache is clove oil: coat the painful area with an anti-inflammatory and disinfecting clove oil preparation. Chewing dried rosemary leaves and gargling with sage tea or diluted tea tree oil are also well-known home remedies for toothache. Try what works in your case. You may find that the pain increases at night and with physical exertion – avoid all activities that increase circulation, and cool your cheek in the evening with a cold, moist poultice or an onion or savoy wrap.
Prevent toothache – 5 tips
To prevent toothache, thorough oral hygiene is essential. Keep the following tips in mind:
- The best way to prevent toothache is to visit the dentist regularly. Twice a year, the statutory health insurance companies cover the cost of the examination at the dentist; he will explain to you exactly how your teeth are and what you can do to protect your teeth.
- An important factor is to brush your teeth properly and regularly, which is supported by flossing. As a guideline, brush your teeth twice a day and thread the interdental spaces once a day.
- Your dentist may advise you to have a professional teeth cleaning – how often you should have this activity performed by professionals again depends on the condition of your teeth.
- If your teeth are very sensitive to cold, hot or sweet things, for example, during the professional teeth cleaning they can explain to you exactly which toothpaste will help to support your enamel.
- Otherwise, remember to have your teeth checked before traveling by plane, diving or mountain vacations: poorly supplied fillings can cause gas islands to expand in the tooth during sudden changes in air pressure and lead to severe attacks of pain.
