How To Relieve Toothache You Can Do Yourself at Home

Toothache is one of the most common conditions suffered by most people. Toothache can make it difficult for a person to concentrate, eat, and drink. You need to see a doctor if you have a toothache, so that the cause can be treated properly.

Causes of Toothache

To be able to relieve toothache, the cause must be understood first. The causes of toothache, among others:

1.     Cavity
2.     Food residue that is stuck between your teeth, especially if your teeth are loose
3.     Inflammation of the roots of the teeth or gums
4.     Trauma from injury or biting too hard
5.     Cracked or broken teeth
6.     Teething
7.     Sinusitis
8.     Tooth abscess
9.     Broken/loose tooth fillings

Different Causes, Different Characteristics of Toothache

Here are some of the characteristics of toothaches and their underlying causes. It is important to identify the cause of the toothache first so that it can make it easier for you to find ways to relieve the toothache. Toothache in the form of sharp, stabbing, and lasting pain

The causes are cavities, cracked or broken teeth, loose fillings. Usually appears when there is a hot, cold, or sweet stimulus. In the case of a cracked tooth, pain is felt if there is solid food residue stuck in the crack, and pain occurs every time you bite or chew. Gums that fall due to the wrong way of brushing your teeth, after cleaning tartar, or thinning teeth due to a high-acid diet can also be the cause.
Toothache in the form of dull, throbbing, and persistent pain

Most often caused by advanced cavities. Toothache tends to recur even though the cavities have been filled. This condition usually occurs when the hole has reached the pulp, so that it is exposed to the nerve of the tooth. Initially, toothache only appears if there is a stimulus, but then it appears spontaneously. Hot stimuli aggravate the pain, while cold makes the pain less.
How to Relieve Toothache

Here are ways to relieve toothache that you can do yourself at home:

1.     Gargle with warm water. You can also try gargling with salt water, by dissolving teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water.
2.     Use dental floss to remove food debris that is stuck between your teeth.
3.     Take over-the-counter pain relievers. Choose medicines that contain paracetamol for children.
4.     If the toothache is caused by trauma, apply a cold compress from the outside of the cheek.
5.     Place an ice cube in your hand, on the same side as the aching tooth. Apply an ice cube between your thumb and forefinger for about 7 minutes or until the area feels numb.
6.     Clove oil is believed to relieve pain. Apply directly to the sore area or put clove oil on a cotton swab, then press the affected area with the cotton.
7.     Garlic contains allicin which will come out when cut / ground. Allicin is known as the content of garlic that can fight disease.

If your toothache is accompanied by the following signs, you need to see a dentist immediately for further treatment:

•     Toothache that persists for more than 2 days
•     Toothache that doesn't go away with painkillers
•     Accompanied by fever, pain when chewing or opening the mouth, redness of the gums, a bitter taste in the mouth
•     Swollen cheeks or jaw
•     Difficulty breathing or swallowing

How to Prevent Toothache

Most toothaches are caused by cavities. To prevent toothache, it is important to maintain oral and dental hygiene by:

•     Regularly brushing teeth with toothpaste containing fluoride
•     Clean between teeth with dental floss once a day
•     Gargle with mouthwash 1-2 times a day
•     Have your teeth checked by the dentist every 6 months
•     Reduce eating foods that contain sugar