How To Manage Dental Pain Until You Can See A Dentist

A sudden toothache can be excruciatingly painful and leave you desperate for relief. Making an emergency appointment with a qualified dental team, such as the one at EK Dental in Winnipeg, is the first step toward identifying and treating the underlying cause of your discomfort—but what can you do to alleviate symptoms such as pain and inflammation in the meantime?

While every case is unique and a prompt appointment with an emergency dentist offers the fastest road to a complete and lasting recovery, there are several temporary tooth pain relief options you can try while you wait.

Let's take a closer look below:

What Is A Dental Emergency?

Dental emergencies encompass oral infections, pain, swelling, excessive bleeding, or facial traumas that impact the ability to chew or speak, perform daily tasks, sleep comfortably, or enjoy a high quality of life. Left untreated, emergency dental problems can rapidly escalate, which is why the team at EK Dental makes it a priority to accommodate emergency patients as quickly as possible. Some of the dental emergencies we commonly treat include:

• Lost fillings, crowns, or bridges
• Broken, chipped, or cracked teeth
• Facial or gum swelling
• Abscessed teeth
• Toothache
• Facial trauma

Temporary Pain Management For Emergency Dental Pain

The pain management solutions below may provide temporary relief while waiting for your emergency dental appointment:

Saltwater Rinses

Rinsing the mouth with a saltwater solution can naturally disinfect the affected area, and remove food particles stuck between teeth or around the gum line. Saltwater rinses may also help to reduce inflammation.

Cold Compress

Over-the-counter pain medications such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like Advil, or topical drops/gels may temporarily reduce oral pain and inflammation. You may also choose to take Tylenol, which also aids in pain reduction, but does not offer anti-inflammatory benefits. If the pain is substantial, you can also alternate between Advil and Tylenol every 2-3 hours. These options won't address the root cause of your discomfort, therefore, they should never be viewed as a permanent solution.

Diet Modification

If you're experiencing a dental emergency, stick to a soft diet and try to avoid the following:

• Extremely hot or cold foods/beverages
• High-sugar foods and beverages
• Hard or crunchy foods
• Acidic foods or beverages
• Alcohol

Elevate The Head

If you need to rest or sleep while dealing with a severely painful tooth, try elevating your head to prevent blood from pooling, which can worsen symptoms.

Natural Remedies

• Garlic - Crushed garlic can help to kill bacteria. You can try gently chewing a clove of garlic or applying a garlic paste to the affected area.
• Clove Oil - Cloves are known to have antiseptic properties. Soak a cotton ball in a mixture of clove oil and olive oil and apply it to the affected area of your mouth or combine a drop or two of clove oil in a glass of water as a mouth rinse.
• Peppermint - Sipping on room-temperature peppermint tea or applying a wet peppermint tea bag to your painful gum or tooth may help to temporarily alleviate pain and fight bacteria.
• Hydrogen Peroxide - Try reducing inflammation and pain with a hydrogen peroxide rinse: 1 part hydrogen peroxide (3%) and 2 parts water.

Emergency Dental Care At EK Dental In Winnipeg

Seeking emergency dental in Winnipeg? The compassionate, qualified, and highly experienced team at EK Dental is ready to help. Contact our office right now to book an appointment and receive the treatment you need!