My tooth hurts! Now what?
Before managing any dental problem at home, ask for the dentist's opinion, call him or write on the available networks.
As you well know, during this period we can only treat dental emergencies.
What is a dental emergency and what is not?
Urgent dental treatments:
facial inflammation (swelling of the face) extended to the eyes and throat.
continuous bleeding after extraction that does not stop after 20 minutes after dressing pressure.
bleeding due to certain facial / dental trauma
fractured, broken tooth causing significant pain
nocturnal toothache associated with swelling that cannot be relieved by medication.
Swelling of the face with impaired vision, breathing and the inability to open the mouth with more than 2 fingers wide and trauma through loss of consciousness, double vision associated with vomiting is an immediate cause of dental emergency.
Non-urgent dental treatment:
decimation or loss of the crown, dental bridge or dental veneer.
broken, unadapted or damaged prostheses
bleeding gums
broken or incomplete dental fillings (fillings)
broken teeth without significant pain
weakened orthodontic arches
What medications can we take home for toothache?
Anti-inflammatory drugs such as Ibuprofen reduce toothache. Alternating it with paracetamol has been shown to be effective.
If you are allergic to any of these medicines, call your dentist for further instructions.
If you have no symptoms of coronavirus, ibuprofen can be taken normally. If you have coronavirus symptoms, call your family doctor urgently for specific instructions.
People over the age of 16 can take paracetamol 1g 4 times a day or ibuprofen 400 mg 3 times a day (unless you are allergic). They can alternate for efficiency.
If the toothache is severe cold or hot, antibiotics do not help. In this case, the intervention of the dentist will be necessary.
Good oral hygiene with Sensodyne Rapid Relief, Biorepair Fast or Himalaya Herbals Sensi-Relief improves the situation until it can intervene directly in the treatment of caries. Limiting meals, continuous gnawing along with rigorous oral hygiene at home will relieve you of toothache and gum pain. Don't forget about interdental cleaning with mouth shower / interdental floss or interdental brushes. Any food left between the teeth or around the gums can cause pain for a while.
Lack of oral hygiene at some point will cause pain. Brush your teeth daily!
For mental pain, it is also important to maintain strict oral hygiene. Using clear mouthwash or warm salt water and a gingival gel (eg Parodium, Elugel, Periokin, Orajel) will relieve the pain of the eruption of the wisdom tooth. The diet should be soft and medication with Ibuprofen and paracetamol eliminates pain. If you can't swallow and can't open your mouth, call the dentist to prescribe antibiotics because the infection is widespread.
Canker sores and ulcers usually heal on their own in 7-10 days or you can use Anaftin, Urgo gel Canker sores, Alovex, Gengigel. Oral ulcers or lesions that do not heal in more than 3 weeks require direct consultation.
If you have a canker sore from the denture, remove the prosthesis for healing and use a gingival gel mentioned above at the same time.
Do not use superglue at home to repair braces or dentures.
In the case of wounds from braces, springs, brackets use tooth wax. If you have a wound due to braces, rinse with lukewarm salt water or Curasept or Corsodyl gel 4 times for 5 days. Gingival gels for ulcers and canker sores are just as useful.
Tooth sensitivity is largely due to gingival retraction, extensive fillings or caries. Careful brushing with a desensitizing toothpaste, left overnight in the painful area for 1 week will reduce or even eliminate tooth sensitivity. You can use regular anti-inflammatory drugs if necessary.
Proper oral hygiene and reducing sugary drinks and foods will help you get through this period.
For any dental pain or uncertainty regarding dental problems, ask your initial dentist.
With care,
Dr. Stefania Mezdrea