As we get older suddenly we realised many things we didn't appreciate about being young - being fit, having smooth skin and having all your own teeth. As our loose teeth (and bridges) struggle to deal with chewier food we start eating bland mush and, there is no easy way to say this, OLD PEOPLE FOOD. I'm determined not to let that happen to me and I'm doing everything I can to keep my own teeth as long as possible, and when that's not possible to get the best possible teeth replacement. If you are like me and want to keep on eating whatever you want, I think you'll like my site. It's all about dental health and teeth replacement & maintenance.
Keeping your teeth young
How to Manage Tooth Abscess Pain Until You Get to the Dentist
Mabel Hicks
If you get a regular toothache at night or during the weekend when your dentist's office is closed, you may be able to manage the pain with over-the-counter medications until your dentist is open for business again. This may not be so easy if you have an abscess on your tooth.
Abscess pain can be very bad. Typically, your tooth will be extremely sensitive and may throb painfully or feel tense all of the time, making it hard for you to find relief. While you may not be able to stop the pain of a dental abscess completely, there are ways to make the tooth a little less painful until you can have the abscess treated.
Take Painkillers
While painkillers may not stop your abscess pain, they will give you some relief. If you can, try taking soluble painkillers rather than tablets that you swallow whole. Swishing a soluble painkiller around the affected tooth before swallowing the solution may help numb the tooth a little. This may give you some immediate relief while you wait for the painkillers to work.
It's best to take painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen. If you can, avoid taking aspirin. According to myDr, aspirin may make you bleed more, which may give your dentist problems when you have the abscess treated. If aspirin is the only painkiller you have, make sure to tell your dentist that you have used it.
Use Cold to Numb the Area
Sometimes, a dental abscess is more painful if it comes into contact with hot or cold liquids or foods. As the abscess progresses, however, you may find that cold actually gives you some relief from the pain as it numbs the throbbing temporarily.
If your abscess is at the stage where cold helps, you can try the following tips:
- Swish sips of cold water around the abscess area. Swallow the water or spit it out once it starts to feel warm in your mouth.
- Make a homemade mouthwash by adding a drop or two of tea tree oil or a small spoon of salt to cold water. The antiseptic properties of the oil or salt may also give you some relief from the pain. Make sure to spit the mouthwash out when you're done and don't swallow it – salt water may make you vomit and you shouldn't swallow tea tree oil.
- Hold an ice pack or a flannel that you've dipped in cold water against the outside of your cheek by the abscess site.
Tip: According to myDr, clove oil toothache treatments that you can buy at chemists may also help numb the abscessed area for a short time. If you use one of these products, take care to follow the instructions carefully, Clove oil can actually irritate your gums and teeth if you use it incorrectly or apply too much.
Find a Comfortable Position
According to allhealth, you may find that the position of your body makes your abscess pain worse, especially at night when you lie down. If you are trying to get some rest and the pain increases when you lie down in bed, you may find that using pillows to prop you up in a sitting position lessens the pain slightly.
Although these remedies may help you live with your tooth abscess pain for a few hours, they won't fix the problem and you should see a dentist as soon as you can to have the abscess treated.
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