Emergency Toothache Relief

A toothache can happen at any time. You may bite down on something and feel pain or it may just ache for no apparent reason. No matter what, a toothache indicates that you have a dental issue that needs to be addressed. However, it's not always an emergency.

Amores Dental in Miami has two convenient locations to treat the root cause of your toothache. In this article, we'll explain what you need to know about emergency toothache relief.

Toothache Causes

Even if you can't see an obvious reason for it, tooth pain should never be ignored. The most common causes of toothache include:

• Cavities
• Bruxism
• Abscess
• Tooth root fracture
• Sinus infection/allergies
• Wisdom teeth

Other health conditions such as canker sores, cold sores, and others

7 Tips for Emergency Toothache Relief

If you have a toothache, it's important to schedule an appointment with the dentist as soon as possible. Even if the pain goes away, chances are it will come back if you do not treat the cause. However, in case you can't get an emergency dental appointment, there are some things you can do at home to relieve the pain:

• OTC pain relievers: NSAIDs, such as naproxen, ibuprofen, and aspirin, can help relieve pain and inflammation. Use as directed on the bottle.
• Clove oil: this home remedy has been used for decades- clove oil contains a substance known as eugenol, which can soothe pain due to its numbing effect.
• OTC Toothache drops/gels: these are formulated to provide temporary relief for a variety of oral pain, including toothaches.
• Ice packs: ice can reduce swelling and numb the area where applied. This is especially helpful if the tooth is infected and has caused the face to swell.
• Saltwater: warm saltwater is known to reduce swelling and kill bacteria.
• Garlic: while it has an undesirable effect on your breath, garlic has been shown to kill bacteria and provide relief from toothaches.
• Baking soda: create a paste by mixing baking soda and water and rub on and around the affected tooth to neutralize the environment, killing the bacteria.

When is a Toothache an Emergency?

Any time you have a toothache, it's important to see your dentist. However, a toothache is not always an emergency. Most of the time, you should be able to wait until regular office hours for an appointment. However, if you have any of the following with your tooth pain, it is considered an emergency and you should get into the dentist as soon as possible:

• Persistent Pain

  If pain-relieving measures do not help with your tooth pain or if the pain worsens after treatment, you should seek emergency dental care. This usually indicates a serious issue such as an abscess or severe tooth decay.

• Severe Sensitivity

  If you have severe sensitivity to extreme temps or to sugary foods, you should seek emergency dental care. This typically indicates problems with tooth restoration, severe decay, or exposed nerves.

• Pain with Pressure

  If the pain worsens when pressure is put on the affected tooth such as chewing, brushing, or simply touching the tooth, it is an emergency. This typically indicates a faulty restoration or significant tooth decay.

• Bleeding/Swelling Gums

  If your gums or cheeks are swollen, you may have a gum infection or gum disease. If bleeding and toothache are also present, you should seek emergency dental care. If not addressed early, infections can lead to additional oral and overall health issues.

• Strange Taste in Mouth/Bad Breath

  If you have a strange taste in your mouth or bad breath, not caused by foods such as garlic and onion, you may have severe decay, dental abscess, gum disease, or oral cancer.

• Swollen Jaw

  If you have a toothache along with swelling around the neck and jaw, you may have an infection that is spreading to other areas. This is a serious health risk, as it can spread to your cardiovascular system, respiratory system, or brain.

• Toothache from Trauma

  While your teeth are strong, they can be damaged due to sports accidents, car crashes, falling down, or biting on something hard. If you have a toothache, swelling, and/or bleeding after trauma to the mouth or face, it's important to seek dental care as soon as possible.

Amores Dental has two locations in Miami, Florida to take care of your emergency dental needs. If you have an emergency, contact the office as soon as possible to schedule your emergency appointment. We can get your situation under control and create a treatment plan to prevent issues in the future.

We have two offices, one in Dadeland and one in Palmetto Bay. We offer a variety of dental services including general dentistry, as well as cosmetic and restorative procedures.

Toothache FAQs

The team at Amores Dental in Miami will be happy to address your questions and concerns at any time during your treatment. Below, we have provided answers to some of the most common questions we get about toothaches.

• How long does toothache last?

  A toothache indicates that you have a dental issue that needs to be addressed- but it's not always an emergency. A minor toothache should only last a day or two before the pain resolves. However, if the pain is persistent and is accompanied by swelling and/or bleeding, it is an emergency and should be treated as soon as possible.

• Can toothache cause headache?

  Yes, there is a connection between toothaches and headaches. In some cases, tooth pain can cause a headache due to irritation of a shared nerve. Bruxism can cause muscle stress, which can also cause a toothache and/or a headache. In some cases, the headache is due to referred pain from TMJ or a sinus infection or other problem.

• How to help a toothache?

  There are several things you can do to help a toothache. However, it's important to note that these things only provide temporary relief. The best thing to do is visit the dentist and treat the root cause. Following are some home remedies for toothache relief:

  • OTC pain relievers
  • Clove oil
  • Garlic
  • Baking soda/water paste
  • Saltwater rinse
  • Ice packs
  • OTC toothache gels/drops

• Can you go to the emergency room for a toothache?

  If at all possible, it's best to visit a dentist when you have a toothache. Most of the time, an emergency room will not have a dentist on staff to treat these conditions. The best they will be able to do is prescribe an antibiotic and/or pain reliever and recommend you see a dentist as soon as possible.