Although toothaches can be torturous, they don’t always have to be immediately treated by a dentist in order for the pain to be alleviated. Quite often you can treat your own toothache and get fast relief. Here are several things you can do to get rid of a toothache without going to the dentist first:
1) Use a pain-relieving gel— use a gel with eugenol or benzocaine. Both gels can numb an aching tooth with their mild anaesthetic action. An effective gel costs about $3.00 a tube at most drug stores.
2) Use zinc oxide putty— this is effective as a temporary filling in a bad tooth when you can’t get in to see your dentist for a few days. Zinc oxide putty has the numbing agent eugenol that will give you relief until your dentist can see you. While the product is effective, you should get to a dentist as soon as possible. Zinc oxide putty costs about $3.00 at most drug stores.
3) Use oil of cloves— you can get this temporary remedy over-the-counter at most drug stores. Apply a small amount of the oil directly onto the offending tooth, or put a drop on a small piece of cotton and press lighly against the ache.
4) Use a floss pick— it isn’t always convenient to carry dental floss wherever you go. Floss picks, which are actually plastic tooth picks with a taut length of floss attached to one end, make it more practical and easier to dislodge pain-causing particles wedged in a tooth or caught under a denture. Floss picks are priced at about $1.50 at most drug stores.
While the above four suggestions will help ease the immediate pain of a toothache, you should also heed professional warnings about toothaches. Experts advise that you see a dentist if your toothache lasts longer than several minutes. If your tooth is simply sensitive to cold or sweets, the ache should pass momentarily. But, if your toothache is unprovoked and it lingers, it could be a sign that a more serious problem exists. Pain relievers should only be used for immediate and temporary relief until you can see your dentist.
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