How You Can Manage Pain Caused by an Abscessed Tooth

A dental emergency is basically any dental issue that requires immediate dental attention. Dentists that provide emergency dental treatment operate 24/7 all year round because dental emergencies can occur at any hour of the day. If you find yourself experiencing severe tooth pain resulting from an abscessed tooth, you will need to see an emergency dentist as soon as possible. But until it is time to see the dentist, here are a number of things you can do to relieve a painful abscessed tooth. 

Gently brush and floss your teeth

If the pain from your abscessed tooth is not caused by trauma to the tooth, then severe tooth decay is the more likely culprit. If that is the case, there will be plaque buildup in or around the affected tooth. By brushing and flossing to remove plaque and food particles from the periodontal area, you may be able to reduce inflammation of the pulp, in turn, reducing toothache.

Rinse your mouth with tepid, salty water

This is another effective way to reduce pain resulting from an abscessed tooth. You should do it right after brushing and flossing your teeth so you can rinse out any loose food particles that may be remaining in your mouth. Salt water has anti-inflammation properties that can help alleviate pain caused by tooth abscess. It also serves as a disinfectant that kills bacteria in the affected tooth.

Take some pain relievers

Talk to your dentist about what pain killers you can take before making your visit to the dental clinic. You can always find a local 24 hour pharmacist that will provide you with the dosage you need to ease the pain. In most cases, a painful abscessed tooth results from inflammation of the pulp, so you will be able to lessen the pain with medication that reduces the inflammation. Pain relievers must never be put on the infected tooth and gum tissue because that could lead to burning of the tissue.

Take warm foods and drinks

If you must eat or drink something, make sure you eat warm food and drink warm beverages. Foods and drinks that are too hot or cold aggravate abscessed tooth pain, so simply avoid them.

While the pain caused by an abscessed tooth may subside by itself, you should never assume that the problem has gone away. The infection to your tooth pulp will spread and become more severe if left untreated over time. For that reason, make sure you seek emergency treatment for your abscessed tooth.