Nobody really bothers to ask that question until the need truly arises. Many claim that a toothache is worse than most common pains the body experiences; it’s pain that seems to spread throughout the body and refuses to let it be productive. The pain’s often severe enough that most people resolve to work out their dentist-aversion issues so as not to be subjected to the same suffering again.

In earlier times, people dealt with toothaches by placing cloves on the affected tooth and gums. The numbing ability of cloves relieves the pain but only for a short moment. This method however, is not advisable for children because the flavour is too potent for them to tolerate. Some also used vanilla extract, peppermint oil or the simple salt and water solution for gargling. All these tactics only worked to a certain degree but none can fully cure the source of the pain.

These days, people who refuse to seek out a dentist resort to pain-relieving drugs which are typically only effective for a couple of hours. This is not a safe strategy especially without the prescription of a dentist and if the pain’s been lingering for more days than usual. Eventually the pain relieving drug would lose its effect and may push people to take more than usual which can produce really harmful effects.

Toothaches are often caused by the following reasons:

• abscess of the tooth – which is an infection with pus and swelling of the gums
• tooth decay
• tooth fracture
• damaged filling
• gum problems
• repetitive motions such as when chewing gum or tough meat

Common symptoms include severe pain around the affected area (cheeks, ears and jaws), swelling, foul taste in the drainage of the infected tooth and even fever.

Treatment for toothache always depends on the cause. Dentists can prescribe patients to take antibiotics to get rid of the infection for a set number of days, along with pain relievers.
As many would say, prevention is better than cure; with proper oral hygiene — brushing teeth for at least two minutes twice a day, flossing, and using a non-alcohol-based mouthwash; eating a proper diet of food rich in vitamins, calcium and minerals; and regularly visiting to the dentist for check-up and oral prophylaxis – you may not have to deal with the mind-numbing pain of toothaches ever again.

 

Ben Swindley Dental, Mermaid Waters provides dental diagnostics read more here.