I have a serious toothache! What can I do until I can get in with the dentist?

Question

I am in pain please give me some suggestions! I cant take this much longer. My dentist wont be open until tomorrow! I am taking pain pills that I had for my back but it only helps for a little while. Any suggestions?

Answer 1

You could always take an over-the-counter pain reliever, such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) or acetaminophen (Tylenol). However, be aware that you will still need to see a dentist; If you mask the pain with a painkiller and ignore it, the infection can spread and could even become life threatening.
(1) Rinse Your Toothache - Take a mouthful of water (at body temperature) and rinse vigorously, says Dr. Taintor. If your toothache is caused by trapped food, a thorough rinse may dislodge the problem.

(2) Floss Gently - If swishing doesn't work, you can try to pry the popcorn hulls or tiny bits of meat out from between your teeth by flossing, says Dr. Taintor. Be gentle! Your gums are likely to be sore.

(3) Suck On A Moist Teabag - Place it as close to the aching tooth as possible.

(4) Rinse with Salty Water - After each meal and at bedtime, stir 1 teaspoon of salt into an 8-ounce glass of water (again, at body temperature), says Dr. Corn. Hold each mouthful, roll it around your mouth. Spit.

(5) Massage with Ice - Rub an ice cube into the V-shaped area where the bones of the thumb and forefinger meet. Gently push the ice over the tooth ache area for 5 to 7 minutes. In a study, Ronald Melzack, Ph.D., a Canadian researcher and past president of the International Association for the Study of Pain, found ice massage eased toothache pain in 60 to 90 percent of the people who tried it. His research shows this procedure works by sending rubbing impulses along the nerve pathways that the toothache pain would normally travel on. Since the pathways can carry only one signal at a time, rubbing outweighs the pain.

(6) Use Oil of Cloves - People have been using this over-the-counter remedy for many years, says Richard Shepard, D.D.S., a retired dentist in Durango, Colorado. Most drugstores carry tiny bottles of the oil. Drop a little directly onto the tooth, or dab a little on a cotton ball and pack the elixir next to the tooth ache. If you have a whole clove, place a whole clove between the aching tooth and your cheek. It can be held in place by holding your finger on the outside of the cheek. Chew the cloves a little to release their juice, then leave them in place for half an hour or so or until the pain subsides.


Refer to http://www.discountdental4u.net/toothache.htm

Answer 2

In addition to using the pain medication of your choice, sleep on an extra pillow to elevate your head. Sleep on the side that does NOT have a toothache. If that doesn't work, you can move to a recliner or the sofa so you can keep your head really elevated. This will minimize the blood flow to the area and therefore minimize the throbbing and pain. This might help you make it through the night until you can see a dentist.

Answer 3

If you are not sure what is causing your toothache bend over so your head is lower than your heart... if it hurts much worse your tooth ache could actually be sinus pressure on a nerve that makes it feel like your tooth is hurting, then you can take something for allergies and sinuses (happens alot during spring and fall allergy seasons-like right now) if not, you can see if your dentist has an emergency number (you can call your local hospitals main number and ask if he has an emergency number if it's not listed in phone book) till then orajel or anbesol

Answer 4

Got any whisky in the house? Swill this over the bad tooth. Read a few days ago about putting pepper on a damp cloth and gently rubbing it around the base of the tooth. Another one is to place an aspirin on the tooth and let it disolve. I really feel for you,I know how bad it can be. Hope the pain stops soon and the hours pass quick until you can get to the dentist

Answer 5

Take 3 ibuprofrens, that'll equal 1 600MG prescription pill.

You could try getting some woven floss and putting toothache liquid drops on the floss and gently floss in the gums to get the toothache liquid deep into your gums.

If there's a hole, sometimes I pack it full with cool mint toothpaste. The cool sensation seems to help.

Answer 6

Get some ambesol & use it as often as you need. Place it actually ON the tooth, as well as on the surrounding areas. Also, IBprofin (Advil) will bring down the inflamation & offer you some relief as well. You might be able to get an antibiotic shipped out which will get the infection under control; just call up your regular dentist & explain your symptoms. If you have an abcess, it should be treatable w/ a antibiotic. I hope this helped!

Answer 7

The more pain you have , the more you are likely to clench your jaws. Try a mouth guard. It may help a little. Also, try a heating pad on your face (not too hot). I have found ibuprofren & naproxen sodium better than tylenol products (acetometaphin). If that doesn't work, add some warm Wild Turkey to it. I will be thinking of you. I know you are miserable. Been there - done that.

Answer 8

try gargling with listerine, then put adult ambesol on the area that hurts then take some motrin. But first, how did you get the tooth ache? if the tooth is cracked then call your dentist for an emergency. if you just have a really bad cavity that is going into the root well just expect some drilling tomorrow.

Answer 9

Painkillers like ibuprofen may help. If you can get someone with a prescription painkiller to let you bum off of them, those generally help more. Depending on the toothache, extreme heat or cold may help to ease the pain. If you have to, go to an ER and they might give you a prescription painkiller on site.

Answer 10

Go to the pharmacy and they have a lot of toothache medication that you can apply temporarily until you see your dentist. Good luck.