Unbearable Tooth Pain: What To Do?

It is when your teeth start to hurt, you learn the actual meaning of pain! Unbearable tooth pain can make a literal hell out of your life, right? Almost all of you have suffered from this condition at least once in your life. Teeth are an important part of your body; maintaining proper dental and oral hygiene is the key to preventing unbearable tooth pain.

This article will help you learn what measures to take when confronted with excruciating tooth pain. It will discuss the key factors that cause this condition and what can be done to prevent its onset at the earliest possible. So jump right into the article and find out everything about ‘unbearable tooth pain: what to do’.

 Identifying The Source Of The Pain

Having unbearable tooth pain can be a debilitating experience. The pain can be different and ranges from occasional bursts of discomfort and a constant and dull ache in the teeth. Various reasons can cause unbearable tooth pain.

Identifying these sources of pain is necessary to address the issue and provide a feasible solution. Here are some of the causes that result in unbearable tooth pain:

• Tooth Decay

Tooth decay is a condition characterized by damage to your dental surface which leads to tooth cavities or dental caries. It is certain bacteria in your mouth that cause plaque formation and lead to tooth decay. Having tooth decay is considered a source of unbearable tooth pain.

• Tooth abscess or infection

A tooth abscess or infection is a formation of pus due to bacterial infection in the gums. It is characterized by symptoms such as throbbing or gnawing pain, sharp and shooting pain with discomfort, pain that spreads to jaw bones and cheeks, etc.

• Gum diseases or gingivitis

Gum diseases are caused by the inflammation of your gums due to bacterial attacks. In some cases, viral and fungal infections can also lead to this condition. This condition is formed when the plaque in the teeth becomes hardened and extends below your gum line. Having gum disease or gingivitis can be a major cause of unbearable tooth pain.

• Bruxism or teeth-grinding

Another possible cause of unbearable tooth pain is bruxism or teeth grinding. This happens when you clench or grind your teeth and this can happen either consciously or unconsciously. If you do it in your wake hours, it is called awake bruxism and if it is done in sleep it is called sleep bruxism. This condition can lead to damage to your teeth’ enamel and soreness.

• Tooth Sensitivity

Also called dentin hypersensitivity, this happens when your enamel gets eroded which leaves your teeth exposed to cold, hot, and sweet sensations. Some of the symptoms of tooth sensitivity include pain and discomfort with hot foods and beverages, cold and sweet foods, brushing or flossing your teeth, etc.

• Injury or trauma to the tooth

Any injury to your teeth, gums, jaws, and surrounding structures refers to dental trauma. Some of them are chipped teeth, dislodged teeth, cracked teeth, avulsed teeth, etc. Having an injured tooth can also cause unbearable tooth pain.

Managing Unbearable Tooth Pain

If you are suddenly under the attack of unbearable tooth pain, here are some quick solutions you can take to relieve the pain:

• Salt water rinse-  One of the quickest ways to relieve unbearable tooth pain is to rinse your mouth with salt water. Due to its antiseptic properties, salt can bring down inflammation and relieve your discomfort and pain. You can mix a teaspoon of salt into a cup of warm water and rinse your mouth with this solution.
• Use over-the-counter pain relief- Painkillers such as ibuprofen and acetaminophen can be effective in relieving you from unbearable tooth pain.  It can provide temporary relief and reduce inflammation.
• Apply a cold compress- You can make a cold compress by wrapping some ice cubes inside a towel. Gently apply this compress on your cheeks where the pain feels. Repeat this for every 20-minute interval.
• Clove oil- Traditionally, clove oil has been used to treat unbearable tooth pain.  It can provide a numbing effect due to its antiseptic properties. You can apply the oil using a cotton swab and gently spread it on the affected area. The active compound in clove oil called eugenol is of antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties.
• Drink a lot of water- If you have unbearable tooth pain, hydration is necessary. Drinking more water can stimulate your salivary glands to produce more saliva which will prevent your mouth from going dry.
• Limit certain foods- Consuming extremely hot and cold beverages can aggravate your tooth pain. It is always better to choose soft, non-sugar, and non-acidic foods when you have tooth pain.

How To Prevent Unbearable Tooth Pain?

Keeping optimum oral health can prevent you from unbearable tooth pain. Some of the methods you can follow in this regard include:

• Maintain your oral hygiene- One of how you can keep your teeth away from unbearable tooth pain is by practicing good oral hygiene. Brush your teeth twice daily in a proper manner. Also, floss your teeth to clean in between the teeth ridges and gums.
• Change your dietary habits- Consuming a lot of acidic foods and sugar can damage your teeth. So limit these food items and drink plenty of water. This will help with saliva production.
• Say no to smoking- Smoking is a major culprit behind oral health conditions like tooth decay. You need to ditch this habit to maintain oral health.
• Reduce caffeine and alcohol- Like smoking, these habits can also have detrimental effects on your teeth. They might cause tooth decay, dehydration, and dry mouth.
• Practice regular dental checkups- Having a regular dentist checkup can help them to identify any issues at the earliest and provide ideal solutions based on that. 

Signs You Need Emergency Dental Care 

Here are some signs that indicate you might need to take emergency dental care:

• Gum bleeding- If you have severe and persistent gum bleeding, it might indicate some dental injury or gum disease. Make sure to consult your nearest emergency dental care and seek treatment.
• Severe and excruciating pain- Sudden and excruciating dental pain can be a symptom of a serious dental injury or abscess.
• Face or jaw swelling- If your jaw and face are swollen, it might be showing that you have a dental infection or abscess. This needs immediate treatment to prevent further spreading.
• Other symptoms like fever- You have toothache and swelling accompanied by fever, then it calls for an immediate check-up. This is to prevent the infection from spreading to other parts of your body.
• Substantial dental injury- If you have a knocked-out or broken tooth, it calls for an immediate emergency check-up.
• Chronic bad breath- Even after adopting proper oral hygiene, you are experiencing a consistent case of bad breath, this might be indicating you need emergency dental care. It means you might have some infection or decay in your teeth.

Conclusion

Unbearable tooth pain can be an excruciating experience. Various causes result in this condition. Some of them are tooth decay, tooth infection, gum disease, teeth grinding, teeth sensitivity, dental injuries, etc.

Some home remedies can be used to treat unbearable tooth pain. This includes salt water rinsing, applying a cold compress, using over-the-counter painkillers, drinking a lot of water, using clove oil on the affected area, etc. There are certain measures one can take to prevent unbearable tooth pain.

This includes; having a proper dental hygiene routine, limiting acidic and sugary foods, quitting smoking, reducing caffeine and alcohol intake, and having regular dentist checkups. Some of the symptoms that indicate you need to have emergency dental care include severe and sudden tooth pain, teeth infection, damaged teeth, consistent bad breath, fever with tooth abscess and teeth decay, etc. In these cases, consult your nearest dentist immediately.

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