Photo of Happy Couple Outdoors

How to Relieve Toothaches

Relieving Toothaches

Simple toothaches can usually be relieved by rinsing your mouth to clear it of debris. A toothache is often caused or aggravated by a piece of debris lodged between your tooth and another tooth. It’s best to avoid placing Ibuprofen between your tooth and gum to relieve pain as the dissolving capsule can actually harm your gum tissue.

Broken, Fractured or Displaced Tooth

A broken, fractured or displaced tooth should be taken care of as quickly as possible. If your tooth has been knocked out, try to place the tooth back in its socket while waiting to come see us.

In the meantime, it’s important to rinse your mouth of any blood or debris and place a cold cloth or compress on the cheek near the injury. This will reduce swelling. If you cannot locate the tooth back in its socket, hold the dislocated tooth by the crown, not the root. Next, place it in a container of warm milk, saline or your own saliva and keep it in this solution until Dr. Low sees you.

For a fractured tooth, we recommend rinsing with warm water and applying a cold pack or compress. Ibuprofen may be used to help keep down swelling. If the tooth fracture is minor, the tooth can be sanded or restored by our dentist if the pulp is not severely damaged.

If a child’s primary tooth has been loosened by an injury or an emerging permanent tooth, ask the child to gently bite down on an apple or piece of caramel. In some cases, the tooth will easily separate from the gum.