Treating Emergency Toothache Before Dentist Visit

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Like most emergencies, toothaches always happen after business hours, on holidays, and on weekends. There’s no such thing as a “convenient” time to get a toothache. You may often have to treat an emergency toothache at home before you can see the dentist. At River Oaks Dental, your dentist in Deerwood, MN, and Aitkin, MN, we strive to accommodate emergency dental needs as much as possible. Please call us when you have any dental needs, including emergency toothaches. In the meantime, here are some tips to help before your dental visit.

Take Over-the-Counter Painkillers

If your primary care physician has okayed it, you can take an over-the-counter painkiller. Avoid aspirin since it can make bleeding worse, but ibuprofen and acetaminophen are good alternatives. Make sure you follow the recommended dosage instructions on the label.

Use a Warm Saltwater Rinse

A rinse with warm saltwater can cleanse the affected area and provide pain relief. Dissolve half a teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water and gently swish it around your mouth, then spit it out.

Use a Warm or Cold Compress

Experiment with a heating pad or a cold washcloth pressed against the outside cheek where the toothache is. One or the other will likely reduce the pain.

Elevate the Head

Lie down with your head elevated above your heart. This will minimize blood flow to the area, and help keep blood pressure manageable. Higher blood pressure tends to increase the pain, so this elevation tip is very helpful for pain reduction.

Avoid Eating and Drinking Certain Things

Until you can see the dentist, avoid eating and drinking excessively hot or cold foods. Also, avoid chewing on the side of the toothache. Foods like Jello-o, tapioca, rice pudding, fruit smoothies (at room temperature), and temperate soups are all good options that are less likely to exacerbate the pain.

Rinse the Mouth

Be sure to continue with your oral hygiene. Rinse the mouth with an antiseptic mouthwash in the morning and before bedtime. Keeping the area clean is important, especially if a cavity is the reason for the toothache.

River Oaks Dental has offices in Deerwood, MN, and Aitkin, MN. We serve residents in these locations and surrounding areas. If you have a toothache emergency or other dental need, contact your Aitkin and Deerwood, MN dentist today to book an appointment!

Why Do I Keep Getting Toothaches?

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A toothache can be a troubling problem, and some toothaches are downright miserable. If you’re having a toothache, it’s important to understand what could be causing it to happen. You may need to see the dentist in Aitkin and Deerwood, MN. Taking swift action could help you avoid a more serious problem.

Common Causes of Toothaches

There are many things that can cause a toothache. For example:

  • A crack or chip in your tooth. If you have a crack or chip in your tooth, you may experience sensitivity to hot and cold temperatures and occasional pain when biting down.
  • A cavity. A cavity is a place where the tooth enamel has decayed. Cavities are caused by a combination of bacteria and acid in the mouth, and poor hygiene habits that allow the bacteria and acid to linger there. Cavities can be painful at random times and when biting down, or eating sweet foods.
  • An infection in the tooth. An infection in the pulp of the tooth can be very painful. This is an example of a dental emergency. If you have an infection in your tooth, you need a procedure called a root canal to clean out the pulp in your tooth, seal off the tooth from further infection, and a crown placed on top of the tooth to protect the weakened tooth enamel.
  • Injury. Sometimes a minor dental injury can cause pain around a tooth, especially if something has become temporarily lodged between the teeth or under the gums. These aches and pains often go away in a few hours or days.

When Is a Toothache A Dental Emergency?

A tooth infection is a serious problem. Infection can spread elsewhere in the body and leave your tooth in pain. If you’re experiencing severe pain in your tooth, it may be an infection. You should call the dentist as soon as possible.

Have a Toothache? Call the Dentist

If you’re experiencing a toothache, you may need a dental examination in Aitkin and Deerwood, MN. Call your dentist at River Oaks Dental to get advice and find out if you need to make an appointment.

What Could Be Causing My Toothache?

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Toothaches can be scary, especially when they feel very bad. If you’re suffering from a toothache, it’s important to understand what could be causing it. Some toothaches happen because of dental emergencies, and need to be addressed as soon as possible. If you have a toothache, your dentist in Deerwood and Aitkin MN can help. Here’s what you need to know.

What Causes a Toothache?

Toothaches can be caused by many problems. Some examples of the types of problems that can cause a toothache includes:

  • Cavity. A cavity is a crevice or hole that appears in the tooth enamel because of dental decay. Cavities get worse with time.
  • Infection. An infection in the tooth can cause a very bad toothache. Infections can be dangerous and require fast action to help protect patients.
  • Crack. A crack in your tooth can cause tooth sensitivity and also tooth pain, depending on how bad the crack in the tooth is and how deep it goes.

There are other things that can cause toothaches as well, including gum disease, a damaged dental restoration (like a crown) and tooth grinding.

What Should I Do If I Have a Toothache?

If you have a toothache, it’s best to check in with your dentist to find out next steps. Most likely, your dentist will have you come in to find out what’s going wrong. If the pain is severe, your dentist may ask you to come in that day, because you could be having a dental emergency. You may need a root canal.

What’s a Root Canal?

A root canal is a procedure that dentists use to remove infection from a tooth. In the event that your tooth is infected, the dentist may dig out the infected parts of the tooth, fill the tooth with a dental filling, and then seal the entire tooth with a dental crown. Root canals are a way to save an infected tooth.

If you have a severe toothache, it’s possible that you need a root canal treatment in Deerwood and Aitkin MN, contact your dentist at River Oaks Dental. Call today for advice and an appointment.

Do I Need a Dental Cleaning or a Deep Cleaning? What’s the Difference?  

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When you visit the dentist every six months for a standard dental cleaning, your teeth are cleaned of plaque and tartar, and much of the bacteria in your mouth is washed away. Did you know that there’s such a thing as a deep cleaning procedure? When you visit your dentist in Aitkin and Crosby MN, you’ll find out whether you need a deep cleaning or a standard cleaning. In this article, we’ll answer questions you may have about deep cleaning, and so you can better understand these two procedures.

What Is a Dental Deep Cleaning?

Whereas a standard teeth cleaning involves cleaning the teeth above the gum line, a dental deep cleaning involves scaling. Your dental professional uses a hand-held tool to scrape the plaque from the teeth below the gum line. Your dentist may also use an electronic tool with a vibrating metal tip to remove tartar. The water spray will wash the tartar away.

Finally, your dentist will “root plane” your teeth to remove rough spots where bacteria can stick to the tooth in the future. If your teeth need it, your dental professional may also use antibiotics to get rid of germs under the gum line. Unlike standard cleanings, deep cleanings require two appointments.

Who Needs a Dental Deep Cleaning?

Patients who need dental deep cleanings usually have problems with gum disease. A deep cleaning can help fight back gum disease, or prevent tooth loss in the event that the gum disease is progressing.

What Are the Signs a Deep Cleaning Is Right For You?

If you have the beginning stages of gum disease, then you may need a dental deep cleaning. While some patients are not aware that they’re in the early stages of gum disease, knowing what to look for can help you know when it’s time to seek dental help. Here’s what to watch for:

  • Bad taste in the mouth, or bad breath, even after brushing your teeth
  • Gums bleed easily
  • Loose permanent teeth
  • Swollen, red gums
  • Gum recession

Need Your Teeth Cleaned? Visit River Oaks Dental Today

Do you need a deep cleaning in Aitkin and Crosby, MN? Call River Oaks Dental to make an appointment today.