Dental Pain: What You Should Know.

If you have at any point experienced dental pain, you know that it is not the most pleasant experience. If, however, you have never had the experience, you should strive to prevent it. Here are a few things you need to know about dental pain:

What is dental pain?

Dental pain, also known as tooth pain or toothache, is any pain that originates from or around the teeth.

How serious is it?

Dental pain can range from very mild to severe. When it is mild, you will be able to go about your regular daily activities. But when tooth pain gets severe, it can prevent you from doing anything and can be as bad as waking you up from sleep, if you are even able to sleep in the first place. Many people have also compared dental pain to the pains of being in labour. This is to show how severe it can get.

What are the causes of dental pain?

Dental pain is usually a symptom of an ongoing condition, and it can accompany many conditions. These conditions include dental caries (tooth decay), a fractured tooth, a tooth whose filling is damaged, gum disease, worn-out teeth, inflammation, or eruption of teeth. The pain that accompanies each of these may differ in severity, pattern, and other characteristics. They can be sharp or dull, constant or intermittent, gentle or throbbing. That is, dental pain is not only one kind and the type you experience may be different from the type someone else experiences if they are not caused by the same condition.

Does dental pain occur alone?

Depending on the cause, dental pain can occur alone. But on many occasions, it comes along with other symptoms like swelling of the gums, headache, fever, a salty taste in the mouth (this is the taste of pus), and a bad odour from the mouth, depending on the condition.

What habits can lead to dental pain?

Pretty much any habit that can lead to dental caries, tooth fracture, wearing off of teeth, or gum disease, among others, can cause dental pain. These include excessive consumption of sugary substances, poor tooth brushing habits, biting on hard substances, and the use of wooden or metallic toothpicks. And so, to reduce your risk of having dental pain, watch out for and avoid these habits.

How can I relieve tooth pain?

The most important thing to note is that there is no home remedy that can give relief from dental pain permanently. This is because, for dental pain to occur, there has to be a cause, and unless the cause is treated or removed, the pain will recur even if it temporarily relieves you. That said, some of the ways in which you can temporarily relieve dental pain include rinsing with warm salt water, using pain medications, and applying a cold compress to the area.

What should you not do when you have dental pain?

There are many substances that people put on or around their teeth when they have dental pain. Some put herbs or other concoctions, and some go as far as applying acidic substances like car battery electrolyte (the fluid in a car battery). This is unhealthy and often leads to worse outcomes, so, should be avoided

Ultimately…

Once you notice or experience any form of dental pain, it is best to consult a dentist so that they can properly evaluate you, determine the cause, and provide the right solution.

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