How To Relieve Pain From A Cracked or Broken Tooth

By: Chernara Baker

 

Abroken or cracked tooth may cause a very painful toothache. If you have a broken or cracked tooth and you are unable to see your dentist immediately, here are some ways for you to relieve the pain from a toothache caused by a broken or cracked tooth. Avoid foods and beverages that are very cold or very hot. Since the dentin layer of the tooth has likely been exposed by the crack or break in the tooth, extremes in temperature may cause pain. Avoid foods and beverages that are very high in sugar, or are very acidic. Use an over-the-counter pain relief medicine. Never exceed the recommended dose, and check to make sure you are able to take pain relief medications with any of the other medications you may currently be on. Generally speaking, a pain relief medication that is intended to reduce inflammation works best for dental pain, because most toothaches are caused by an inflammation of the tissues or the inflammation of the nerve. Never put pain relief medication on the tooth or gum tissue, as this could burn the tissue. Floss between the teeth that are cracked or broken. Removing the food particles and plaque may help reduce the pain from the toothache. Use oil of cloves (eugenol). Eugenol, which can be found in most health food stores, is used in various dental materials because of its antiseptic and anesthetic properties. Using eugenol at home may help reduce pain from a toothache. Soak a small piece of cotton in the oil, then blot the cotton on a piece of tissue to remove the excess. Using a clean pair of tweezers, hold the cotton on the painful tooth for 10 seconds, making sure you do not swallow any of the oil. Seal the crack or the hole in the tooth temporarily. Some pharmacies have over-the counter temporary filling material that may be used to seal the hole created by a break in the tooth, or seal a cracked tooth temporarily. Sleep with your head elevated. The inflammation of the nerve of the tooth with a crack or break is very painful, and is often what causes the most uncomfortable pain. If you elevate your head when resting, some of the pressure in the area of the toothache may diminish. Rinsing with warm salt water two to three times a day may help to relieve a toothache caused by a crack or break. Salt water works as an antiseptic to remove bacteria from the infected area. A toothache that is caused by a crack or break in the tooth may come and go, but don’t be fooled. The longer you wait to have the tooth restored, more serious complications may arise. As soon as you develop a toothache, see your dentist immediately. ****

Tongue Scraping to Avoid Bad Breath

For a relatively small space, your mouth has a whole lot going on, health-wise. As the Mayo Clinic (charmingly) puts it, your kisser is “teeming” with bacteria — most harmless, but left alone, capable of causing real problems in your overall oral well being. We all know that the American Dental Association recommends brushing your teeth, thoroughly, twice a day and many of us have been begged by our dental hygienists to actually floss. Cosmetic dentist Dr. Thomas P. Connelly, adds that a morning tongue scraping is a “huge” part of overall oral health. What else can you do and what should you be on the lookout for? Dr. Connelly says that the main source of bad breath (or halitosis) is the tongue. Why? Layers of bacteria can get embedded on it, resulting in foul-smelling Volitlie Sulfer Compounds. The Mayo Clinic also lists possible bad-breath causes like dry mouth (which occurs naturally during sleep, but can also be caused by a glandular condition), as well as certain foods, like onions or garlic. Connelly adds that another potential source — one that’s often overlooked — is a post nasal drip, which causes bad breath because bacteria are attracted to the resulting mucus and phlegm. Once again, he stresses the importance of a daily tongue scraping and suggests anti-histamines (after consulting your primary care provider, of course) if a post nasal drip is your problem. ****

OVER-THE-COUNTER RELIEF MEDICATION FOR DENTAIL USE