Everyone’s had a toothache to deal with at some point. The kind of pain where you wake up, feel a bit of a dull ache in your gum or jaw (or around your lower nostrils or upper cheek), and you feel like you want to sit and massage that part of your face for the rest of the day.
But if it’s been a while since you last had a toothache – or you’ve never really had one before – waking up with tooth pain can cause a lot of worry.
You might not be sure how to approach the situation, whether it’s serious enough to need a dentist’s appointment, whether you should see a doctor, etc., and that’s what we’re here to help you with.
If you’ve got a toothache, the steps below might help you form an action plan about what to do to properly take care of it.
Don’t Ignore the Ache
If you just try to go about your day with your tooth flaring away in your mouth, you’re not going to have a very good day!
In fact, you’re going to have a pretty bad one, as tooth pain is one of the most impactful aches a person can deal with. It’s right there in your head, and could lead you to tensing your jaw, clenching your teeth, and keeping your neck in a stiff position.
And all of these things can lead to a pretty bad headache, which is never all that fun to deal with! You could easily need to call out of work and try to nap it off, thanks to the sense of disorientation that all this upper neck, face, and head pain has left you with.
So above all, try not to ignore the toothache you’ve woken up with. You need to try and get something done about it as soon as you’re able to.
Book in for a dentist appointment ASAP
This is always going to be the number one thing to do when you have tooth pain.
Pain of any kind is a bit of a pressing situation, so if your normal dentist can’t fit you in within the next 24 to 48 hours, contact an emergency dentist instead.
Your normal dentist may even be able to signpost you to a related emergency dental care service, so make sure you ask when you’re on the phone with them.
Keep in mind: If the toothache doesn’t go away after two to three days of home remedies, and you still haven’t been able to see your dentist, don’t try to wait it out any longer. You should book in for an emergency appointment as urgently as possible.
See if You Can Spot What’s Wrong
Get your mirror, open wide, and do a quick visual inspection. You’ll want to see if there’s anything visibly wrong, to your eye, as this can help the dentist act sooner when you see them.
Similarly, if you spot anything that’s gotten stuck between teeth or in a tooth, you may be able to remove it yourself.
Pain Relief
Of course, the main thing right now is tamping down on the pain that’s shooting up your tooth.
And thankfully, there are a few ways you can help yourself without needing to have seen the dentist.
Still make sure you’ve got an appointment booked in, but while you wait, you can try out pain relief methods like these.
Take over-the-counter medication
Anything that’s easy to get from the supermarket or your local pharmacy should be more than fine to take care of any tooth pain you’re dealing with at the moment.
You may also be able to pick up a gel that helps to soothe gums and any inflammation, which could be of use right now.
Always double check the label though, to make sure the formula is suitable to be used on the tooth problem you seem to be experiencing.
Try a cold pack
Cold packs can help reduce any swelling that’s going on, as well as create a numb feeling in the area where the pain is. And when it feels a bit more numb, on top of having some pain killers in your system, you might just be able to start focusing again!
You’ll want to wrap the cold pack in a thin towel before you press it to your mouth, cheek, or jaw, to be sure you don’t leave cold burns on your skin as it numbs.
Another thing to keep in mind: If you prefer heated packs when you’re in pain, they might not be all that suitable for a toothache. Heat tends to increase the blood flow to the area, and that could cause further inflammation along your gum line.
Keep an Eye Out for Signs of Infection
Toothache can often be the first symptom of an infection, with others following over the course of the rest of the day.
As such, keep an eye out for swelling that doesn’t stop, your gums getting darker, or further pain when you talk or chew.
If you spot these signs, you’ll want to see a doctor.
Get Your Toothache Sorted Out
Long story short, a toothache usually isn’t anything too much to worry about. It hurts, it means you need to take a trip to the dentist, and it might mean you take quite a few doses of ibuprofen over the next few hours, but it’s not too bad in the end!
However, you do need to double check that it’s nothing serious, and keep an eye out for signs of infection. Make sure you act on these immediately, if they come up, as you could be in need of antibiotics or even dental surgery.
And remember, what might be a root canal or tooth extraction right now has the chance to turn into more major surgery if your toothache goes unaddressed. Get the pain seen to as soon as you can and you might just avoid any further dental procedures.
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