What Are the Most Effective Mouthwashes for Relieving Toothache Pain?
A toothache is an intense or mild pain in and around the teeth and jaws. It can prevent you from sleeping, eating, or performing your usual activities. Therefore, when you have a toothache, you will look for ways to provide relief before visiting the dentist near you. Read on to learn if mouthwashes are effective for relieving tooth pain.
What Causes Toothaches?
A toothache can occur due to cavities, abscesses, or pulpitis. Dental cavities are holes that appear on teeth due to decay. The holes allow bacteria to access the tooth pulp and cause an infection. Tooth pain due to cavities is accompanied by sensitivity to sugary, cold, or hot foods and drinks.
Pulpitis is infection and inflammation of the dental pulp. Bacteria enter and infect the nerves when you have a cavity or crack in your tooth. Therefore, you will experience extreme pain and a pulsing sensation inside the tooth. The pain will intensify when you chew or bite using the affected tooth. It does not usually ease when you take pain-relieving medication.
Another cause of toothache is a dental abscess. This is an infection of the gum tissues that causes pus to accumulate on the gums. Abscesses appear as pimples or small bumps on the gums near your teeth. They cause intense pain and swelling around the affected tooth.
You can also have toothaches due to gum ulcers, food debris, impacted teeth, receding gums, or TMJ disorders. You should not ignore tooth pain even if it disappears after a while. Doing so can result in severe oral and systemic issues. Instead, visit the dentist in North Branch for an exam and treatment.
Can Mouthwashes Relieve Toothache Pain?
Yes, rinsing your mouth with mouthwash eases toothache. However, not all types of toothache can be relieved by mouthwash. Also, not all brands of mouthwash can alleviate toothache. Rinsing your mouth with regular mouthwash can clear food particles causing pain.
However, you need a special mouthwash if an infection or sensitivity causes a toothache. Pain due to a disease in or around your tooth can be cleared using an antiseptic mouthwash. It will disinfect the area, reducing or eliminating infection-causing bacteria. Mouthwashes with desensitizing ingredients can help relieve a toothache caused by sensitivity.
Ways to Help With Toothache
Pain in your tooth can occur in various ways and at different times. You can have a toothache when eating, drinking, or sleeping. The pain can appear, fade or stay constant. It may be mild, severe, sharp, or dull. Therefore, you need to know what to do for immediate relief when you have a toothache. The tips below will help ease tooth pain while waiting for a dentist.
- Use a cold compress
Applying an icepack or cold compress on your cheek nearest the affected area will ease a toothache. The cold treatment constricts your blood vessels in the area and slows blood flow. As a result, the pain, inflammation, and swelling will reduce significantly.
If you do not have an ice pack, you can wrap a bag of frozen peas or ice with a moistened towel. Place the pack on your cheek for 20 minutes, and then remove it for a few minutes. Continue until the pain eases.
- Rinse your mouth
Rinsing your mouth can remove stuck food particles and reduce bacteria, providing relief. Prepare a saltwater mouthwash by dissolving a teaspoon of salt in a glass of water. Swish it in your mouth, and then spit it out. Repeat as often as necessary.
You can also use a hydrogen peroxide rinse to ease toothache pain. Mix 3% peroxide with equal parts water and swish in the mouth for one minute then spit it out. Repeat the process and rinse your mouth with plain water when you have finished. Do not swallow the solution.
- Take medicine
Use over-the-counter painkillers to ease the pain temporarily. You can use acetaminophen and ibuprofen but avoid aspirin.
- Use cloves or clove oil
Cloves contain a natural antiseptic that reduces inflammation and numbs pain. You can chew or crush a clove and place it against the aching tooth for half an hour. Alternatively, you can soak a cotton ball with essential clove oil and apply it to the area near the affected tooth.
Contact us at Thumbs Up Dental-North Branch if you have a toothache.