Pulpitis, toothache: discover the solutions

The toothache can have several origins and must be treated as soon as possible. Nutrident gives you all the necessary advice to avoid suffering.

The best way to prevent toothache

The best way to avoid dental problems is to visit the dentist regularly, in addition to practicing impeccable oral hygiene. An annual visit is necessary, and it's even better if you go twice a year. It is even more important if you are afraid of the dentist!

Indeed, with a regular control, you avoid important works. A cavity at its origin is painless. However, the dentist can spot it and treat it in ten minutes. If you wait until it hurts, it will already be well advanced and will require a larger, more painful and more expensive procedure to repair the damage.

And if it is too late to prevent, it is absolutely necessary to cure

If you have not effectively prevented dental pain, it is imperative to treat it as soon as possible. It is a matter of comfort of course, but also of unfortunate consequences, if you do not involve the dentist.

A tooth cannot heal itself, the infection can only spread. At first, you will be in a lot of pain and have difficulty eating, swallowing, and even opening your mouth. If the situation worsens, you will lose teeth, which is detrimental to your aesthetics, but also to your ability to eat.

Finally, if you let an infection spread, the bacteria will eventually assimilate into your bloodstream. They can then cause sepsis, streptococcal infection, severe facial infections or cardiac arrest.

The different toothaches

The toothache that is bothering you can have several origins.

Dental abscess

The dental abscess progresses without hurting you for months. A pocket forms in the gum and gradually fills with pus. You usually start to feel it during the night and when you clench your teeth. If you let it progress, it ends up hurting you all the time.

This infection can spread and put your overall health at risk.

Dental alveolitis

Dental alveolitis infects the cavity in which a tooth that has been extracted was lodged. The blood clot that occurs as a result of the surgery has been dislodged by eating or brushing your teeth and the infection may have spread to the nerve endings.

Alveolitis can be dry or purulent. It is easier to treat in the first case with painkillers. If it suppurates, you will need to take antibiotics to treat it. The pain is such that you will rush to the dentist or the emergency room yourself.

Gas gangrene

Gas gangrene is so named because of the gases generated by the decomposition of organic matter at the root of the tooth. Since the gases cannot escape, the pressure rises and generates intense pain.

The dentist will have to dig for the gas to escape and the pressure to drop.

The pulpitis

Pulpitis is the pain induced by a cavity, once the bacteria have penetrated the enamel enough to reach the dental nerve. If you don't treat it quickly, it will spread and your tooth will have to be pulled.

Dental arthritis

Dental arthritis is caused by inflammation of the ligamentous tissue that surrounds the root of a tooth.

The food slump

Food compaction is caused by the detritus of food getting stuck between the teeth. If you can't get them out with a toothbrush, you can use a power jet and floss.

What to do in case of dental pain?

The first thing you should do is rush to your phone to make an appointment with your dentist. Practitioners generally set aside a daily time slot for emergencies.

If your dentist has an office and that slot is already occupied, he or she can refer you to a college to deal with the emergency. If your dentist is not available, call your local dental emergency room.

If you have a toothache outside of office hours, in the evening, on the weekend or on a holiday, your dentist's answering machine should tell you which office is on call.

The number is also available from the EMS by calling 15 or from the nearest police station by calling 17. If not, you can go to the dental emergency room of the nearest hospital.

What to do while waiting for your dental appointment

You may have to wait a few hours to find an available dentist. It is best not to take painkillers.

Depending on the origin of your pain, your dentist may have to give you a drug treatment and you should avoid cocktails. In addition, painkillers are most often insufficient to calm a toothache, so it is better to abstain.

However, if you are taking any type of pill, you must tell your dentist when you arrive for your appointment.

While waiting for the appointment time, you can use an ice pack that you apply to the cheek. Cold tends to anesthetize the nerve endings in the tissue. The ice will help ease the pain, as well as reduce the swelling if your cheek is swollen.

The dental appointment

The dentist does everything possible to stop your pain. In any case, he uses anaesthetic to perform the treatment. You will first benefit from this effect in the hours following its intervention.

Then, he prescribes you effective painkillers on prescription; based on codeine. They allow you to be relieved while waiting for his intervention to bear fruit and for your teeth, gums and/or jaw to heal.

The dentist will also likely schedule one or more follow-up appointments for your infection. Don't miss any of them!

FAQ

What can I do to relieve tooth pain?

Treatments available include painkillers, antibiotics and antiseptic mouthwashes. All of these solutions can help relieve pain while waiting to see a dentist.

What is the best painkiller for teeth?

Paracetamol is recommended for pain relief.

How to treat an inflammation of the dental pulp?

When the inflammation of the pulp is superficial, it is sufficient to perform a pulp removal.