Dental Pain

Home care

Follow these tips when caring for yourself at home:

• Don't have hot and cold foods and drinks. Your tooth may be sensitive to changes in temperature.

• Use toothpaste made for sensitive teeth. Brush gently up and down instead of sideways. Brushing sideways can wear away root surfaces if they are exposed.

• If your tooth is chipped or cracked, see a dentist right away.

• Use a cold pack. Put a cold pack on your jaw over the sore area to help reduce swelling and pain.

• Ask your doctor about using over-the-counter medicine for pain, unless your doctor prescribed another medicine. If you have long-term (chronic) liver or kidney disease, talk with your doctor before using acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Also talk with your doctor if you’ve had a stomach ulcer or gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding.

• Be aware of the signs of infection. If you have signs of an infection, you will be given an antibiotic. Take it as directed and finish all the medicine, even if you feel better, to be sure the infection has cleared.

Follow-up care

Follow up with your dentist as advised. Your pain may go away with the treatment given today. But only a dentist can fully check and treat the cause of your pain. This will keep the pain from coming back.

Call 911

Call 911 if you have:

• Abnormal drowsiness or confusion.

• A headache or stiff neck.

• Weakness or fainting.

• Trouble swallowing or breathing.

• Vision problems.

When to get medical advice

Contact your doctor or get medical care right away if:

• Your face gets swollen or red.

• Pain gets worse or spreads to your neck.

• You have a fever of 100.4ºF (38ºC) or higher, or as directed by your doctor.

• Pus drains from the tooth.