Tips for Handling a Painful Toothache
- By Mary Marks
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- 28 Jun, 2018
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Mild dental discomfort can ruin your entire day, but a painful toothache is truly horrendous. The best way to get rid of it is certainly by paying a visit to your dentist office, but you might want to address the problem right away, by easing the pain as much as you can until you get to the oral sedation dentistry Highlands Ranch office – here is how:
- Rinse with some salt water – mix half a teaspoon of regular table salt with a glass of lukewarm water, stir until the salt dissolves and rinse your mouth with the solution. Salt water has antiseptic effects and it can reduce the inflammation that causes the toothache;
- Take some over-the-counter painkillers – painkillers that contain ibuprofen are the best because they ameliorate the pain and reduce the inflammation as well, but they can be administered only to adults, so if you need medication for a child, look for a pain reliever that contains acetaminophen;
- Apply cold compresses – they help with the pain and are efficient in reducing any swelling as well. Soak a towel into cold water and place the wet towel on your cheek. Repeat the operation several times;
- Apply ice – put some crushed ice into a plastic bag, then wrap the bag in a towel and place it on your cheek. Keep the ice bag there until the ice melts, then repeat the operation a few times.
Although oral sedation dentistry Highlands Ranch is one of the optionsavailable for managing anxiety and discomfort during oral surgery, you certainly do not need to use it all the time. As a matter of fact, the exact type of sedation or anesthesia that you receive during oral procedures may depend on various factors, such as the complexity of the procedure, your medical problems, as well as your doctor’s preferences.
There can be several different levels of sedation that can be used in oral surgery. Local anesthesia is one of them. This involves injecting anesthetic medication into the specific area where the surgery will take place. It numbs the area and is often used for less invasive procedures.
Oral sedation involves taking medication in the form of a pill to induce a state of relaxation and drowsiness. The patient is still conscious, but he/she may not be fully aware of the procedure. At any rate, sedation helps him/her get rid of anxiety.
In the case of intravenous sedation, medication is administered through a vein, which induces a deeper state of sedation than oral sedation. Patients may still be conscious, but they are less aware of their surroundings and may not remember the procedure.
