Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Friday, June 5, 2009
First aid for toothache
To handle the pain while you wait to see the dentist, take paracetamol or ibuprofen. However, if you have a history of liver or kidney problems or peptic ulcers, or suffer from asthma, ibuprofen is not recommended for you. Also, avoid very hot and cold foods and drinks, because they worsen the problem.
Prevention is better than cure...
Toothache can easily be prevented by maintaining good dental hygiene practices.
* Cut down the amount of sugar in your diet. Excessively sweet foods and drinks should be consumed only occasionally.
* Follow a twice-a-day brushing routine, using a fluoride-containing toothpaste. Remember to brush your gums and tongue.
* Use dental floss to clean between your teeth, and a mouthwash to rinse your mouth.
* Avoid smoking
* Get your teeth check regularly, and have them cleaned at least once a year by a dental hygienist.
To handle the pain while you wait to see the dentist, take paracetamol or ibuprofen. However, if you have a history of liver or kidney problems or peptic ulcers, or suffer from asthma, ibuprofen is not recommended for you. Also, avoid very hot and cold foods and drinks, because they worsen the problem.
Prevention is better than cure...
Toothache can easily be prevented by maintaining good dental hygiene practices.
* Cut down the amount of sugar in your diet. Excessively sweet foods and drinks should be consumed only occasionally.
* Follow a twice-a-day brushing routine, using a fluoride-containing toothpaste. Remember to brush your gums and tongue.
* Use dental floss to clean between your teeth, and a mouthwash to rinse your mouth.
* Avoid smoking
* Get your teeth check regularly, and have them cleaned at least once a year by a dental hygienist.
A guide to toothache and how to deal with it
What is toothache?
Toothache is a painful condition in your jaw and facial area.
It usually occurs when a nerve in the tooth root is inflamed or irritated.
It could also occur because of tooth decay, infection or even tooth loss.
Types of toothache
Everybody doesn’t experience the same kind of toothache, and very often a toothache can be a sign of a much deeper condition.
The severity of the toothache may also vary, in terms of the sensitivity of the tooth and the pain intensity.
No matter what type of toothache you suffer from, you should get it evaluated by a dentist.
Sharp tooth pain or sensitivity
When your teeth become extremely sensitive to cold, causing a sharp pain when you eat or drink very cold items, it could be due to loss of tooth enamel.
This deterioration of tooth enamel occurs because of excessive brushing, as a natural part of the aging process, recession of the gums or the deterioration of a tooth cavity.
If your teeth are overly sensitive to heat, this could be because of dental cavities, abscesses or a severely decayed tooth.
Chronic toothache
A consistently aching tooth can be the result of nerve damage.
The nerves of the tooth may get damaged because of severe dental decay or because of excessive grinding of the teeth.
It could also occur because of any kind of injury or trauma to the tooth.
Excruciating pain
Intense, agonizing pain, including a throbbing sensation, is most often because of an abscess or dental infection.
Very often, when the pain is this intense, there is also a noticeable swelling in the face.
If you experience pain while eating, it could be either due to a crack in the tooth or dental decay.
Pain the in back of the jaw
If the pain is mainly concentrated in the back of the jaw, it could be due to impacted back molars.
People, who have a habit of grinding their teeth or TMD can also experience jaw pain.
Serious health issues
A little known fact is that a toothache can often be a symptom of serious underlying health problems.
Studies have shown that a pain on the left side of the jaw can be the first sign of a heart attack.
Your toothache can also be a sign of sinus infection.
Inflammation of the jaw, and pain while eating can be one of the earliest symptoms of a maxillofacial condition called temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD).
Symptoms of toothache
The symptoms of toothache can manifest themselves suddenly, and can range from simple discomfort in your tooth to high intensity pain.
At one end, you could have a mild irritation, while on the other, you may experience intense pain in your jaw, head and ear.
The pain may worsen when you eat or drink, especially if what you are consuming is very hot or cold.
Toothache can quickly spread to the entire jaw area, making it tender and sensitive. You may notice that the pain worsens when you lie down, because of the increased pressure on the tooth.
Generally, you will notice:
* Sensitivity to hot or cold foods and drinks.
* Bleeding in the gums or around the tooth.
* Swelling of the tissue around the tooth.
* Swelling of the jaw.
* Pain while eating.
Causes of toothache
* Dental caries.
* Tooth cavities.
* Tiny tooth fracture.
* Exposed root of the tooth – this can happen when the gums recede, exposing the root.
* Sensitivity – this can also be caused by gum recession, which leaves the sensitive areas of the teeth exposed.
* Dental treatment – sometimes after a dental treatment, the tooth pulp may become irritated, leading to pain.
* A periodontal abscess in the gum.
* Acute ulcerative gingivitis, which causes ulcers on the gums.
* Sinusitis, which can lead to pain in the upper jaw.
* Inflamed gums around a tooth that a just beginning to emerge, like a wisdom tooth.
* Temporomandibular joint injury – this is the joint that connects the jaw to the skull.
* Teething – when babies and children begin to sprout new teeth, this can cause toothache.
Diagnosis of toothache...isn't it obvious?
Even if the toothache you are suffering from is mild, you must get it checked by a dentist immediately. Very often, pain in a tooth has got nothing to do with that tooth. The pain could easily be in another tooth, or in some cases, the other jaw. Your dentist will conduct an examination of your teeth, and look for signs of any damage to the tooth or inflammation. He may also look for sensitivity to heat. If your dentist suspects dental decay, jaw bone injuries, or minute fractures in your teeth, he will take an X-ray before he can confirm these conditions.
What is toothache?
Toothache is a painful condition in your jaw and facial area.
It usually occurs when a nerve in the tooth root is inflamed or irritated.
It could also occur because of tooth decay, infection or even tooth loss.
Types of toothache
Everybody doesn’t experience the same kind of toothache, and very often a toothache can be a sign of a much deeper condition.
The severity of the toothache may also vary, in terms of the sensitivity of the tooth and the pain intensity.
No matter what type of toothache you suffer from, you should get it evaluated by a dentist.
Sharp tooth pain or sensitivity
When your teeth become extremely sensitive to cold, causing a sharp pain when you eat or drink very cold items, it could be due to loss of tooth enamel.
This deterioration of tooth enamel occurs because of excessive brushing, as a natural part of the aging process, recession of the gums or the deterioration of a tooth cavity.
If your teeth are overly sensitive to heat, this could be because of dental cavities, abscesses or a severely decayed tooth.
Chronic toothache
A consistently aching tooth can be the result of nerve damage.
The nerves of the tooth may get damaged because of severe dental decay or because of excessive grinding of the teeth.
It could also occur because of any kind of injury or trauma to the tooth.
Excruciating pain
Intense, agonizing pain, including a throbbing sensation, is most often because of an abscess or dental infection.
Very often, when the pain is this intense, there is also a noticeable swelling in the face.
If you experience pain while eating, it could be either due to a crack in the tooth or dental decay.
Pain the in back of the jaw
If the pain is mainly concentrated in the back of the jaw, it could be due to impacted back molars.
People, who have a habit of grinding their teeth or TMD can also experience jaw pain.
Serious health issues
A little known fact is that a toothache can often be a symptom of serious underlying health problems.
Studies have shown that a pain on the left side of the jaw can be the first sign of a heart attack.
Your toothache can also be a sign of sinus infection.
Inflammation of the jaw, and pain while eating can be one of the earliest symptoms of a maxillofacial condition called temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD).
Symptoms of toothache
The symptoms of toothache can manifest themselves suddenly, and can range from simple discomfort in your tooth to high intensity pain.
At one end, you could have a mild irritation, while on the other, you may experience intense pain in your jaw, head and ear.
The pain may worsen when you eat or drink, especially if what you are consuming is very hot or cold.
Toothache can quickly spread to the entire jaw area, making it tender and sensitive. You may notice that the pain worsens when you lie down, because of the increased pressure on the tooth.
Generally, you will notice:
* Sensitivity to hot or cold foods and drinks.
* Bleeding in the gums or around the tooth.
* Swelling of the tissue around the tooth.
* Swelling of the jaw.
* Pain while eating.
Causes of toothache
* Dental caries.
* Tooth cavities.
* Tiny tooth fracture.
* Exposed root of the tooth – this can happen when the gums recede, exposing the root.
* Sensitivity – this can also be caused by gum recession, which leaves the sensitive areas of the teeth exposed.
* Dental treatment – sometimes after a dental treatment, the tooth pulp may become irritated, leading to pain.
* A periodontal abscess in the gum.
* Acute ulcerative gingivitis, which causes ulcers on the gums.
* Sinusitis, which can lead to pain in the upper jaw.
* Inflamed gums around a tooth that a just beginning to emerge, like a wisdom tooth.
* Temporomandibular joint injury – this is the joint that connects the jaw to the skull.
* Teething – when babies and children begin to sprout new teeth, this can cause toothache.
Diagnosis of toothache...isn't it obvious?
Even if the toothache you are suffering from is mild, you must get it checked by a dentist immediately. Very often, pain in a tooth has got nothing to do with that tooth. The pain could easily be in another tooth, or in some cases, the other jaw. Your dentist will conduct an examination of your teeth, and look for signs of any damage to the tooth or inflammation. He may also look for sensitivity to heat. If your dentist suspects dental decay, jaw bone injuries, or minute fractures in your teeth, he will take an X-ray before he can confirm these conditions.
Tooth Ache
Toothache can be a sign of tooth decay. Only a Dental doctor can find the real cause of the pain. But let's try out some ways at home to control the pain.
Apply a little clove oil to the effected tooth or area.
When there is pain, take a piece of ice and press it against the skin between your thumb and forefinger.
Have lots of milk and leafy vegetables and calcium. Avoid sweet, sour and cold things which causes tooth decay.
When you have pain , never apply heat on your cheeks. If you are having an infection of the tooth applying heat will aggravate it.
Toothache can be a sign of tooth decay. Only a Dental doctor can find the real cause of the pain. But let's try out some ways at home to control the pain.
Apply a little clove oil to the effected tooth or area.
When there is pain, take a piece of ice and press it against the skin between your thumb and forefinger.
Have lots of milk and leafy vegetables and calcium. Avoid sweet, sour and cold things which causes tooth decay.
When you have pain , never apply heat on your cheeks. If you are having an infection of the tooth applying heat will aggravate it.
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