Toothaches are very painful and may range from mild to severe. Commonly, toothache is caused by tooth decay. If it is not treated on time, it can lead to dental abscess. Sometimes, the pain in the tooth is constant and sometimes, the pain comes and goes. However, in most cases, the pain is more intense during the night. Also, sometimes the pain is higher after eating or drinking something to which the tooth is sensitive to. This happens mostly when the food or drink is hot or cold. When you have toothache, the area around the affected tooth, the gum and the jaw also becomes sore and tender.
How Long Does a Toothache Last?
The cause of the toothache will determine the intensity of the pain and also how long the pain will last. The possible causes of toothache include –
- Broken tooth
- Lost dental filling
- Bacterial infection in the tooth or some periodontal disease
- Cracked tooth
- Wisdom tooth
- Ulcer in the gums
- Pus in the gums
- Receding gums.
Usually, toothaches can last as long as the cause of the pain is not treated. A mild toothache caused by some sensitivity should go away on its own within a day. If the toothache lasts for more than a day or two, you should go to see a dentist as soon as possible. The longer you wait, the worse will the condition get. Sometimes the toothaches are so serious that you may not realize where the pain is generating from. Pain in the molar tooth can often give you the misconception of ear pain. Upper jaw toothache often resembles sinus pains that generate behind the cheekbones, in the air-filled cavities of the bone and the forehead.
Best Pain Killers for Toothache
Toothaches are very disturbing and seriously painful. When you have such pain, it is important that you get an appointment with the dentist immediately, so that the dentist can diagnose the cause of the toothache and treat it accordingly. This is the only way your toothache can go away permanently. You cannot get rid of a serious toothache on its own, if the cause of the pain is tooth damage.
However, if you cannot get an appointment to the dentist immediately, you can take some over-the-counter pain killers to control and be able to tolerate the toothache for the time being. Some of the best pain killers that are useful for killing the toothache temporarily are –
- Tylenol or other Acetaminophen
- Advil, Motrin or other Ibuprofen
- Naprosyn, Aleve or other Naproxen.
You must discuss with your doctor first as to which pain killer is best for you, since not all the painkillers are good for everybody. If a child is suffering from toothache and is less than 16 years old, he or she should not be given any aspirin. Use home remedies instead to relieve off the pain. Hot and cold compress and salt water swishing in the mouth are some ways in which your pain can be controlled to a certain extent. Clove oil also helps in relieving toothache. However, treatment of the cause of the pain is a must to get a long time relief from aching tooth.
Also Read:
