6 good actions that relieve pain (while waiting to see your dentist)

Toothaches occur frequently and can be of different intensities. Tooth pain may be linked to dental hypersensitivity in the cold, in the heat, when brushing your teeth or in contact with certain foods.

When toothache persists over time, occurs in a throbbing manner, and is exacerbated when eating or chewing something, this can reveal a dental infection.

These intense pains of infectious origin, caused by dental abscesses, are common and can manifest in anyone, at any time of life, according to American dentist Mary Jo Sandberg. The practitioner describes to the media Well+Good the context in which this dental infection can occur: “A dental infection can occur when bacteria from a severely decayed tooth gain access to the pulp inside the tooth, where the nerves and blood supply are located,” explains -she.

Among the possible causes: a traumatic event, “such as a fall or blow to the tooth that damages the connection between the tooth and the supporting structures, or a severe infection of the gums around the tooth that reaches the end of the root of the tooth.” It also happens that the precise origin of the infection is unknown.

Tooth pain: neglected oral hygiene or gum disease, other possible causes

Dental infection can also result from poor oral hygiene. Good to know when you know that brushing your teeth sometimes leaves something to be desired: a quarter of French people say they brush their teeth only once a day (i.e. below the recommendations which are two brushings per day), according to a 2022 Doctolib/UFSBD survey.

In the background, problems of dry mouth, cavities and gum disease. “Gum disease exposes the roots of the teeth, which are not protected by enamel and are more susceptible to cavities and the resulting infection problems,” emphasizes Marie Jackson, another dentist contacted by Well+Good.

If you suspect a dental infection, you should consult your dentist so that he or she can offer appropriate treatment.

The problem is that finding an appointment quickly is becoming more and more of a challenge. The median time to get an appointment with a dentist is 11 days in France metropolitan area, according to a recent study by the Jean Jaurès Foundation. Suffice to say that it is better to arm yourself with patience… And to know how to cope, year in and year out, with your pain. Fortunately, it is possible to calm this discomfort while waiting for your dental appointment.

Here are 6 good gestures that provide relief shared by dental experts on Well+Good.

If you have a toothache or tooth infection, keeping your head elevated prevents blood and bacteria from building up in your mouth. We do not hesitate to elevate our head at night supported by pillows.

In the event of pain linked to a dental abscess, moderate intake of paracetamoL (no more than one every six hours) can provide relief while waiting to see your dentist. Antibiotics should be avoided without medical advice.

Rinsing your mouth with salt water can soothe the pain. Salted water disinfects and controls inflammation. This prevents the infection from getting worse and also rids the infected area of ​​food debris, explains Dr. Hoang, dentist.