Toothache

But some types of pain deserve immediate attention from your dentist. If you feel a sharp pain when you bite down, for instance, you may have a cavity, a loose filling, a cracked tooth, or damaged pulp (that's the inner core of the tooth that contains the blood vessels and nerves). Pain that sticks around for more than 30 minutes after eating hot or cold foods can also indicate pulp damage, either from a deep cavity or a blow to the tooth. And the stereotypical toothache with constant and severe pain, swelling, and sensitivity is definitely a sign of trouble. "If the pain wakes you up at night, it's serious," says Joseph Tenca, D.D.S., M.A., past president of the American Association of Endodontists and professor and chairman of the Department of Endodontics at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine in Boston. You could have an abscessed tooth, that means the pulp of the tooth has died, resulting in an infection that can spread to the gum and even to the bone.

Pain associated with the pulp of the tooth is kind of tricky. It can let you know that damage has occurred. "But the degeneration of the nerves (in the pulp) can be very rapid," points out Alan H. Gluskin, D.D.S., associate professor and chairerson of the Department of Endodontics at the University of the Pacific School of Dentistry in San Francisco. "They can die with in a 12-hour period." So the pain disappears. But then the tooth hurts again as the dead tissue becomes infected, or abscessed. That's why putting off dental attention for a toothache can mean bad news. But if it's 3:00 in the morning or the middle of Sunday afternoon, you can take some temporary measures to deal with the pain until you can get into the dental office.

Take Two Aspirin : Or acetaminophen or ibuprofen, "whatever over the counter analgesic you use to relieve your headaches," says Tenca. Roland C. Duell, D.D.S., M.S., professor of endodontics with the Department of Oral Health Practice at the University of Kentucky College of Dentistry in Lexington, points out that ibuprofen is best at relieving inflammation, which may accompany a toothache.

Apply oil of Cloves : You can pick this up at the pharmacy. Follow the directions for use, and be sure to put it only on the tooth and not on the gum. Otherwise, your burning gums may distract you from your toothache. And remember, oil of cloves won't cure the toothache, it just numbs the nerve.

Cool The Swelling : Put a cold compress on the outside of your cheek if you've got swelling from the toothache.

Chill The Pain : Holding an ice cube or cold water in the mouth may relieve the pain, says Tenca. But if you find that it simply aggravates your sensitive tooth, skip it.

Keep Your Head up : Elevating your head can decrease the pressure in the area, says Duell.

Rinse : You can't really rinse away the pain, but you can rinse with warm water to remove any food debris. Tenca suggests using one teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water.

Floss : No, it's not a cure, but flossing is another way to remove any food debris that could be trapped. The rubber tip on your toothbrush or a toothpick (if used with caution) can help dislodge any stuck food. "Sometimes, food can get lodged in the gum, and the pain mimics that caused by pulpal problems," says Tenca.

Be Careful With The Hot, The Cold, And The Sweet : These foods and beverages may aggravate an already sore and sensitive situation.

Plug it : If the tooth feels sensitive to air, cover it with gauze or even sugarless chewing gum until you can get to the dentist