Tooth pain can range anywhere from mild discomfort to excruciating pain that prevents you from completing even basic tasks. Regardless of where your pain falls on this scale, the three tips below can help you to manage or even eliminate this tooth pain.

Tip #1: Use A Temporary Filling If Your Tooth Pain Is The Result Of A Cavity

If your tooth pain is the result of a cavity or a missing crown, temporary dental fillings can help to provide relief until you are able to visit a dentist. These temporary fillings can be purchased from just about any drugstore or supermarket. Before applying the temporary filler, be sure to thoroughly clean the tooth and surrounding gums in order to ensure there are no food particles that can get trapped below the filling. Using the tool included with the filler, apply a small amount of filler to the cavity and bite down until it is fully seated in the tooth. Allow ample time for the filler to dry before eating or drinking. This type of dental filling is only intended to last a short time, so you will need to make an appointment with your dentist to get a permanent filling as soon as possible. 

Tip #2: Rinse Your Mouth With Warm Salt Water

People often underestimate the power that warm salt water can have when addressing tooth pain. Tooth pain is often caused by small food particles that get stuck in between the teeth and are not easily removed by brushing or flossing. Warm salt water can help to break up these food particles so that they can be easily rinsed out of your mouth. Warm salt water also helps to reduce the inflammation that often results from dental issues. When rinsing with warm salt water, be sure to aggressively swish the water in between your teeth in order to achieve the best results. 

Tip #3: Visit An Emergency Dentist Rather Than Your Local Emergency Room

If your tooth pain has become severe, you may be considering a trip to your local emergency room. While there are many different medical problems that can be addressed in the emergency room at your local hospital, these medical facilities are not really equipped to deal with dental emergencies. In most cases, the only thing an emergency room doctor will be able to do is to offer you the same over-the-counter pain medications that you can purchase on your own. If you really require emergency dental care, you will need to visit an emergency dentist. Emergency dental clinics are often open around the clock just like an emergency room. The difference is that these dental clinics are far better equipped to eliminate the cause of your dental pain rather than just trying to make this pain more manageable. 

Contact your dentist for more information about treating tooth pain.