If you’re experiencing tooth pain, you may try to just ignore it until the pain goes away. You may even reach for some numbing gel or try treating sensitivity to cold with special kinds of toothpaste.
If you’re experiencing tooth pain and sudden sensitivity, it may be the result of pulpitis. While the condition can be reversed, you’ll need to see your local dentist quickly to help provide treatment.
If you’re looking for pulpitis home treatment to help address the pain before you visit your dentist, Heroes Dental would like to offer a few tips so you can find some pain relief.
What Is Pulpitis?
The pulp is the soft, inner portion of your tooth where the blood supply and nerves can be found. This region is normally protected by the tooth’s hard enamel and dentin, but if these are damaged, the pulp can become infected. When this occurs, it is called pulpitis and will cause pain as the pulp becomes inflamed and swells.
Pulpitis was one of the most common causes of death before good dental care as the infection in the tooth would easily spread to other teeth or the rest of an individual’s body.
Nowadays, general dentistry can treat the infected tooth and remove the infection before it can spread.
Your form of treatment will depend on whether you have reversible or irreversible pulpitis. Grinding your teeth or temporomandibular joint disorder can increase your risk of developing cracks or wearing down the enamel, which can then lead to pulpitis.
Reversible Pulpitis
Reversible pulpitis is when the condition can still be fixed. This occurs when you tend to feel a lot of sharp pain and sensitivity to cold and sweet foods that goes away quickly.
Since it is usually caused by things like cavities or tooth fractures, your dentist can save the tooth by fixing the root cause.
Irreversible Pulpitis
Pulpitis becomes irreversible after the pulp itself dies. Once it progresses to this stage, you’ll notice a dull, throbbing pain that lasts for longer. Heat or cold may cause pain that takes some time to stop.
However, if you stop feeling pain, that may mean that the nerve has died. At this point, you can develop an abscess that can cause serious damage.
The only treatments at this point are to have a root canal or pull the tooth. If you’ve progressed to this stage, you will only improve with proper dental care.
Pulpitis Home Remedies
While waiting for your appointment, you can perform a bit of pulpitis treatment at home to manage the pain.
Reversible pulpitis is a bit easier to manage since you can avoid eating anything that causes sensitivity for you. At this point, mouthwash or a rinse with warm salt water can help clean and soothe the tooth. You’ll also want to avoid biting down on hard foods like popcorn kernels to help prevent further damage.
Irreversible Pulpitis Pain Relief at Home
Since the cause of the pain is typically inflammation, over-the-counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen can help provide some relief. Non-opioid analgesics such as acetaminophen can also offer pain relief. You may also choose an oral numbing gel to numb the tooth temporarily.
Most other toothache remedies will also work for pulpitis. An ice pack or cold compress can reduce swelling and numb pain. Eating softer foods can also help since pressure on the tooth can cause pain.
Get Treatment for Your Dental Pain
You may notice the pain stop, but that’s just a sign that the nerve inside the tooth finally died. This may be of greater cause for concern because a dead nerve can quickly lead to an abscess.
When you’re dealing with pain as a result of pulpitis, Heroes Dental is here for you. We can diagnose your condition and give you the treatment you need for long-term relief.
Don’t wait — take action while your tooth can be saved and make an appointment today.