Toothaches are never fun. If you’re experiencing tooth pain, sensitivity to cold or heat, or swelling, you might have pulpitis! Pulpitis is a type of infection or inflammation that affects the innermost layer of your tooth, called the dental pulp. The nerves and blood supply are located here.
Pulpitis often happens from an injury, a cracked or broken tooth that exposes the dental pulp, grinding teeth, a bad bite, or gum disease. If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, you should call the dentist for an emergency visit. But you don’t have to sit around suffering from pulpitis pain while waiting for your appointment—try some pulpitis treatments at home!
1. Take an Over-the-Counter Pain Reliever
An over-the-counter pain reliever might help you feel less pain from pulpitis. Make sure you’re swallowing the pain reliever whole! Some home remedies say to place the medication directly over the affected tooth, but you shouldn’t do this because some pain relievers are highly acidic and can burn your gums.
If you have any questions regarding which medication and how much to take, your dentist’s office can help you when you call to schedule your emergency visit.
2. Apply an Over-the-Counter Toothache Medication
You can also pick up medication designed to numb the affected tooth and gums, like a numbing gel. If you have to wait a few hours before visiting the dentist, this is a great way to relieve the pain temporarily.
3. Clean the Affected Tooth With a Salt Water Rinse
Rinsing your mouth with a saltwater rinse can help clean the infected tooth. It may also help reduce pulpitis pain and inflammation. Mix half a teaspoon of salt with eight ounces of cool water, and swish it in your mouth for a few seconds. Make sure you’re not swallowing any of the salt water to avoid a stomach ache later.
4. Use a Cold Compress to Fight Tooth Pain and Inflammation
Placing a cold compress on the outside of your face can help reduce tooth pain and inflammation! If you don’t have ice or cold compresses at home, bagged frozen veggies or fruits will work.
5. Floss Out Any Food That May be Causing the Toothache
Sometimes pulpitis pain can be irritated even more if there’s food stuck in between your teeth. Gently floss around the affected tooth to clear out any stuck food.
6. Relieve Pulpitis Pain With a Natural Approach
You may prefer natural methods to relieve pain instead of taking over-the-counter medications. Try pressing a used peppermint tea bag on the infected tooth to reduce the pain and inflammation. You could also rub clove oil, thyme essential oil, or vanilla extract on the tooth since they all contain some kind of pain-relieving substance.
Garlic is another ingredient you could use for pulpitis at-home treatment. Gently brush the tooth with a garlic paste or slowly chew on a garlic clove.
7. Erase Pulpitis Pain at Heroes Dental!
While pulpitis home treatment can help reduce your pain and inflammation, you’ll still need to visit the doctor to treat the cause of pulpitis. For that, you’ll want to schedule an appointment at Heroes Dental.
Our skilled and compassionate team will examine your tooth. Then your dentist will be able to recommend treatment, which could be antibiotics, a crown, a root canal, or extraction. Don’t wait until the pain is excruciating; call Heroes Dental to schedule an emergency visit today!