Will Rinsing With Saltwater Help Reduce The Pain Of A Toothache Articles | Remedy

By: Richard Bleuze

Will Rinsing With Saltwater Help Reduce The Pain Of A Toothache

First, it is best to ask the question "What is toothache?"  A toothache is most commonly caused in the region of the jaws and face.  It is generally, an inflammation of the pulp of the tooth.  It is generally associated with short, sharp pains occurring in response to hot, cold or sweet stimuli.  If the toothache is left untreated, the pulp dies and becomes infected.  Thus,leading to the formation of a dental abscess.  The pain from a dental abscess tends to be in response to pressure on the tooth, and is throbbing and continuous.

A  toothache can be caused by many factors.  The most common causes of a toothache are: 
 
1.  Dental decay.
2.  A fracture of the tooth.
3.  A cracked tooth.
4.  Irritation of the pulp following dental treatment. Regardless of how well it is done, dental treatment and the materials used to fill the tooth can sometimes cause pain later.
5.  An exposed tooth root, which can occur if the gums recede or are damaged by over-vigorous brushing.

In addition, several other conditions may also cause pain in the mouth.  Thus, always seek advice from your dentist if you have a toothache.

The best way to prevent a toothache is to keep your teeth and gums healthy.  If possible, try to avoid cavities by reducing your intake of sugary foods and drinks - have them as an occasional treat, and at mealtimes only.  In addition, brush your teeth twice daily using a toothpaste containing fluoride.  To get the most benefit from the fluoride, do not rinse the toothpaste away after brushing.  Finally, do not forget to clean between your teeth using dental floss, woodsticks or an inter-dental brush according to your dentist's advice.

However, a toothache does happen even if you follow the above advise.  Thus, try to see your dentist on a regular basis.  However, if you do have a toothache, seek immediate advice from your dentist before the problem becomes severe.  Once your dentist has identified and treated the problem (usually with a simple filling), the toothache will disappear.  However, a dental abscess will require extraction of the tooth or a more complicated filling (root canal treatment ) if the tooth is to be saved.

However, the following advice may be helpful until you are able to see your dentist:
1.  avoid hot, cold or sweet stimuli.
2.  if the pain is prolonged and severe, painkillers such as ibuprofen (eg Nurofen) may provide some relief.
3.  if the pain is caused by exposed root surfaces, toothpaste for sensitive teeth, either used normally or rubbed onto the exposed root, may be helpful.
4.  a hot saltwater mouthwash (a teaspoon of salt to a cup of water) used to thoroughly rinse the painful area may help if the problem is caused by a tooth erupting. Swishing warm salt water can help to reduce toothache pain.  The salt will help clean the area around the infected tooth, and will help draw out some of the fluids that are causing the swelling and pain
5.  a saltwater mouthwash can also prevent infection if you have mouth ulcers.

As always, my advise is to visit your dentist as soon as possible.

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