How to manage cavity or tooth pain

A cavity—a hole caused by tooth decay—can be uncomfortable. Cavity pain can make eating, sleeping and focusing difficult and affect your daily life.

Tooth decay destroys your tooth’s hard enamel and dentin, the layer beneath the enamel. This leads to a hole in the tooth that exposes the nerves and leads to sensitivity and painful toothaches.

The best way to relieve pain for a hole in your tooth is to see your dentist and have the cavity filled. In the meantime, over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers, avoiding cold foods and drinks, and rinsing with warm salt water can help clear it up.

This article discusses how to relieve cavity pain. It offers simple dos and don’ts to ease the pain of a hole in your tooth while you wait to see the dentist.

Call your dentist

Call your dentist to make an appointment if you have a hole in your tooth, tooth pain, or suspect you have a cavity.

Symptoms of a mild cavity include:

• Hole or dent in your tooth
• Sensitivity to hot or cold drinks and foods or sweets
• Toothache or pain
• White patches on the tooth

Cavities are common and can be repaired by your dentist with a filling. If left untreated, it can lead to infection and damage the root.

Signs of a tooth infection include:

• An abscess (pocket of pus)
• Facial swelling
• Fever
• Pain

If you have any of these symptoms, call your dentist. If they can’t see you right away, ask for guidance on pain relief.

Do not cancel the appointment if the pain temporarily subsides. The damage will not repair itself, so the pain is bound to return.

The longer you put off going to the dentist, the deeper the cavity will go and the more pain it can cause. You could then need a root canal or tooth extraction instead of a simple filling.

Watch what you eat

Avoid foods and drinks that are too cold, too hot, too sugary, or too acidic.

When tooth decay invades the dentin layer of teeth, it can cause pain in response to extreme temperatures. You may want to brush your teeth with warm, rather than cold, water.

Acidic and sugary foods can make tooth decay worse. Your teeth may not be as sensitive to them as they are to heat and cold. But they contribute to wear and tear and increase pain.

Acidic foods include:

• Citrus fruits and citrus juices, especially lemon
• Tomatoes
• Anything carbonated
• Anything sour
• Dried fruit
• Aromatic tea
• Vinegar, including pickles

Consider pain medications

If your dentist says it’s okay, take an OTC pain reliever. Anti-inflammatories generally work best for dental pain. Most toothaches are caused by tissue or nerve inflammation.

OTC anti-inflammatories include:

• Advil or Motrin (ibuprofen)
• Aleve (next to)

If you need more pain relief, Tylenol (acetaminophen) can help. It is usually safe to combine Tylenol with anti-inflammatories.

Ask your dentist, primary care provider, or pharmacist if you have any questions or concerns.

Try Oil of Clove

Another option is clove oil (eugenol). It is used in various dental materials because of its germ-killing and pain-killing properties.

You can find eugenol in most health food stores. To use, soak a small piece of cotton. Blot the cotton on a piece of tissue to remove the excess.

Using clean tweezers, hold the cotton swab on the sore tooth for 10 seconds. Make sure you don’t swallow any of the oil.

Keep your mouth clean

Do not avoid brushing or flossing the painful area. Keeping your mouth clean can help. This is because clusters of bacteria produce acid and increase pain.

Try flossing between painful teeth. Removing any food particles and plaque can help reduce pain.

Rinse your mouth with warm salt water. Not only is it soothing, but it also helps kill bacteria.

To make a saltwater rinse, dilute up to 1 teaspoon of salt and 2 teaspoons of baking soda (optional) in 8 ounces of warm water. Swish the salt water around your mouth for about 30 seconds. Spit out and do not swallow.

Fill it at home

Some pharmacies have OTC fillers that temporarily seal the cavity. If you can pinpoint exactly where it is, this can help relieve pain and protect the area.

However, ask your dentist before doing this. Some of them believe that sealing a painful or infected tooth can cause more pain. It can also worsen the infection by sealing in bacteria.

Summary

Tooth pain from a cavity or cavity should be evaluated by your dentist. The pain should go away once the hole in the tooth is filled.

While you wait to be seen by the dentist, you can treat cavity pain at home with OTC anti-inflammatories and clove oil. Avoid hot, cold, sugary or acidic foods and drinks.

Keep your mouth clean by gently brushing and flossing. You can also rinse your mouth with warm salt water to ease cavity pain and kill bacteria.