Managing Dental Pain Before Your Emergency Appointment

If you're in need of an emergency dental appointment, there's a strong chance you're in a lot of pain. Whether you need to wait for a few hours or more than a day, it's worth learning common pain relief techniques so you can manage your condition at home.

Prioritise Non-Steroidal Anti Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) over opiates

Although there was once a time when dentists would advise using opiates over NSAIDs, evidence now shows that turning to medications such as Ibuprofen is in your best interests. This is because NSAIDs act on the inflammation that takes place, reducing some of the causes of the pain signals. In contrast, opiate analgesics attempt to block the pain, producing a mild dulling effect. When the NSAID reduces the pressure the diseased area is placing on your nerve, you may find the relief is quite effective. If NSAIDs alone aren't enough, consider asking your dentist about using paracetamol alongside them until your appointment.

Rinsing your mouth with salt water

Rinsing your mouth with salt water is a dental pain relief method that's easy to access for most people. It's only effective for pain caused by gingivitis-related diseases, though. The saltwater solution relies on osmosis to draw some of the non-salty fluids inside your gums toward the salty area outside. Much like NSAIDs, this results in a reduction in inflammation, which then reduces some of the pain signals that are reaching your brain. If you're considering trying this approach with a child, always ask your dentist for advice first.

Turn to over-the-counter numbing gels

Over-the-counter numbing gels that reduce dental pain usually deal with the surface sensations that arise when something is aggravating your gums. Depending on the nature of your dental emergency, it can result in a mild to moderate reduction in pain relief. The gel should act as a low-dose local anaesthetic, and you may find it's more effective when you're using an oral pain medication alongside it.

Adjust your diet

While you're waiting for your emergency dental appointment, you may find that you don't have much of an interest in eating food anyway. If you do, though, you might want to alter your diet so that you place less pressure on the area surrounding the affected tooth. In addition to changing the side you chew on, opt for softer foods that place less pressure on the nerves that are generating painful signals. Additionally, you may want to avoid aggravating drinks that are too hot, cold or fizzy.

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