My tooth has been hurting for over a week. How do I stop it from aching without going to the dentist? Victor
Victor – Whether or not you can stop the toothache depends on the cause of the toothache. Sometimes food trapped between your tooth and gums can cause a toothache. Try thoroughly flossing around the tooth and between the tooth and your gums. If you find that food debris was trapped there, you may get relief from your toothache.
If you don’t get relief, you will need to see a dentist to have your tooth examined. You may have a cavity in your tooth that needs to be filled, or your tooth might be infected, in which case a root canal treatment will be needed to remove the infection. Don’t worry though. A root canal treatment can be a painless procedure.
You may get temporary relief with over-the-counter topical toothache pain reliever. Look for a brand that has an American Dental Association seal of approval, such as Benzodent®. Keep in mind that an over-the-counter product is no substitute for a dental appointment. An examination and x-ray will determine the cause of your pain, and your dentist will let you know your treatment options.
This post is sponsored by Plano dentist Dr. Miranda Lacy.