Having Tooth Pain?

When your tooth aches with mild to severe pain, you need an emergency dentist. It can be caused by cavities, inflammation, infection, broken or cracked teeth, and trauma.  Dr. Schell and Dr. Joseph can help you find the relief you need here at Plano Family Dental.

What do I do if I have tooth pain?

• Call our office as soon as you can to get it checked out, especially if you have significant swelling, your pain lasts more than a couple of days, or your pain is severe.  We also have a 24/7 answering service, so you can get in touch with Dr. Joseph or Dr. Schell if needed.  At the clinic, our dentists will use diagnostic tools like x-rays, cold tests, and bite tests to diagnose your problem.

What can you do if you can’t get in right away?

• Pain pills – you can take over-the-counter pain medications to help relieve tooth pain. Advil (ibuprofen) and Aleve (naproxen) are best for pain and inflammation. DO NOT take these medications if you are allergic or have interactions with them. Sometimes usual dosing directions don’t help with the pain, ask our doctors if you can take pills more often or at a higher dose for relief.
• Warm saltwater rinses – these rinses are soothing to the soft tissues in your mouth, like your gums. This can help with any soreness from inflammation.
• Cold compress – holding a cold compress against the affected area for 10 minutes every hour can provide relief from swelling, inflammation and sometimes pain.
• Clove Oil – this is a natural pain reliever. Place a few drops on a cotton ball or swab and hold it on the area that hurts. You can get temporary relief. Note that clove oil doesn’t have a taste that everyone enjoys.

What should I AVOID when I have tooth pain?

• DO NOT place aspirin directly on the affected area – aspirin is acidic and can cause an acid burn.
• DO NOT reglue a crown that came off – using some glues, especially superglue to recement a crown creates a situation where the crown must be cut off. This prevents the dentist from just recementing it because it destroys your crown. (There are situations where your crown will have to be redone regardless)
• Avoid spicy, acidic, or cold/hot things – these types of food or drinks can cause inflammation and pain to flare up.
• Don’t wait to see a dentist – any tooth condition is cheaper and less involved the smaller it is. Getting things taken care of sooner can save you recovery time and money.

At Plano Family Dental, we’re dedicated to helping you maintain your dental implants and enjoy a healthy, confident smile. If you have any questions or need to schedule a cleaning or check-up, schedule an appointment online or call us at (972) 867-5090. We’re here to support your oral health every step of the way.