Home remedies for tooth pain

Pain is the body’s way of telling us that something is wrong. If you have ever had a toothache, you will know that tooth pain is no fun at all. Always seek advice from a dental health professional if you are experiencing any pain but here are some handy tooth pain home remedies just in case you are unable to see a professional straight away.

Causes of tooth pain

Many things can cause tooth pain to strike.

• Teeth sensitivity. If the layer of hard tissue located under the tooth enamel gets exposed, this can make your teeth very sensitive to hot and cold liquids and sugary drinks. Recessed gums or worn down tooth enamel can expose this dentin.
• Cavities. Cavities are another main cause of tooth pain. If the sensitive nerves in your teeth are exposed, something as simple and frequent as biting something hard could be very painful.
• Cracked teeth. If you bite down on something too hard, you could crack a tooth, which can also be very painful. Trauma from an accident can also crack a tooth. In a severe enough case, the tender nerves that reside deep in your teeth could be exposed, resulting in pain.
• Loose fillings or crowns. Sometimes dental treatment to fix one issue can cause another problem. Fillings and crowns can sometimes become loose or cracked, resulting in tooth pain.

Options to relieve tooth pain at home

First of all, keep in mind that these remedies only provide short term relief and are not meant to be a substitute for seeing a dentist. Always see your dentist as soon as possible if you suffering from tooth pain. Your dentist will be able to get to the source of the problem and treat it for you.

But while you’re waiting to see your dentist, here are some home remedies you can try to reduce your tooth pain.

• Painkillers. Your first option to relieve a toothache will probably be over the counter pain relief, such as ibuprofen.
• Cold compress. s an ice pack or a cool, wet washcloth can help to relieve pain and swelling.
• Clove Oil. Clove oil relieves pain and reduces the swelling associated with toothache. Clove oil contains a natural aesthetic and acts as a temporary pain reliever. Soak up a few drops of clove oil in a cotton ball, then gently rub the cotton ball over the affected teeth and gums.
• Salt Water. Another option is to try rinsing your mouth with warm saltwater. Add a few teaspoons of salt to a cup of warm water. Swish the mixture around your mouth and then spit it out.
• Hydrogen Peroxide. In a similar way to saltwater, a hydrogen peroxide rinse can relieve pain and swelling in the mouth. It has also been found to kill bacteria, reduce plaque and heal bleeding gums. To prepare the solution, mix 3 per cent hydrogen peroxide with equal parts of water. Swish it around your mouth, but don’t swallow it.
• Peppermint Oil. Peppermint oil has been used to treat toothaches throughout history. It has antibacterial properties, making it a popular choice for those seeking short-term toothache relief until dental help is available. Use a cotton ball to apply a few drops of oil to the affected area.

Remember, these remedies are not are a long-term solution to your tooth pain. If you have tooth pain, then please see a dentist as soon as you can.

4 New Year’s resolutions for your teeth

The New Year is an excellent time to make a change. Many of New Year’s resolutions involve taking steps to improve our health and our happiness. So why not make a resolution this year to improve your oral care?

In this post, we’ll look at four resolutions that can improve the health of your teeth and gums.

1. Brush your teeth twice a day

If you’re not brushing your teeth twice a day, then now’s a good time to start. By brushing your teeth regularly with fluoride toothpaste, you can dramatically reduce your risk of cavities and gum disease.

Here’s a reminder of the best practices for your oral health routine:

• Brush gently for two minutes, twice a day
• Use a soft-bristled toothbrush to protect your enamel
• Angle your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to your gum line when brushing
• Use a toothpaste containing fluoride
• Clean between your teeth, either with floss or an alternative device
• Rinse your mouth after brushing with a mouthwash

Carrying out these oral care routines twice a day will improve your mouth’s health.

When you start making changes, try to notice the small differences you are noticing. If you start flossing, you will soon start noticing that your gums bleed less, are less sensitive and that you feel more confident in your smile.

Remember that consistency is key when trying to establish new habits. Don’t beat yourself up if you miss a floss, but instead try to do it regularly for the rest of the week.

2. Eat healthier

Your diet is also very important when keeping your mouth healthy. What you eat can easily turn into food for bacteria in your mouth and contribute to gum disease and cavities.

Try to follow some of these steps towards a healthier diet:

• Limit your intake of sugary or acidic foods and drinks
• Avoid snacking between meals wherever possible
• Rinse your mouth with water after meals or sugary drinks
• Try to eat lots of nutrient-dense foods such as fruit and vegetables

3. Get your dental problems fixed

A New Year’s resolution might also involve addressing any existing dental problems that you have been putting up with. Bite the bullet (so to speak!) and ask for advice on anything bothering you regarding your dental health. Have you been suffering from sensitive teeth? dry mouth? difficulty in brushing or flushing? seek advice from your dental professional to get you on track to great oral health.

4. Quit smoking

You know it really – smoking is not only bad for your overall health but your oral health too. Tobacco can stain your teeth and increase your risk of many dental problems. This could be the year you completely commit to quitting smoking altogether.

Conclusion

Making a New Year’s resolution to improve your health in any way is a great decision. Remember to be forgiving if you have any setbacks and allow yourself time for your new routines to solidify into habits. It will take time, but you can do it!

You are now equipped with the knowledge to make this the year you make drastic changes to improve your dental health.

Looking after your teeth as you get older

Good dental hygiene and oral care are important at any age, but as we age, we might notice changes in our oral health that pose new challenges. Your dentist will be able to fully support you with these, but it is good to know what to look out for.

What might change as we get older?

As with any other area of our bodies, as we get older, we might develop conditions that were not present when we were younger. We’ll address some of these conditions now.

1. Dry Mouth

Getting older in itself doesn’t necessarily make you more prone to dry mouth, however some of the other factors that come with ageing can.

Taking some regular medications, having a chronic health condition or having existing cavities or decay can increase your risk for developing dry mouth.

If you feel you may be suffering from this, speak to your dentist who can recommend some products to help.

2. Wear and tear

As the enamel on the teeth inevitably starts to wear down through many years of chewing food, ageing teeth can have a greater risk of developing cavities.

3. Disease

This ranges from oral cancer and less serious illnesses, such as oral thrush.

4. Gum disease

Plaque forming on teeth, resulting in gum disease is one of the major causes of tooth loss in adults. See your dentist if you suspect you have gum disease because the sooner you treat it the better.

5. Sensitive Teeth

You may notice that your teeth become more sensitive as you get older. This can be due to your gums naturally receding and whereby exposing areas of the tooth that are not protected by enamel.

Initially, you could try toothpaste for sensitive teeth but if the problem persists, speak to your dentist.

How to look after your teeth as you get older

The good news is that many of these dental problems above are easily identified, solved, or even prevented when you know what to look for.

Keeping your ageing teeth and gums in tip-top shape requires a few common-sense practices:

• Maintain regular dental visits: Even if you have dentures it is important to get your teeth and gums checked regularly.
• Brush and floss daily
• Use an antibacterial mouthwash
• Avoid tobacco: Tobacco in any form has been linked to an increased risk of mouth and throat cancer, not to mention heart disease and other serious conditions.
• Monitor your sugar intake make healthy choices to limit your sweets and fizzy drink consumption. It is also a good idea to brush shortly after snacking if you can.
• Calcium intake. Ensure you have low-fat dairy products in your diet to prevent osteoporosis, which can also affect the bone surrounding your teeth.

Does your arthritis make brushing or flossing difficult?

If arthritis or any other mobility issue can make brushing or flossing difficult or uncomfortable, speak to your dentist about dental aids that make brushing easier.

Ten causes of yellow teeth

Although not usually a sign that anything is wrong or needs treating, yellowing teeth can affect your confidence in your smile.

Luckily, improving the colour of your teeth can be as easy as making some simple changes to what you eat and drink and making a few tweaks to your dental routine.

Here are the top ten causes of yellowing teeth and how to address them:

1. Genes

Sometimes, simply, yellow teeth runs in the family. If you have a parent with yellow teeth, then chances are you’ll have problems with yellow teeth too.

2. Dentin

If you have thin enamel on your teeth, the dentin underneath can show through. Dentin naturally is a deep yellow to brownish colour and is underneath the enamel. Dentin is normally covered by a thick layer of white enamel but stains can develop on the enamel too.

3. Aging

Unfortunately, as we age, our teeth normally start to turn yellow, when the enamel starts to wear away from years of chewing and exposure to acids from food and drink. As the enamel thins with age, yellow can develop if the dentin starts to show through but it is not uncommon for teeth to develop a greyish tinge too if they are mixed with a long-lasting food stain.

4. Smoking

It is very well-known now that smoking is very detrimental to our overall health and just about every part of the body. The mouth is no exception. Among other more serious complications, cosmetically alone, nicotine products can leave a long-lasting yellow or brown stain on your teeth.

5. Foods

Everyday food can be notoriously bad for staining teeth! Tomato sauces, curries and berries can all stain the enamel. We can’t avoid these foods (life is too short!) but if you are aware of them, you can brush your teeth after eating them or rinse your mouth with water.

6. Drinks

Two of the country’s favourite hot drinks are very guilty of staining teeth – tea and coffee. Other culprits are wines, fizzy drinks and other soft drinks with artificial flavours. Always rinse after enjoying them.

7. Antibiotics

Some antibiotics can stain teeth when they’re developing in the gums. If you took certain antibiotics as a child or if your mother took them when pregnant, this could be responsible for a yellow hue.

8. Fluoride

Fluoride is very good for teeth, but too much fluoride can cause yellow or brownish yellow spots on teeth. Ensure you only consume the recommended amount of fluoride.

9. Accidents

Any physical impact to teeth in an accident can crack tooth enamel and potentially even damage the tooth’s interior. If you notice any discolouration after impact or trauma to your teeth, seek advice from your dentist.

10. Tooth grinding

Tooth grinding is on the rise, what with the stressful lives most people have today. It is a completely unconscious habit that can get worse when people are particularly stressed, especially whilst sleeping. Over time, grinding can be harmful to tooth enamel, potentially weakening it to the point of cracking and yellowing. If you think that you may be grinding your teeth, speak to your dentist.

Dental floss or dental tape?

We all know that flossing is a crucial oral health habit. We often have good intentions to do but it so often gets missed when life gets busy. Luckily, there are many different products available to assist with flossing so it is good to try out a few different products until you find something that you can easily incorporate into your daily routine.

Usually, your dentist or dental hygienist will recommend dental tape or floss, but you will likely need to try them both and see which you prefer.

Floss or tape?

Both dental tape and dental floss are devices designed to clean the hard-to-reach surfaces between teeth that your brush just cannot get to. Dental floss is a thin strand, whereas dental tape is broader and flatter.

You must choose the right product for you and the one which is the most effective at cleaning between your teeth and which you find easiest to use. If your teeth are tightly pressed together with little room between, you might find dental tape easier to use. Depending on your dexterity and your mouth, it can sometimes be tricky to handle thin strands of floss, in which case tape might be easier for you to use.

How to use dental floss or tape

The advice for flossing is the same, whether you choose dental tape or floss:

1. Tear off a suitable strand of tape or floss; people tend to struggle because they tear off too little.
2. Wind one end of the tape around one of your middle fingers. Do the same with the other end of the tape on your other hand.
3. To keep control of the tape or floss and be able to manoeuvre it effectively, pinch the string on each hand with your pointer finger and thumb.
4. Slowly and gently insert the tape or floss into the space between two of your teeth.
5. Using a back-and-forth motion, gently move the floss or tape up the tooth until it comes out from between the teeth.
6. Unwind a new section of floss or tape from one hand and wind it up on the other hand so that you have a clean section to work with.
7. Repeat the motion on the space between your next two teeth and work logically and systematically around your mouth in this way.

As you can see, the method of flossing is far more important than which product you use. Flossing removes plaque from between the teeth, and if this isn’t done regularly, it can turn into a hard substance called tartar that only dental professionals can remove. If this happens, your gums can also swell and bleed.

Alternatives to dental floss and tape

If you try both tape and floss and find them difficult to use, there are other products available.

It is important to floss once a day to maintain good oral health and not just give up. If you struggle to find a flossing product that works for you, don’t hesitate in speaking to your dentist or dental hygienist.