Sleep with your head elevated – Prop up a few pillows to prevent your blood flow from rushing to your head, making your tooth pain worse. Use a cold compress – A cold compress (or towel-wrapped ice pack) can reduce inflammation and numb the area.
Lying flat makes it easier for blood to travel to your head, which can increase pain and throbbing from a toothache. Try elevating your head with a couple of pillows to stay more comfortable.
You may have noticed that the agony of an existing toothache amplifies at night. The primary reason behind this is when you are lying down in a horizontal position, the blood flow towards the head increases, pressurizing the sensitive areas in your mouth.
Symptoms of a dental abscess
pain that's worse when lying down, which may disturb your sleep. redness and swelling in your face. a tender, discoloured and/or loose tooth.
Leaving an infection to spread to your facial bones may eventually necessitate surgical removal to stop it. Even in minor cases, a tooth infection can cause the bone structures of your jaw to weaken, making it hard to support your teeth.
A tooth abscess should clear up after treatment. Temporary sensitivity is common, and it may take a few days to feel completely back to normal.
If you have a fever and swelling in your face and you can't reach your dentist, go to an emergency room. Also go to the emergency room if you have trouble breathing or swallowing. These symptoms may indicate that the infection has spread deeper into your jaw, throat or neck or even to other areas of your body.
You may not feel like moving around if you have a throbbing toothache, but for people who are used to exercise, moving about can release endorphins, which are the body's natural pain relievers. You may find that a brisk walk is helpful.
Applying pressure here may relieve toothache and swelling and decrease pain or spasms in the jaw.
Avoid foods or drinks that can irritate the infected tooth. These include hot, cold, spicy, chewy, sticky, hard, sugary, or acidic things. Also, do not touch the tooth with your tongue or finger, as this may trigger the pain.
A tooth infection or abscess will not go away on its own. If left untreated, it can spread to your body, causing flu-like symptoms. Your dentist can treat your infected tooth by draining the pus, tooth extraction, antibiotics, or a root canal.
Don't stop your oral hygiene routine: Continue to brush and floss. Don't be fooled if your dental abscess stops hurting: Pain associated with a dental abscess may go away if the tooth root has died.
In many cases, you'll start feeling better about two to three days after you start taking antibiotics for a tooth infection. 8 However, you should take the full round of prescribed antibiotics. Usually, your dentist will prescribe an antibiotic for three to seven days for a tooth infection.
Usually, within 2-3 days, you'll start feeling better and see an improvement in the infection.
Symptoms Of Jawbone Infections
Pain in the mouth or jaw. Jaw stiffness. Facial swelling. Redness and tenderness.
There is little chance that a tooth infection will spread to other parts of the body. Patients that have any of the below symptoms should call our office right away. Infections that spread can be life threatening and should be taken seriously.
ALMOST NEVER APPLY HEAT to your face when experiencing a toothache. If you have an infection the heat may draw that infection out causing more swelling. Apply COLD! If you are experiencing a severe toothache the best thing is ice water in the mouth.
Do not attempt to squeeze or pop the abscess. We know it is tempting to “deflate” the bump that develops on the gums when you have a tooth abscess. The problem is that when you squeeze or pop the abscess, you actually introduce even more bacteria into the infection. Leave it alone!