For a toothache, eat soft, cool, or room-temperature foods that require minimal chewing, like mashed potatoes, yogurt, scrambled eggs, oatmeal, smoothies, applesauce, and soups (not too hot) to avoid aggravating pain. Avoid hard, crunchy, sticky, or very hot/cold foods, and acidic items like citrus, which can worsen sensitivity and discomfort.
When you have a toothache and hunger strikes, opt for these treats:
The 3-3-3 rule for toothache is a temporary pain management strategy: take 3 ibuprofen (200mg each) three times a day for 3 days, but 3 hours apart (or every 8 hours), to reduce inflammation and pain until you can see a dentist; it's crucial to consult a doctor first, especially with underlying conditions, as it's not a cure but a short-term fix for inflammation.
Self-care tips
To relieve pregnancy tooth nerve pain, use cold compresses, rinse with warm salt water, and try pregnancy-safe numbing gels or acetaminophen (after checking with your doctor) for temporary relief, but seeing a dentist is crucial for a permanent fix, as dental issues don't resolve on their own and can worsen during pregnancy. Avoid NSAIDs like ibuprofen.
According to acupressure, gently pressing the area between your thumb and index finger (called the Hegu or LI4 point) may help reduce toothache pain temporarily. However, this should not replace professional dental care.
Acidic foods like citrus fruits (lemons, oranges), tomatoes, and vinegar-based dressings can aggravate sensitive teeth. If your tooth is cracked or you have a dental infection, acidic foods may increase pain and sensitivity.
The timeline depends on the cause and severity of damage. For minor decay, the nerve may take weeks to die. For severe trauma or infection, it could die within days.
What are the best drinks to relieve a toothache?
Signs Your Toothache Could Be a Serious Emergency
Here are some herbs traditionally used in Chinese medicine to help with toothaches: Clove (Ding Xiang): Known for its numbing effect, clove oil can be applied directly to the tooth to relieve pain. Licorice Root (Gan Cao): Used for its anti-inflammatory properties, it can help reduce swelling and pain.
Code 1 – Slight bleeding when probed, no calculus or gingival pockets under 3.5mm. Code 2 – Slight bleeding when probed, Calculus or Plaque present and gingival pockets under 3.5mm. Code 3 – Calculus and Plaque present under the gum margin and gingival pockets between 3.5 – 5.5mm.
The ER can provide temporary relief for severe tooth pain by offering strong pain medication and antibiotics for infections, and draining abscesses, but they can't fix the underlying dental problem, so they'll refer you to a dentist for permanent solutions like fillings or extractions. Go to the ER for severe pain with swelling, fever, or facial trauma, but know they're managing symptoms, not the cause.
Avoid extreme temperatures
Whilst a cold compress or a heat pack can help to relieve toothache, consuming foods that are either really hot or really cold can affect your sore tooth or gums. This includes hot and cold food and drinks, so it is a good idea to skip your morning coffee and avoid desserts such as ice cream.
What to Eat With Tooth Infection?
Main meals
By eroding enamel and exposing deeper layers of the tooth, drinking soda can result tooth sensitivity and pain. Leads to decay. Harmful bacteria in the mouth feed on the sugar in soda.
Ice the area: Icing the area can relieve pain and numb the nerves. Put one or two ice cubes in a plastic bag and lay the ice on the aching area or outside the cheek that covers the tooth. Do not use a heating pack to sooth the tooth and do not eat or drink sweet foods and drinks if they increase your pain.
Milk is known to benefit teeth as it contains a significant amount of calcium which strengthens their structure. Milk also neutralizes the acids in the mouth, which can slow the process of decay and reduce the related pain. The temperature of the milk can also help to soothe your tooth pain.
The 3-3-3 rule for toothache is a temporary pain management strategy: take 3 ibuprofen (200mg each) three times a day for 3 days, but 3 hours apart (or every 8 hours), to reduce inflammation and pain until you can see a dentist; it's crucial to consult a doctor first, especially with underlying conditions, as it's not a cure but a short-term fix for inflammation.
Signs Your Tooth May Be Dead
Pain and Sensitivity: You might still feel pain because of inflammation around the dead tooth or an infection in the surrounding tissue. Swelling and Bad Breath: An abscess can form, leading to gum swelling, a foul taste, and persistent bad breath.
We've got you covered with some homemade remedies to provide temporary relief until you can get to a dentist for treatment.
Eating or drinking can make the pain worse, particularly if the food or drink is hot or cold. The pain can also be mild or severe. It might feel sharp and start suddenly. It can be worse at night, particularly when you're lying down.
SIMPLE MEAL IDEAS
The first few days are the worst, so try eating softer foods like those listed below until the soreness passes: