How To Deal With Toothache Pain – The 333 Rule

If you have ever had a toothache, you probably know that the unique pain is simply unforgettable. Obviously, you should promptly visit your dentist if you have any tooth pain, but if you have to wait to do so for whatever reason, you can use several coping strategies, one of the most popular being the 3-3-3 method.

What Is the 3-3-3 Method for Tooth Pain?

Tooth or gum pain is almost always due to swelling or inflammation. If you reduce the swelling, then you will reduce the pain. The best way to reduce the pain and inflammation in the short-term is with the 3-3-3 method: 3 ibuprofen (600mg total) 3 times a day for 3 days.

One thing you must not do is take the ibuprofen only to stop taking it once you start experiencing pain relief. The trick is to keep the ibuprofen levels up so that you can reduce the inflammation. If you stop taking it, then it will be a while before the ibuprofen kicks in again.

Always keep in mind that the 3-3-3 method only treats your symptoms and does nothing to address the root cause of the pain. You should ensure that you can take ibuprofen and it doesn’t interfere with any health condition or medication you’re currently taking. (Talk to your doctor if you aren’t sure).

Final Thoughts

Toothaches and tooth pain are undoubtedly some of the worst forms of pain. If you have tooth pain, don’t assume it will go away on its own. If you need to wait to go to the dentist for your tooth pain for whatever reason, you have options for at-home treatment.

The most important thing to do for your headache is control the swelling. That’s why it’s so important to use an anti-inflammatory drug, such as ibuprofen. You also need to try using the 3-3-3 method as described above and your tooth pain will dissipate or even disappear completely.

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What Happens If Tooth Infection Spreads to Your Jaw?

A tooth infection is the build-up of pus and bacteria inside the teeth or gums. The bacteria cause tooth infections. And if left untreated, the bacteria inside the tooth might spread to the jaw. So, if it to the jaw, it could lead to serious and potentially life-threatening conditions.

What Happens If Tooth Infection Spreads to Your Jaw?

Here is what happens if tooth infection spreads to the jaw:

A tooth infection spreading to the jaw could lead to toothache, bone infection, tooth loss, blood infection, and inflammation throughout the body.

Toothache

If there is an opening in the tooth enamel, then bacteria might infect the pulp of the tooth. The infection might spread from the root of the tooth to the jaw. The infection could cause a toothache. Why? Because the infection could lead to tissue swelling and buildup of pus within the tooth and jaw.

Bone Infection

The presence of bacteria inside the tooth could lead to bone infection. The bacteria travel from the pulp of the tooth to the jaw, causing bone infection. And the bacteria can destroy the supporting bones over time. The bone infection could cause swelling and dissolve the jaw bone. The swelling can damage the bone and lead to bone loss.

Tooth Loss

Once the infection spreads to the jaw, the bone structures of the jaw become weak. A weak jaw bone structure does not support the teeth. So, if a person does not treat their tooth infection, they will lose more teeth later in life. If a tooth falls out, it leaves an empty space in the jaw, leading to bone loss and tooth loss.

Inflammation

If a person does not treat a tooth infection, the infection could spread to the jaw bones and other parts of the body. In fact, the bacteria from the tooth infection could spread to the jaws and enter the bloodstream to cause inflammation throughout the body. The inflammation could rupture organs and block arteries.

Blood Infection

Last, but not least, the bacterial infection could spread to the jaw and through the entire bloodstream. If bacteria from the tooth infection enters the bloodstream, it could lead to adverse effects. The person may experience a rapid heartbeat, high fever, chills, confusion, vomiting, and severe nausea. Blood infection can cause shock and organ failure.

Final Thoughts

Most tooth infections are easy to treat. Early treatment can stop the tooth infection from spreading to the jaw. However, if the tooth infection spreads to the jaw, the infection could become severe and life-threatening. Maintaining good oral hygiene and visiting the dentist regularly can prevent tooth infections.

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Is Jaw Pain a Sign of a Serious Dental Problem?

Jaw pain refers to any physical discomfort localized in the jaw. In most instances, jaw pain doesn’t require immediate medical attention. While this is definitely a relief, jaw pain sometimes can be indicative of a more serious underlying problem.

Is Jaw Pain a Sign of a Serious Dental Problem?

Here are 3 instances when jaw pain is a sign of a serious dental problem:

Untreated Cavities

Untreated cavities might not be the most obvious reason for jaw pain, but they can progress to a point where they cause jaw pain. A cavity can cause jaw pain if the tooth deteriorates to such an extent where its root gets infected.

The infection can then spread to tissues in the jawbone and this can cause severe pain if not treated. To prevent this, you need to go for regular dental check-ups and consult with your dentist to ensure that no cavity gets this bad.

Grinding of Teeth

Grinding can cause damage to your teeth and is one of the leading causes of jaw pain. It is also referred to as clenching the teeth. Some people may grind their teeth when stressed while others may grind their teeth while sleeping and might not even be aware of it.

Grinding your teeth can likely lead to major dental problems. One way to prevent grinding of teeth is to wear a mouthguard when sleeping at night. Reducing stress is another effective way to address this problem.

TMJ Disorder

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders are one of the leading causes of jaw pain. The TMJ plays an important role in your everyday life, allowing you to breathe, talk, and eat. TMJ disorders occur when there’s an issue with jaw and facial muscles.

If TMJ disorders advance to a severe state after you start experiencing pain in this area, you may eventually be unable to move the joint. To ensure that TMJ disorders and the resulting pain don’t wreak havoc on your life, you should seek immediate dental treatment.

Final Thoughts

Jaw pain is a serious problem that can cause you great discomfort and poor quality of life. It can be relatively harmless and disappear on its own without any intervention or it could be indicative of a more serious dental issue as clearly shown here.

If you have severe and recurrent jaw pain or have a combination of any of the conditions discussed here, you should see your dentist, doctor, or oral surgeon. You would want to know if the jaw pain was caused by an underlying condition that’s more serious and only a professional can make that determination.

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What Will a Dentist Do To Treat a Toothache?

Toothaches come in many different forms, but are usually a sign that something needs to be checked by a dentist. When it comes to what actually causes toothaches, some common ones are gum infections, cavities, teeth grinding, infections, cracked teeth, and damaged fillings.

What Can a Dentist Do for a Toothache?

A dentist will first perform an examination and ask about your symptoms. He/she may also take a dental X-ray to find out whether there are any issues going on beneath the gums. The dentist will then recommend a suitable treatment depending on the severity of your situation.

Here are the 3 most common dentist-prescribed treatments for toothaches:

I. Dental Filling

If a hole has already formed in the decayed tooth, the dentist will remove the decayed area using a drill and repair the hole using dental fillings. Blue wavelength light is then used to cure and hasten the hardening of the fillings. Finally, they will file and polish the tooth for a correct bite.

II. Root Canal

A root canal may be necessary if the tooth is infected or for a larger cavity. The dentist first numbs the patient and then drills the tooth until reaching the pulp, which contains nerves and blood vessels. He/she then removes it and seals the tooth. A crown may also be placed over the affected tooth to protect it from further damage.

III. Tooth Extraction

Extracting a tooth can be an effective solution to prevent further infection. It’s also a common solution for a crowded mouth, especially with impacted teeth that require surgery. The procedure starts with local anesthetic being administered to numb the area. The dentist then rocks the tooth back and forth using forceps to remove it from the jawbone.

Final Thoughts

Toothaches are usually the result of a more serious oral problem that requires immediate attention. To treat a toothache, the dentist will first review your medical history and conduct an examination. After determining the cause, he/she will prescribe a suitable treatment.

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Toothaches Are Serious And Can Cause Severe Health Problems

Toothaches are serious and should be taken care of by a dentist immediately. The truth of this statement is supported by what happened recently to a man who nearly died from complications connected to his painful toothache as detailed in an article by Stephen Matthews found at mailonline.com…

Daniel Murtagh, 29, suffered months of weight loss, exhaustion and body aches – which doctors believed was HIV. But blood tests revealed a super-bug had traveled around his body and eaten away at a valve in his heart. Medics discovered the infection had come from bacteria on a mildly-inflamed wisdom tooth that was causing him slight pain. Doctors immediately pulled it out before performing a seven-hour operation on his heart to give him a prosthetic valve. But Mr Murtagh was told that if he had left his condition another week he would probably have died.

As this article makes clear, it is so important to take care of your teeth, keep them clean, see your dentist for cleanings and X-rays…and always see your dentist if you have any discomfort at all – even if you think its minor.

Tooth pain ALWAYS indicates something needs attention. You do not want something in your mouth to cause a major infection in your body that could lead to significant problems, even death. So, if you are experiencing a toothache or any other type of dental emergency in Baltimore please call a dentist right away.