What to Do for a Tooth Ache Q&A with Phoenix Area Dentist Reem Kidess: Cures & Treatment


Pain is the body’s way of letting us know there is a problem.

A tooth ache is not something you should ignore. Many people grew up with a “Band-Aid and Advil” philosophy on pain: suck it up and it’ll go away. That might work for cuts, scrapes, and bruises when you’re a kid, but it isn’t a good idea for tooth aches. Not only do tooth aches hurt, but chances are that they indicate something worse is going on. Possible causes of tooth aches include: cavities, inflammation of dental pulp (the inside of the tooth), cracked teeth, gum disease, and the entry of wisdom teeth. All of those get much worse if left untreated. If ignored too long, they’ll lead to an infection which could be life-threatening.

That’s why it’s important to see a dentist for a tooth ache. There are some short-term cures for a tooth ache, but if you only treat the symptom and not the underlying cause, the tooth ache is going to continue and probably get worse. We talked to Paradise Valley, Scottsdale, and Phoenix area dentist Reem Kidess about what to do for a tooth ache and some temporary home treatments for a tooth ache.

What to do for a Tooth Ache

●  Could be a Sign of Something Serious: “First of all, you should never ignore a tooth ache. If it’s a toothache that lasts more than a day or two, nine times out of ten it’s an alert of a more serious problem. I see people all the time who come in after weeks of feeling pain, wondering what to do for a tooth ache; it’s often a cavity or infection that requires attention. Their treatment is always more intense and there’s more damage to fix when people wait. Even if the underlying cause didn’t get worse, the tooth ache isn’t going to go away until you fix what’s wrong.
●  Pain Relief at Home: “There are some temporary treatments for a tooth ache that can help with the pain until you go see your dentist.”

–  Ibuprofen: “The first of the cures for a tooth ache that you’ll want to try is to take an over-the-counter pain relief medicine like Advil or Ibuprofen. Sometimes it’s enough and it’s an easy way to manage minor pain.”
–  Elevation: “The reason that people often have worse tooth aches at night is that lying down increases blood pressure in your head and mouth, which makes the pain more intense. Try to keep your head above your heart to keep that pressure down. If that means sleeping in a reclining chair rather than bed, that may be what you have to do.”
–  Ice: “Local application of warmth or coldness is good for pain treatment for most every part of the body, and the tooth is no different. Rubbing a piece of ice on the gum by the pain is a good treatment for a tooth ache.”
–  Warmth: “Other cures for a tooth ache involve placing something warm—not too hot, though!—on the tooth. One suggestion I’ve seen is to use a hot tea bag for quick relief. Not only that, but drinking tea is good for you and hot tea could provide further pain relief. Just don’t burn yourself.”

See your Phoenix Area Dentist for a Tooth Ache Cure Before it Gets Worse

If you’re wondering what to do for a tooth ache, “wait it out” is the absolute wrong answer. If it goes away in a day or two, fine. If it lasts any longer, it’s probably a sign that something more serious is going on. No treatment for a tooth ache will work if you don’t fix what is causing the tooth ache. That could be a cavity, gum disease, infection, cracked tooth, and the list goes on. Not only will pain last, but ignoring any of those issues will make them worse and wind up causing a lot more pain in the long run.  Some good short-term cures for a tooth ache—say, while you’re waiting for your dentist’s appointment—are taking over-the-counter pain relief meds like Advil and applying cold or heat to the tooth ache. To learn more about what to do for a tooth ache or to talk with Phoenix area dentist Reem Kidess, call 480-991-2290 or visit www.PVsmiles.com.

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