What To Do if You Have a Toothache in Canberra

A toothache can strike at any time of the day. Whether in the middle of the night, first thing in the morning or while training at the gym, tooth pain can be incredibly painful and difficult to deal with on your own. While waiting for your dental appointment, there are a few things you can do at home to help bring about temporary pain relief. This article will explore how you can treat a toothache in Canberra safely and effectively.

Common Causes of Tooth Pain

Pain and sensitivity in the teeth can be a real burden to deal with, and is usually a sign of a more serious problem. If you’re experiencing extreme sensitivity, a dull ache, sharp pain or gum bleeding, proper treatment and diagnosis with your local dentist Canberra is essential. Whether it’s an ongoing issue or something that’s happened out of the blue, it’s important to call your local dentist or seek emergency care immediately. There are many reasons why tooth pain can occur, the most common ones being:

Decay & Cavities: If you love sugary sweets, this can contribute to an increase in bacteria in your mouth, stripping away tooth enamel. 

• • Teeth Grinding: This can cause jaw pain, chips and cracks and is often associated with stress. 

• • Infection: If you have an abscessed tooth, this can cause excruciating pain and swelling, making it very difficult to get eat or chew food.

• • Gum Disease: If excessive bleeding is present when brushing, you may have inflammation and receding gums causing tooth pain.

• • Broken Fillings: When fillings become loose, this can expose the sensitive part of the tooth, causing throbbing pain. 

If your mouth swelling is causing problems with your breathing, see a doctor urgently for urgent care. https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/toothache-and-swelling

Simple Steps You Can Take to Treat Tooth Ache & Pain

1. 1. Stay Calm 

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed and go into panic when toothache hits. However, not all pain is an emergency situation. If you’re experiencing mild symptoms, over the counter medication such as Aspirin or Panadol may assist with temporary pain relief until you get to a dentist. If you have a broken tooth, swelling or chronic gum bleeding, seeking urgent medical attention is the best thing to do. This will ensure your urgent dental issues are treated promptly and with the compassion you deserve. 

2. 2. Practice Some DIY Remedies at Home

Sometimes tooth pain can hit in the middle of the night, so managing the discomfort at home until you can seek dental attention the following day can help get you through the hours ahead.

• • Gargling warm salt water will help reduce bacteria, inflammation and pain temporarily.

• • If your mouth is swollen or inflamed, applying a cold compress or ice pack can minimise swelling.

• • Panadol, Aspirin or Ibuprofen can control pain levels and offer relief for a few hours at a time. Although this won’t treat the underlying pain, it will help minimise discomfort until you visit your dentist. 

https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/Teeth-and-medication

3. 3. Tooth Loss

If your tooth has been broken, chipped or completely knocked out, it’s imperative to get to a dentist fast. 

• • Limit movement as much as possible.

• • Gently bite down on some gauze and try and place tooth back in socket, if it comes out.

• • Place your tooth in a secure container and get emergency help immediately. 

• • Your dentist will determine if reimplantation or reinsertion is possible. 

• It’s usually recommended you get to the dentist within an hour of losing a tooth, as there is a higher success rate of reimplantation. 

4. 4. Book an Emergency Dentist in Canberra

At My Dentist Canberra, we make it easy to book an emergency dentist service when you need it most. If you’re experiencing chronic tooth ache and pain symptoms, accessing emergency dental care will ensure you get the help you need promptly. If it’s a knocked-out tooth, getting to us within a 30-minute window could potentially save your tooth. 

Our emergency dentist team in Canberra is specifically trained to quickly diagnose and address dental emergencies, with a focus on immediate pain relief. We are equipped with the latest diagnostic tools and treatment technology, ensuring quick and accurate emergency care.

For after-hours care, our clinic is open on Saturday and Sunday to accommodate all your emergency dental needs. Our patient centric approach ensures you get the best in dental care all year round – with your comfort being our number one priority. 

If you can’t get into your preferred dentist for emergency care, there are government dental services available. https://teeth.org.au/government-dental-care

5. 5. Book a Follow Up Appointment

So, your toothache has been treated and you’re now on the mend. Even if the pain has subsided, it’s important to book a follow up appointment with your dentist to minimise any further complications. This may include more work with root canal treatment, fillings and tooth extractions. It’s also a good time to review previous oral habits and making changes if necessary. As part of your preventative care regime, you will experience better long-term oral health and reduce the impact of toothache and pain from reoccurring again. 

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Frequently asked questions about tooth aches and pains