Toothache: Treatment, Procedure, Cost and Side Effects

Toothache is perhaps one of the most abhorred form of body ache, which can potentially stall the normalcy of our lives to a great extent. Although seemingly non-hazardous, toothache can also lead to severe health implications. The dental health often indexes the condition of the heart and hence, should not be taken lightly. Toothache usually emanate from cavities or gum infection. While there are multiple cures for the same, these are the types of ailments, which are laden with the risk of relapse. The last minute rush to the dentist may buy temporary relieve from the excruciating pain, but what you should actually look for is a more holistic and sustained cure. Homeopathy brings all the benefits of natural herbs and traditional condiments to ensure your well-being and provide substantial relief from the menace that toothache can be. Some of the most reliable cures have been listed below.

1. Merc Sol: This is a very beneficial remedy for toothaches which are accompanied by increased salivation and swelling in the gum. This brings additional warmth to the gums which largely mitigate the pain.
2. Coffea: Coffea functions as an effective adjuvant to cold water in decreasing toothaches. It works best on increased sensitivity and irritability and cures them both to a large extent.
3. Sepia: Sometimes excessive intake of sweets leaves a bitter aftertaste in one’s mouth, resulting in unbearable toothaches. The ringing pain often spreads to the ears and the gums also get swollen. Sepia sufficiently pacifies such agitation.
4. Kreosote: Kreosote relieves those extreme kinds of toothache which reach up to the temples and induce sleeplessness in the patient. It also cures ulcerated gums.
5. Mezereum: Mezereum purifies dental health from its very roots. It reduces toothache from spreading and stalls the decay at the very roots. Mezereum soothes acute sensitivity and a constant ringing sensation in the temples and the ears of the patient.

There are various other drugs also which are of immense benefit in toothache and also for the cutting of wisdom tooth.

The gums are also called the periodontium - perio for around and dontium for tooth as the gums are literally present "around the tooth."  There is a softer mucosal portion that runs along the tooth in a curved manner and a stronger fibrous portion that connects the tooth to the jaw bone.  Together, they provide the structural support for the tooth to be held in place. In addition they also have an esthetic value with the healthy pink color.

The mouth has the largest number of bacteria in the body, which act on the food debris that is present on the tooth and the gums. This causes infection in both the gums and the tooth. 

Types: Periodontal disease can be localized or general.

• Localized disease happens when a tooth is not accessible for thorough cleaning.  The inside surface of lower incisors and outer surfaces of the upper last molars are common areas of localized periodontal disease. 
• Generalized periodontal disease can be due to conditions like pregnancy, puberty, diabetes where gums around all the teeth are affected.

Symptoms: In both the cases, the following symptoms ensue: 

• Red gums:  The gums are of a healthy pink color and if they turn darker hue of pink
• Swollen and/or painful gums
• Spontaneous bleeding: This may be localized or generalized 
• Chronic bad breath: Due to food accumulation in the infected gums
• If it continues to form an abscess, pressure on the gums can produce pus
• Bad taste in the mouth (arising from pus in the gums)
• Gingival recession, producing an effect of having longer tooth 
• Dentin is exposed leading sensitivity to hot or cold foods
• Loosening of the tooth
• Painful chewing, as it puts pressure on the inflamed periodontium
• Dentist will identify what are called pockets, which is an indication of severity - the deeper the pockets, the severe the disease.

Management and Prevention: Gum disease is very easy to identify and can be completely cured.

• Regular brushing and flossing can help maintain regular oral hygiene 
• With each brushing session, plain finger massage of the gums improves blood circulation and their overall health
• Regular use of mouth rinse is a good way to improve gum health
• Regular visits to the dentist can help keep a check on the health of the teeth and the gums - early identification of disease and early treatment
• Once it has set in, deep scaling followed by root planing may be required to thoroughly clear out the infection
• More surgical options like gingival grafts, flap surgery, bone grafting in case of severe bone loss may be required. 
• Management of conditions like diabetes

The best way to avoid periodontal disease is to know its symptoms, follow oral hygiene practices, and visit a dentist regularly.

Odontalgia or severe toothache is characterized by extreme pain or inflammation of the tooth and its surrounding areas. The excruciating pain that you might experience may stem as a result of gum infection, tooth decay, infection of the dental pulp, abscess and due to certain other reasons like extraction or filling of the teeth. Another key reason for extreme toothache is the fact that a number of heart problems such as myocardial infarction and angina tend to affect your dental health negatively.  
While some toothaches might occur sporadically, they might pose a danger against your overall well being in the long run if the condition is left untreated. Homeopathy can serve as the perfect antidote to your toothache problems and its effects are noted to be significantly higher when it comes down to the question of long-term consumption. Here is a list of homeopathic medications that might prove to be a pain alleviator for your dental complications:

1.HEPAR SULPH AND SILICEA
Root abscess responds positively to both Hepar Sulph and Silicea. For fever accompanied with occasional chills due to severe toothache, Hepar Sulph is considered to be the perfect remedy and tends to significantly decrease the level of swelling and pain. On the other hand, if your face swells and there is an incidence of gum inflammation, Silicea must be used to numb the effects of root abscess.

2.PLANTAGO
Plantago is noted to be the most commonly prescribed medicine for toothaches and for treating sensitivity. The pain extending to the ears from the teeth receives maximum relief due to the effects of Plantago. It might have to be taken internally or applied externally depending on the severity of the toothache and its accompanying conditions.

3.STAPHYSAGRIA
Sensitivity is best taken care of by Staphysagria and resolves the problem of worsening of toothache when any drink or food is consumed. Bleeding gums and excess salivation is also another aspect that is looked after by Staphysagria.

4.ARNICA
Tooth extraction and filling may often lead to the consequence of nerve-wrecking pain in the gums and the affected area. For this, Arnica is prescribed to assuage the nerve pain and must be taken in along with Hypericum, another homeopathy medicine, for best results.

5.MERC SOL
Problems of halitosis and excessive salivation that tend to occur simultaneously with toothaches can be solved by a dosage of Merc Sol. Bleeding gums, looseness of teeth and sensitivity are all taken care of by the same medication.

6.HECLA LAVA
For jaw swells along with toothache, you must always opt for Hecla Lava. The effect is instantaneous and relieves both swelling and pain.

7.CHAMOMILLA
Chamomilla serves as the best remedial homeopathic medicine for easing heat sensitivity that is likely to worsen the existing toothache. Drinks and food, either hot or cold, can then be consumed easily because of the numbing effect of this medicine.
 

Do you have a dental phobia? if yes then you are not alone many adults skip going to dentist just because of dental fear. Fear among kids is very common. 

Today we will find out the reasons and possible causes of dental fear among the adults and the ways to deal with them.

You might have faced following situations before dental appointment:-

Nervousness a night before when you plan a visit to a dentist next morning. Anxiety in waiting room at dental clinic before starting your dental treatment. Scary instruments make you feel uneasy like injections and the drill machine. Good thing is there are ways to deal with above said expressions and they are not really hard to implement.

What causes the dental fear?

Fear of pain. Fear of dental injections in mouth. Embarrassment to face with bad looking teeth and may be mouth odor. Fear of scary instruments and their noises.

So here are some tips you can help yourself to deal with the dental phobia:

Discuss:– discuss your fear with your dentist. Tell him openly what exactly your are worried for. This will help your dentist to modify the treatment modalities. He may explain you the course of treatment in more details to relieve your anxiety and you will exactly come to know what is going to happen in your mouth next time when you visit your dentist.

Desensitize: this is the commonly used method to reduce dental fear in kids. Desensitizing here means exposing to the same environment more frequently than before. This can work in adults too. Visit your dentist more often. That should make you acclimatized with the sounds atmosphere of the dental clinic.

Plan smartly: after discussing your fear with dentist he himself can advise you to start with simple treatment options where no anesthesia is required like teeth whitening, polishing, teeth fillings etc.

Be Positive learner: we all are tend to attract all negatives which are running on the web. Restrain yourself from negative feeds try to find positives. Ask your doubts to the expert (dentist) than to rely on someone who is not. Stop hiding: no dentist will charge you more just because of your bad oral hygiene or mouth odor. They are use to this on daily basis. Delaying the treatment won’t improve your current hygiene level in fact you are inviting the more complex treatments by doing this. They may take longer to treat and may cost your pocket harder.

 

No one likes going to a dentist. The fear of a toothache is something that nightmares are made of...let alone the treatment. Because of this, a lot of people end up in the dentist's chair only when the pain is unbearable and it is too late to save the tooth. Just like we have a routine health check up for the rest of our body, our teeth too need to be looked at by a dentist at regular intervals to spot that cavity right when it starts. A regular visit can also allow a quick clean up to keep your teeth shining white. Here's what to expect during a routine dental check up:

1. They'll check your history: Before you actually get to the dentist's chair, your dentist will want to know your entire health background. This is done either by you filling out a detailed form that the receptionist gives you or a junior dentist filling a medical record sheet after asking you questions. You'll specially be asked questions about any pain or symptoms you might be experiencing in your teeth and other things like medications, diabetes, arthritis, pregnancy etc. Each of these problems can have a direct impact on your dental treatment, hence revealing them to your practitioner in advance is very important. Also, be sure to discuss any concerns or anxiety you are experiencing. Most dentists know how to put their patient at ease. All it'll take is a quick chat to put you at ease

2. You'll get a cleaning: Just like the car gets a good wash before the mechanic can have a look, your teeth will get a good scrub before your dentist can address any problem areas. Cleaning involves scraping off built up plaque and tartar that collects above and below the gum line before flossing between and around every tooth to remove any plaque or food particles that are clinging on. You may also get a final shiny finish for your pearly whites at the end of the cleaning session.

3. Your teeth will be examined: Your dentist will now use a metal probe with a small angled mirror to see behind and between teeth and gums, as well as check for the softening of tooth enamel and dentin. If you have a cavity or anything deeper, this is when it will surface. Once the doctor identifies a problem, they suggest the next course of action

4. You may get an X-ray: If the doctor finds a problem that needs fixing, he may ask you to take an X-ray to find out how deep the decay is. You'll be asked to bite down on a piece of plastic while the X-ray machine is placed against your cheek. Where possible, you can check if your doctor can do a digital X-ray which emits 90% less radiation.

5 Results and advice: Based on your X-ray results and overall medical condition, the doctor may recommend various procedures to remove your existing decay and prevent new ones.