With Dentists Offices Closed during Covid How to Manage Tooth Pain?
The Covid-19 pandemic has been ongoing ever since it made its presence felt in 2019 with no signs of ebbing. New mutants of the virus are being discovered every few months. As the Delta variant took a backseat, the omicron made an entry proving itself as a deadly variant of the pandemic. During the pandemic, did dental care and toothaches take a backseat?
Dentists were compelled to shut down their practices with the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. The non-availability of dentists may have pleased some people who dislike dental visits. Unfortunately, if you are diligent with your dental hygiene and develop a toothache during the pandemic, you find yourself confronting a challenge on how to manage tooth pain during this devastating moment.
Different Types of Tooth Pain
Tooth pain can confront you in different forms. For example, you might have pain in a single tooth, gums, or even broken teeth. You might wish the cosmetic dentist Pittston was available to repair your broken teeth. Unfortunately, as the CDC and the ADA have both recommended dentists maintain safe distancing and adhere to the guidelines, they specify dentists are not in a position to provide elective treatments unless it represents an emergency. Therefore you can try some remedies to help manage the pain you experience during the pandemic.
Home Remedies for Toothache Treatment
Home remedies for toothache treatment have been around for several years, and some have proven effective in relieving toothaches effectively. Mentioned below are some home remedies you can try during the pandemic.
Over-The-Counter Pain Relievers
Over-the-counter pain relievers undoubtedly help to reduce sensitivity. Many people have confirmed that ibuprofen and paracetamol, when taken together, prove beneficial. However, reports are also floating around that ibuprofen may aggravate the symptoms of Covid-19. Therefore if you have the symptoms, paracetamol is the best so long as you don’t exceed the dosage. If you find relief from the pain relievers, please do not stop taking the medication because the toothache can return.
Desensitizing Toothpaste
Some brands of desensitizing toothpaste can help provide relief from tooth pain when dentists are not available.
Clove Oil
You can find clove oil in health food stores for relief against a toothache. You can apply the oil to the painful tooth with a cotton bud. Clove oil is a popular home remedy and functions efficiently if you have an exposed nerve due to deep decay. However, you must place the oil on the exposed nerve for it to function efficiently.
Keeping Your Head Elevated
When you get into bed at night, use extra pillows to keep your head elevated to prevent blood from rushing to the tooth to increase the pain.
Saltwater Rinses
Saltwater rinses are recommended even by dentists because it helps reduce dental bacteria by creating an acidic environment as you swish the water around your mouth. Saltwater also helps dislodge food particles trapped between your teeth that might because no pain helping you manage the discomfort.
Ice Packs
You might also experience some swelling from a toothache. Ice packs on your cheeks can help reduce the swelling in such cases. The cold compress can also offer temporary pain relief. Ice packs are beneficial if you have a chipped tooth or a tooth knocked loose. Unfortunately, if you have red gums with fever accompanying the pain, it might indicate an infection needing emergency treatment during the Covid pandemic.
Dentists provide emergency Treatments during the Pandemic
Although the CDC and the ADA have mandated that dentists do not offer some types of treatments like routine cleanings, teeth whitening, dental veneers or crowns, et cetera, they haven’t prevented dentists from offering emergency treatments to patients confronting difficult situations.
Dentists have now prepared themselves to work during the coronavirus pandemic by incorporating several preventive measures to help maintain safe distancing while providing dental treatments people might need for issues like teeth grinding and jaw clenching that leaves them with damaged teeth needing expensive treatments.
The coronavirus pandemic has affected medical and dental professionals to make it challenging for them to practice and provide essential treatments needed by patients. However, the pandemic hasn’t stopped medical professionals or dentists from providing emergency treatments whenever required by patients. Therefore while you can try managing the tooth pain using home remedies, you find it better to schedule an appointment with Polit & Costello Dentistry providing emergency treatments for different types of dental issues.