Understanding Dental pain
- There can be many reasons for dental pain, including infection or tooth decay.
- The pain usually affects the teeth and gums, but sometimes the face and jaw, too.
- The pain is often characterised by continuous throbbing, but it can also be sporadic, worsen at night, and be triggered by eating or drinking – especially hot or cold foods or drinks.
Common types of dental pain
- Tooth decay
Too much sugar is a common cause of tooth decay. When the bacteria in your mouth begins breaking down the sugar, acid forms. This acid dissolves the tooth surface, this is the first stage of tooth decay. - Wisdom teeth
Having wisdom teeth removed is a common procedure. Growing in the four corners at the back of your mouth wisdom teeth can sometimes grow at an angle or get stuck, causing pain.
There are a number of things you can do to ease symptoms of dental pain, if you experience it while you wait for an appointment to see a dentist.
Take paracetamol or ibuprofen to ease pain
Rinse your mouth with salt-water but don't swallow it, spit it out (not advised for children)
Apply a dental pain relieving gel to your mouth
Eat soft foods for example yoghurt or scrambled eggs
Sugary foods and drinks: can be linked with tooth decay
Very hot or cold foods: can trigger the pain
Smoking: it can make some dental problems worse
Frequent causes:
- Tooth decay
- A cracked tooth
- Loose or broken fillings
- Receding gums: exposing sensitive tooth parts
- An infection in the tooth or jaw
- Wisdom teeth breaking through gums
How to help prevent dental pain:
- Take good care of your teeth and gums: brush twice daily for 2 minutes with fluoride toothpaste
- Get regular dental check-ups
- Floss or use an interdental brush daily to remove food and plaque.
Why Ibuprofen can help
Ibuprofen relieves pain, fever and has anti-inflammatory properties. It works for various types of pain including dental pain, headaches and migraines.
Nurofen Express 200mg liquid capsules can help
Nurofen Express 200mg Liquid Capsules release ibuprofen immediately into the stomach, for fast relief. Absorbed twice as fast as standard Ibuprofen tablets*, they provide up to 8 hours of pain relief with a 2-capsule dose.
*For verification, please contact PO BOX 4044, SLOUGH, SL1 0NS.
If symptoms persist, see your healthcare professional. All information presented on these web pages is not meant to diagnose or prescribe. In all health matters for further information or medical advice, please speak to your GP, Dentist or a Pharmacist.