Relieving Toothaches on the Fly

Relieving Toothaches on the Fly

By Mina Levi, DDS, 02/05/2015

In honor of National Toothache Day coming up on February 9^th, we wanted to talk about toothaches and that pang of fear that we feel if we start to get a toothache when we are on vacation or somewhere where we cannot see our Dentist. In this article, Dentist San Francisco Mina Levi, DDS discusses toothaches, possible causes, and how to potentially relieve some pain if you are in a bind to hold you over until you can visit your San Francisco Dentist.

What is a toothache?

This may sound like a silly question; a toothache is a pain in your tooth, right? Yes, however, there are many different types of toothaches that mean different things. For example, a constant, throbbing pain that wakes you up from your sleep may be a nerve issue/infection and you may need a root canal. A pain when you bite down on food may be an issue with the occlusion or the contacts between your teeth and can be easily fixed with a slight adjustment. No matter what the pain is or how intense it is, it is important to never ignore the toothache or brush it off. Something that could have been fixed in 5 minutes could turn into something that needs a root canal or needs the tooth to be extracted if it is not attended to in a timely manner.

Possible causes of toothaches?

As mentioned above, there are many reasons why a person would be having pain in their tooth or jaw area. Causes include infection, trauma, dental cavities, and occlusion issues.

How to relieve toothache pain when getting to a dentist is not an option:

As a disclaimer, Dentist San Francisco Mina Levi, DDS wants patients to know that every person’s anatomy and experience are different. Tips that can work for one person may not work for the next person. These are just tips that can maybe give the patient some relief before having the tooth checked out. We always suggest seeing a dentist as soon as possible when you are having tooth pain.

1. Aspirin. Taking aspirin at the recommended dosage throughout the day will help relieve some of the pain symptoms you may be having, but will not treat the cause.

2. Anbesol. Anbesol is a liquid pain reliever that can be applied directly to the teeth/gums to numb the area.

3. Avoid hot and cold drinks. Sometimes tooth pain comes from a wearing down of the enamel that exposes the dentin underneath. By avoiding hot and cold drinks, you will not be putting any extra stress on that area and it will stay relatively calm until it can be sealed.

4. Oil pulling. Although not scientifically proven, oil pulling has been seen to have some pain relieving effects. See our article about oil pulling here.

In an emergency – always see a dentist! Even if it is in another country, if you need treatment, get the treatment. Just make sure that they are up to date on health codes and wear protective gloves. If you have any questions about having a toothache on vacation or if you are planning a trip and need an opinion on some dull tooth pain you are having now, visit Mina Levi, DDS on the web at www.minalevidds.com or give us a call at (415) 513-5066.

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Having a Toothache That's Not a Toothache?

Having a Toothache That's Not a Toothache?

By Mina Levi, DDS, 08/07/2014

At the dental office of Dentist San Francisco Mina Levi, DDS in the heart of Union Square, we see a number of interesting and educational dental cases. These cases can serve as learning models in order for patients to become educated about some of the symptoms they may be having, how to treat these symptoms, or what to do to prevent certain situations from occurring. In this article, we discuss a case of a toothache that a patient had that ended up not being caused by a tooth at all.

 

A 49 year old female A.M. saw Dentist Mina Levi DDS in San Francisco as an emergency due to severe pain. It extended to the ear and even radiated to her neck. She was certain that the back most tooth, her second molar, was the culprit.

Dr. Mina Levi examined the tooth. It had a large filling, but there was no evidence of decay or a fracture. The Dentist San Francisco examined all the other teeth on the right side of both jaws. They responded normally to temperature and percussion tests (where Dr. Mina Levi will tap each tooth to determine if the surrounding ligament and bone are inflamed). X-rays of the teeth revealed no evidence of decay or infection.

Dr. Mina Levi then palpated (using her finger to exert mild pressure) around the tooth, and there was no pain. Palpating the muscles of the right Temporomandibular Joint ("T.M.J.) caused SEVERE pain. The dentist asked the patient if she was aware of clenching or grinding her teeth. She said that she was aware that she clenched her teeth, and that she hasn't worn her night guard lately. She also mentioned that she was very anxious lately.

The patient was reassured that she did not need endodontic ("root canal") therapy. Her pain was due to muscle spasms of her T.M.J. and she was referred out to a specialist who  prescribed muscle relaxants and anti-inflammatory medications. She received also a Botox treatment for her muscle pain. Dr. Mina Levi made a night guard for the patient and advised her to start wearing it every night.

The T.M.J. muscles are just in front of, below and above the ear. So, it's easy to understand how the pain radiated to her ear. But, how, you may wonder, did they cause neck pain?

 

Think of a fine Swiss watch. Each part is carefully calibrated to work in harmony with every other part. If just one part malfunctions (or is slightly "off,") the balance and harmony of the entire system is disrupted. So it is with the muscles of the head and neck. Grinding and clenching of the teeth irritates the T.M.J. muscles. This can cause slight changes in the person's posture. These postural changes, however slight, cause straining of the neck muscles and results in pain. So, you see, proper dental diagnosis requires understanding not just of the teeth, but of the fine-tuned, complex relationship of the oral cavity to the rest of the body.

If you are experiencing neck or jaw pain, or have toothache-like symptoms and would like to discuss TMJ and treatment options, visit Dentist San Francisco Mina Levi, DDS on the web at www.minalevidds.com or give us a call at (415) 513-5066.

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