Welcome to the
CGDP blog

Managing your toothache at home

15th April 2020

It’s a difficult time for everyone at the moment and we realise that not everybody who needs dental care will be able to receive it. Even though our doors are currently closed due to the current pandemic, we’re still here to help. Here are some helpful tips on how to manage dental problems at home and if you have any questions or dental related issues, please email us at info@cgdp.com and one of our dentists will be able to advice you. For urgent care info, or out of hours, call NHS111.

Stay home, stay safe and we can beat this together.

When you need urgent care

Please email the practice during our normal hours or call out of hours NHS111 if you’re experiencing the following:

  • Facial swelling extending to eye/neck/floor of the mouth
  • Bleeding following extraction that doesn’t stop after 20 minutes of pressure with gauze
  • Bleeding due to trauma
  • Toothache that is preventing sleep, eating, combined with swelling or fever that is not manageable with painkillers.

Non-urgent dental care

You may have to wait until we are open for the following:

  • Loose or lost crowns, bridge or veneers
  • Broken or loose dentures
  • Bleeding gums
  • Broken, loose or lost fillings
  • Loose orthodontic wires
  • Chipped teeth with no pain

Pain management

Over the counter painkillers can help. Please follow the instructions that come inside the packet. Patients who have confirmed Coronavirus or experiencing symptoms of the virus, should take paracetamol in preference to ibuprofen.

Toothache

Can be caused by tooth decay, cracked or damaged tooth, broken filling, infection.

  • Take regular painkillers if you need them
  • Good oral hygiene with fluoride toothpaste
  • Reduce intake of sugar, to ensure the decay doesn’t get worse
  • Warm, salty mouthwash
  • Corsodyl mouthwash

Mouth ulcers

Can be caused by trauma, stress, medication, anaemia, iron & vitamin deficiencies. If ulcers don’t heal within a week or two, call the practice.

  • Thoroughly clean teeth (even if painful)
  • Warm, salty mouthwash
  • Soft diet
  • Local pain relief mouthwashes
  • Corsodyl mouthwash
  • Avoid spicy food and smoking

Sensitive teeth

Can be caused by receding gums, large fillings or decay

  • Place sensitive toothpaste (e.g. Sensodyne) on sensitive areas and leave overnight
  • Maintain good oral hygiene
  • Painkillers

Pain after extraction

  • Regular painkillers. It is normal for pain to be its worst on days 3-4
  • Warm, salty mouthwash after meals
  • If pain gets worse after a week, call us back

Bleeding gums

Caused by poor oral hygiene, diabetes, smoking and pregnancy

  • Thoroughly brush your teeth twice daily
  • Use interdental brushes or floss to clean in between the teeth
  • Avoid smoking

 

Lost crown or filling

  • Re-cement crown or seal tooth with a temporary filling kit
  • Kits can be bought from local chemists
  • Continue to thoroughly clean area

Dentures loose or rubbing

  • Use fixative for loose dentures (e.g. Fixadent)
  • Seabond denture pads may also make denture more comfortable or stable
  • Any sharp or rough bits can be adjusted at home with an emery board
  • Leave your denture out if it is too sore to wear

Chipped tooth

  • Avoid hot or cold drinks and food
  • Soft diet
  • If sensitive, use a desensitising toothpaste
  • If cuts in the mouth –salt water or anaesthetic mouthwashes to prevent infection

Broken orthodontic wire or brace

  • If there are sharp wires from the broken brace, use dental wax it.
  • Broken clear, aligners – do not ‘glue’ the broken parts as this can degrade the plastic.
  • Try to wear both pieces oar wear your previous aligner.

Dry mouth

Can be caused by anxiety, diabetes, dehydration, antidepressants, medication

  • Drink water regularly
  • Chew sugar-free gum to stimulate saliva
  • Chronic dry mouth is a risk factor for tooth decay – brush twice daily with fluoride toothpaste

TMJ pain

Clenching/grinding of teeth (bruxism) is common in periods of stress

  • Soft diet
  • Limit opening of the mouth when yawning or eating
  • Avoid recurrent chewing habits (chewing gum, nail biting)
  • Warm or cold compress over affected area
  • Massaging sore areas of the face

Contact us

Please note: all new patient bookings will require a £60 deposit.

“… I recommended the practice to my elderly parents who live in Surrey. Now five or six years later they still make the journey up from Surrey… and they are committed fans too…” – Patient