If you feel any pain or sensitivity in the teeth, hurry to book an appointment with your doctor at the earliest. Here’s some information to help you get ready for your appointment.
What can you do
Before you go to your appointment, make a list of:
- All medications, vitamins, herbal remedies or other nutritional supplements you’re taking, and their dosages
- Any allergy to medications or bad reactions you have had to local anaesthetics
- Questions to ask your dentist
Basic questions to ask your dentist might include: - Do I have a simple cavity in the teeth, or do I need a crown or root canal?
- How many visits do I need to treat this tooth?
- When will the pain go away?
- What can I take for this pain?
- How long do I have to wait before eating or drinking after this procedure?
- Are there other steps I can take to prevent cavities?
- Do local water sources contain added fluoride?
- Are there any brochures or other printed materials that I can have? What websites do you recommend?
Don’t hesitate to ask other questions during the visit.
What should you expect from the dentist?
The dentist may ask some questions. Be prepared to answer them so that you have plenty of time to cover the topics you want to focus on. Questions may include: - Does the extreme temperature of food or treats cause pain?
- Does biting make the pain worse?
- How often do you brush your teeth?
- How often do you floss your teeth?
- Do you use fluoride toothpaste?
- Do you eat a lot of sweets or drink sugary or fizzy drinks?
- Have you noticed dry mouth?
- What medications do you take?
What can you do in the meantime
While you’re waiting for your appointment with the dentist, you can take some of these steps to manage your toothache. For example: - Take an over-the-counter pain reliever if your doctor says it’s right for you.
- Use an over-the-counter anesthetic specifically designed to relieve toothache.
- Use warm water when brushing your teeth.
- Use a toothpaste designed for sensitive teeth.
- Brush all parts of your mouth and teeth thoroughly — don’t avoid sensitive areas.
- Avoid foods or drinks that are hot, cold, or sugary enough to cause pain.
