Tooth pain
Tooth pain: what to do now
Toothache rarely passes on its own: the pain comes and goes, but the cause keeps working. This page explains what is probably causing yours, what safely helps until you reach us, and when you should not wait at all. Meftah Clinic is a dentist in Guemar, El Oued, on the national road 48, open 8:00 to 20:00, Saturday to Thursday.
Saturday to Thursday, 8:00 to 20:00.
What is causing the pain
Where it hurts and when it hurts usually point at the cause. A 3D X-ray at the clinic shows which one it is.
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Tooth decay
What you feel A sharp twinge on sweet, cold or hot food that stops soon after.
What usually treats it Cleaning out the decay and a filling.
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An inflamed nerve
What you feel A deep, throbbing ache that grows at night and keeps you awake.
What usually treats it Root canal treatment, which saves the tooth.
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An abscess
What you feel Swelling in the gum or cheek, a bad taste, the tooth sore to touch.
What usually treats it Draining the infection and treating the tooth. Best seen the same day.
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Gum disease and tartar
What you feel Gums that bleed when you brush and look swollen, with bad breath.
What usually treats it Scaling to remove the tartar, then care at home.
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A wisdom tooth
What you feel Pain behind the last tooth, a stiff jaw, hard to open your mouth.
What usually treats it An X-ray to see how it sits, and extraction if it needs it.
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A broken tooth or lost filling
What you feel A rough edge your tongue can feel, and pain when you bite.
What usually treats it Rebuilding the tooth, or a crown if much of it is gone.
What helps until you get here
None of this treats the cause. It makes the wait bearable.
- Rinse with warm water and a little salt, several times a day.
- Hold something cold against the cheek from the outside, about a quarter of an hour at a time. Never heat on a swelling.
- A painkiller you normally tolerate, following the instructions on the box or your pharmacist's advice.
- Sleep with your head raised a little, chew on the other side, and keep away from very hot, very cold and very sweet food.
Never put an aspirin tablet on the gum: it burns the gum and does nothing for the tooth. And remember that a painkiller only hides the pain. The cause is still there, and treating it early costs less than treating it late.
Come at once if
These are signs of an infection spreading, and they do not wait for an appointment.
- Swelling that reaches your eye, your neck or under your jaw.
- Fever along with the swelling.
- Trouble swallowing, breathing, or opening your mouth.
- Bleeding that will not stop.
- A tooth knocked out or loosened by a blow. Hold it by the crown, never the root, keep it in milk or your own saliva, and get here within the hour.
Questions we are asked
When should I call a dentist about tooth pain?
As soon as the pain wakes you at night, keeps coming back over more than a day or two, or arrives with any swelling. Pain that returns means the cause is still growing.
My tooth stopped hurting on its own. Is it better?
Not always. When a long, throbbing pain suddenly stops, it often means the nerve inside the tooth has died. The infection carries on quietly and usually comes back as swelling. Have the tooth looked at even if it no longer hurts.
Does a painful tooth always have to come out?
No. Most painful teeth are saved with a filling or root canal treatment. A 3D X-ray shows how far the damage reaches, and extraction is the last choice, not the first.
When is the clinic open?
Saturday to Thursday, from 8:00 in the morning to 8:00 in the evening. Call 0665 09 82 05 and we will find you the earliest time we can.
Where is the clinic?
On the national road 48 (N48) in Guemar, El Oued. The contact section of the home page has a map and directions.
Do not wait for it to pass
One call is enough. Tell us where it hurts and we will tell you how soon to come.
N48, Guemar, El Oued