Stop Your Toothache! â€“ Full Version

Stop Your Toothache! – Full Version

Stop Your Toothache!

By Dr. V. Kuhan

Full Version

© Dr. V. Kuhan 2010 www.StopYourToothache.com

Stop Your Toothache! – Full Version Table of Contents Section 1 Introduction Section 2 Dental Emergencies and Toothache Myths Exploded! Section 3 The 10 Traps of Toothache Section 4 Conventional and Natural Remedies Found at the Drug

Store Section 5 Remedies found at the grocery store Section 6 Remedies You've Got in the House Right Now! Section 7 How to Help Your Dentist to Help You Section 8 Why You Still Need to See Your Dentist Section 9 What Will Happen at the Dentist? Section 10 What Happens After the Dentist? Section 11 Preventing Toothache the Next Time Section 12 Summary



Section 1

Introduction

I am a practicing Family Doctor with 19 years experience in hospital and community medicine. I have encountered many patients with toothache who were unable to see their dentist at that time and who desperately sought advice from me. I was frustrated that I didn't have the solution to their request for immediate pain relief. So I decided to interview a local dentist with 18 years of experience and a successful practice who gave me all of the 'insider secrets' for the successful immediate management of toothache. Furthermore, I realized that not all people seek pharmaceutical remedies. For instance, those toothache sufferers who suffer with medical conditions including pregnancy can be reluctant to take medications. And those toothache sufferers who have to take other medicines may not want to take pharmaceutical medicines. Therefore this book (written in plain English) also gives other natural remedies that fellow toothache sufferers have found useful. Thank you for giving me the chance to help stop your toothache. Sincerely, Dr. V. Kuhan P.S. Please read Section 2 right away!

The dental first aid ‘insider secrets’ here alone may be sufficient to save your tooth until you get to see your dentist!



Section 2 Dental Emergencies and Toothache Myths Exploded! Your dentist’s 3 dental emergency ‘insider secrets’ that could save your tooth: What do I do if...? 1.) My tooth is bleeding? Try biting on a cotton wool pack. If you don't have this, then try biting onto a rolled up moist clean cotton handkerchief. These are only first aid measures. You should attend your nearest hospital and seek advice from a medical doctor. 2.) My crown has come out? Do not be tempted to stick it back together with glue. Glue is toxic and your dentist won't be able to remove it. Instead stick the crown back on using chewed chewing gum (stuck initially to the crown, not the tooth) or use a wisp of chewed paper or cotton wool moistened with your saliva. See your dentist as soon as possible. 3.) My tooth is knocked out? Don't wipe it. Put the tooth in some milk or put the tooth into a pot you have spat into. Alternatively, put the tooth inside your cheek at the pocket near your back lower teeth (molars) be careful you don't swallow it. You may prefer to move the knocked out tooth nearer to the front of the mouth. Toothache Myths Exploded! - a toothache means you'll lose your tooth? Not true. Appropriate treatment such as root canal work will often save your tooth. - if the pain disappears then the problem's gone? Not so I'm afraid. Pain is nature's way of saying something is wrong, and occasionally the problem may be medical, not dental.



Section 3 The 10 Traps of Toothache - 10 Things to Avoid Doing that can Damage your Mouth or Make your Toothache Worse!

• Don't put painkillers like aspirin or acetominophen (paracetamol) or ibuprofen directly on the painful tooth or gum. You can end up with a burn on the gum that can take 4-5 days to heal.

• Don't be tempted to put neat alcohol such as vodka directly on

the painful tooth or gum. Again this can burn your gum!

• Don't stick a loose crown back with glue. It is toxic and is hard for the dentist to remove. The proper first aid technique to deal with this is covered in section 2.

• Avoid eating or drinking sweet things. It can make the toothache

worse.

• Avoid heat next to the mouth. Some toothache sufferers try a hot water bottle on the side of the cheek. Although heat can help some kinds of pain e.g. arthritis, it can make toothache worse.

• Avoid sour things e.g. lemons or limes or oranges. These can

make the toothache worse for some sufferers.

• Avoid sucking in cold air through your mouth! When you are anxious and in pain, your breathing rate increases and your breathing becomes more shallow. You also tend to breathe in through your mouth. That blast of cold air can worsen your toothache. Proper breathing techniques can be found in another section of this booklet.

• Avoid lying down. This particular position can increase your blood

pressure and increase the throbbing sensation of your toothache

• Avoid poking or prodding the tooth directly, for example with a toothpick. This may cause flare ups in your toothache.

• Don't panic! Your heart rate and pulse rate will increase. This will

increase the throbbing nature of your toothache. Breathing exercises to help you relax and acupressure points for pain and nausea can be found in this report.



Section 4 Conventional and Natural Remedies Found at the Drug Store (These are things your dentist would recommend) 1 Mouthwashes

• Fluoride mouthwash - useful for the immediate management of toothache. But also good for sensitive teeth in general. Use daily initially and gradually reduce the frequency of use to weekly.

• Chlorhexidine based mouthwash. Ask the pharmacist for advice

about the various brands. Again, this is useful in the short term and the long term.

• Benzymadine mouthwash e.g. Difflam - again this is useful for

both the immediate management of toothache and longer term use.

• Hydrogen peroxide mouthwash. Again useful in the short and the

long term.

• Normal (non-medicated) mouthwashes such as Listerine are also useful for the immediate management of toothache.

• The best way to use mouthwashes is to rinse about the mouth for

upto 30 seconds before spitting out. 30 seconds is a long time and you may want to time it just to be sure!

• If you feel that the concentration of the mouthwash is a little too

strong then just dilute with some warm (not boiling) water. 2 Local Anesthetics These are numbing agents that you rub in to the gum area, such as Benzocaine and Xylocaine and Orajel. They numb the gum within just a few minutes. They are very useful. Ask the pharmacist for advice.


Stop Your Toothache! – Full Version 3 Painkillers that you Swallow These are the kind of medicines that are most likely to give you relief within the hour. Typical examples include:

• Ibuprofen (e.g. Advil)

• Acetominophen (otherwise known as paracetamol) e.g. Tylenol. A safe and effective medicine. It is tried and trusted.

• Codeine. This often comes in combination with acetominophen

in a variety of strengths. It is a very effective painkiller, but you should take it with food because nausea is a common side effect. Furthermore, sedation and constipation can occur. You should not drink alcohol or drive a vehicle or operate machinery.

• Aspirin- not to be used in those aged 12 or under. Also, do not

use in addition to ibuprofen. It is safe to use acetominophen and ibuprofen together, so long as you don't exceed the maximum dose of either. Often this is all that is needed to give you the relief you need when one of these medicines alone is insufficient. Always check with your doctor or pharmacist that you are able to take these medications. Always read the label. Common reasons for not being allowed to take these medications include the parallel use of other painkillers or other medications prescribed by your doctor. Also some conditions such as pregnancy or liver/kidney disease or asthma or stomach disease make the use of some of the medications mentioned potentially unsafe. Allergy to any medications is also a reason to avoid them- obvious but worth mentioning. When you are in agony with toothache you may be tempted to take a medication even if you know you should not! Take the maximum dose that you are allowed with these medicines.


Stop Your Toothache! – Full Version 4 Oil of Cloves This is the treatment for toothache that I mentioned that was used in the film 'Marathon Man' starring Dustin Hoffman. Dustin Hoffman's character was being tortured by an ex army officer who drilled holes in his teeth... and immediately soothed the pain with oil of cloves. Be careful when you apply it to the affected area however. It can sometimes sting or even burn a little. To prevent this apply it to the tooth and not to the gum. It works by numbing the nerve. Read the label as excess ingestion can lead to poisoning. Ask the pharmacist for advice. 5 Other Measures

• Hyaluronic acid - e.g. Gengigel. This is good for the immediate management of toothache as well as the longer term management of gum disease. It is also useful after tooth extraction.

• Caulk - this dental treatment stops the tooth moving. It is

available in a powder which you mix up, or as a liquid pre mix.

• Nutmeg oil - put it on with cotton wool and press down with a toothpick. Alternatively you can put it on a cotton wool bud and press down. Be sure to put it on the tooth only and not the gum. Otherwise you may get a burn to the gum.

• Dental floss- this won't actually get rid of your toothache but it

will help removal food particles that cause further irritation and pain.

• Toothpick- like dental floss it won't get rid of your toothache but

helps to remove food particles that can make things worse. Be careful that you don't tap or prod the tooth in question as this may make your toothache worse!

• Sensitive toothpaste. This can be massaged into the tooth and

gum for a degree of relief.

• Chewing gum-normal gum or gum for toothache. Chew the gum on the non-affected side and plug the tooth with the chewed gum. This technique is good if the tooth is sensitive to the air.



Section 5

Remedies Found at the Grocery Store These are remedies that other toothache sufferers have found useful. You may also buy some of these remedies at the drug store - see section 4 for further details.

Mouthwashes

These come in normal and medicated versions. See section 4 for further details.

Agents that Numb the Gum Such as Orajel and Benzocaine and Xylocaine. Massage them into the gum. See section 4 also.

Painkillers that you Swallow These are most likely to give you the pain relief you are looking for. See section 4 for further details.

Oil of Cloves An instant remedy to toothache, as seen in the film ‘Marathon Man’! See section 4 for further details.



Other Measures (some of these are also mentioned in section 4) s

• Hyaluronic acid - e.g. Gengigel. This is good for the immediate management of toothache as well as the longer term management of gum disease. It is also useful after tooth extraction.

• Caulk - this dental treatment stops the tooth moving. It is available in a powder which you mix up, or as a liquid pre mix.

• Nutmeg oil. Put in on with cotton wool and press down with a

toothpick. Alternatively you can put it on a cotton wool bud and press down.

• Dental floss- this won't actually get rid of your toothache but it will help removal food particles that cause irritation.

• Toothpick- same as for dental floss. Be careful that you don't tap

or prod the tooth in question as this may make your toothache worse!

• Sensitive or just normal toothpaste - this can be massaged into

the affected area for a degree of relief.

• Chewing gum - there are 2 kinds. Firstly, normal chewing gum (sugar free is best) or gum specifically for toothache. See the technique described in the previous section.

• Camomile tea - make sure it's not too hot. It may help to remove

food particles as you drink it.

• Milk - swilling around the mouth has been of help to toothache sufferers.

• Leafy cooked or raw vegetables - the chewing of these seems to

help sometimes.

• Ginger root - cold from the fridge- cut a piece, peel it and bite down on it. Keep the rest in the fridge. Repeat as necessary.

• Garlic - used alone or with other remedies. Try chewing a raw

clove.

• Cashew nuts - the chewing of these helps some toothache sufferers



• Pepper corn pods - chewing these have been known to help

• Chew raw onions -this helps prevents infection.

• Cloves - chewing them sometimes helps. This is a variant on the use of oil of cloves.

• Garlic and peanut butter - mix a chopped clove of garlic into

some peanut butter until a paste is formed. Spread this on the affected region.

• Garlic and rock salt - some toothache sufferers find this helps

Please note that the last 9 natural remedies may leave food debris in the mouth which you should remove by rinsing with warm salt water.



Section 6 Remedies You've Got in the House Right Now! (Some of these remedies have been mentioned in sections 4 and 5 of this report)

• Toothpaste for sensitive teeth or just normal toothpaste- massage this into the affected tooth and gum.

• Painkillers that you take by mouth- these are most likely give you

pain relief.

• Salt water. Take a level teaspoon of salt. Add to half a cup of warm (not boiling) water. Rinse about the mouth. Repeat after meals and after brushing your teeth and at 15 minute intervals and also at night. Spit out - don't swallow. This helps to remove food particles.

• Dental gels - e.g. Bonjela, Orajel, Benzocaine, Xylocaine - see previous sections of this report.

• Dental floss to remove food particles

• Toothpick to remove food particles. Be careful not to poke the

affected region. This could cause a flare up of the pain!

• Mouthwashes - these can be normal (e.g. Listerine) or medicated.

• Chewing gum - again this can be normal (but sugar free is best), or specifically designed for toothache. Chewing stimulates saliva which is a natural antiseptic. Chew on the non affected side. Use the chewed gum to "plug" the affected tooth if it is sensitive to air.

• Anything cold from the freezer wrapped in a tea towel, for

example: ice tray/frozen peas /frozen vegetables. How about the gel packs used for sprains which we keep in the freezer, for the athletes amongst us?

• Sometimes a cube of ice placed in the mouth over the painful

region can be helpful. If this aggravates the toothache however, then stop.



• Acupressure tip- try putting the ice on the web of your hand between the thumb and index finger on the hand on the same side as your toothache. For example, if you have a right- sided toothache then place the ice on the right hand in the web between your right thumb and your right forefinger. This technique is not widely documented but has helped some toothache sufferers.

• Have an iced drink. Sometimes sipping it through a straw helps,

but it makes the toothache worse then stop.

• Anything cold from the fridge e.g. jars of mustard, cans of beer, bottles of mineral water. Place these against the outside of your mouth. Wrap the item in a tea towel if you prefer. Try to use items that won't spoil.

• Camomile tea. Make sure it is slightly warm but not too hot.

• Milk - see section 5

• Leafy vegetables - see section 5

• Ginger root. Use cold from the fridge. Cut a piece. Peel it. Bite

down on it. Keep the rest in the fridge. Repeat as necessary.

• Try garlic alone or with other remedies.

• Cashew nuts have helped some toothache sufferers.

• Pepper corn pods have also been found to be helpful.

• Chew raw onions. This helps to prevent infection

• Cloves. Try chewing these. This is a variant on the use of oil of cloves.

• Garlic and peanut butter mixed together into a paste (described in a previous section)

• Garlic and rock salt.

Please note that the last 9 techniques described may leave food debris in the mouth. Just rinse the mouth with warm salt water. Got none of these at home? Or want to try some Eastern techniques? Don't worry... the next part of this report is just for you!


Stop Your Toothache! – Full Version Techniques to Help your Toothache When you have Nothing in the House! 1 Posture Just your posture can make a huge difference! Laying down will be bad for the pain (although that is probably what you feel like doing)! Sitting/standing is going to be good for the pain. Why is this? It's because your blood pressure can be slightly less when you sit/stand compared to lying down. This slightly lower blood pressure will give less of a "throbbing" nature to the pain. 2 Acupressure techniques for pain and nausea

• The Pain Technique: Rub the web between thumb and forefinger of your hand on the same side as the toothache. For example if you have a right sided toothache, then rub the right hand in the web between the right thumb and the right index finger. This is called acupressure and it often works.

• The Nausea Technique: Similar to the pain acupressure technique described above is an acupressure technique for nausea/ vomiting (which you may get due to the pain/ fear/ anxiety/ side effects of some pain killers) Firmly press the tip of your left thumb and the tip of your left index finger together to form a circle. Do the same with the tip of the right thumb and the tip of the right index finger. This technique is very effective.

3 Breathing Techniques for Relaxation Breathe slowly and deeply in through your nose and ‘sigh’ out through your open mouth. Do this at least 10 times. Repeat it as often as needed. I use this technique in my surgery to relax patients who are nervous while having their blood pressure taken. It really works!



Section 7 How to Help Your Dentist to Help You Although this booklet gives you lots of ways to help stop your toothache, please don't ignore your toothache! It is vital that you contact your dentist as soon as you can. Be polite when you contact them. I know this is not easy when you are in distress with pain and when you are feeling anxious and fearful. Often, knowing and carrying out those little things can be the ‘tipping point’ between getting to see your dentist sooner rather than later. Be organized. Have available telephone numbers of your dentist, pharmacist, doctor and medical/ dental insurance company. Have available your insurance policy documentation. When you call the dentist be specific in every way. For example “I’ve had toothache for ‘x’ hours. I've taken ‘y’ ibuprofen tablets over the last ‘z’ hours. I would score the pain I have now ‘b’ out of 10. Previously it was ‘a’ out of 10. " (This is where 10 out of 10 is the worst pain you have ever had in your life, such as childbirth for women) It is important to mention allergies or side effects to medicines that you have. If you do not mention them, then the dentist's receptionist may assume that you have no allergies, or they may forget to ask you at all. For instance, a common side effect of codeine (which is found in many painkillers) is nausea. By the way, another factor that can cause increase nausea is the actual pain and anxiety you are experiencing with the toothache... a double whammy! See other sections in this booklet to find natural ways to control nausea and anxiety. Don't be disappointed if your toothache pain comes back prior to seeing your dentist. Remember that all the remedies discussed in this report are only designed to give you a few hours pain relief at most.



Section 8

Why You Still Need to See Your Dentist This may surprise you, but it is better to have a little pain compared to no pain at all! As a result, the dentist can pinpoint the problem the site of the problem more easily. The pain of toothache can be difficult to pinpoint sometimes though due to a phenomenon called ‘radiation’. It's a bit like throwing a rock into a stream and seeing the ripples coming from where the rock hit the water. Usually the pain from your tooth can spread (i.e. radiate) to your jaw and ear. Remember that the term ‘dentist’ is short for ‘dental surgeon’. It is likely that the only ultimate cure for your toothache is some form of dental surgery. The reason for this is as follows: Your teeth are alive. The ‘pulp’ is the inside of your tooth and it is full of nerve endings and blood vessels which provide sensation to the tooth and nourish the tooth. Damage or exposure of the pulp is a common cause of severe toothache. Often the treatment for damage or exposure of the pulp is Root Canal Treatment. All dentists have knowledge of root canal work but some dentists specialize further. They are called endodontists and are root canal specialists. Endodontists are highly specialized dentists with an extra 2 years of training in root canal treatment only. It takes this long because the work involved needs precision and is time consuming. In addition specialized equipment such as microscopes to accurately see the root canals are used. The root canal internal structure can be unpredictable... a bit like the haphazard wiring at the back of your PC or Mac! The aim of root canal treatment is the removal of the infected pulp (the internal part of the tooth) and damaged nerve without destroying the tooth.


Stop Your Toothache! – Full Version The only option to root canal treatment in some cases is tooth extraction in a lot of cases, for instance when you have an abscess or nerve damage. Re-infection failure rates with your dentist can be up to 10%. Endodontists tend to have a lower re-infection rate of approximately 1%. If you suffer with re-infection, then the only option is re-treatment of your root canal work or extraction of your tooth. These factors justify the increased time and cost to you the patient of seeing an endodontist. It is always important to see your dentist or other health professional as soon as possible. That's the reason why I wrote this section of the booklet... to actually convince you of the need to see your dentist! If the pain of your toothache is very, very severe, then it may be a root canal problem. You may wish to see your endodontist first. There are advantages to seeing your endodontist first - you pay for one rather than two consultations. However if you have a health insurance policy then your insurance company may need you to see your dentist first, in order to get a referral to see an endodontist. Read the small print of your policy first. Why do I have toothache? There are basically 2 kinds of toothache - severe and mild. You can tell severe toothache pain in several ways: - a sharp pain on biting down - a pain lasting for more than half an hour after eating or drinking hot or cold foods and drinks. - constant throbbing pain and swelling and tenderness (i.e. pain on prodding/ touching the affected tooth) Common causes of severe toothache include damage or exposure of the pulp due to: - decay leading to an infection and / or abscess - tooth fracture due to eating hard foods/habitual tooth grinding/ sports incidents/assault - previous dental work, for example a previous deep filling


Stop Your Toothache! – Full Version Common causes of mild toothache include:

• Sensitive teeth - this is when you get a split- second sharp pain of your teeth on eating or drinking something hot or cold or sweet.

Some people have a genetic predisposition to soft sensitive teeth. There is a whole industry devoted to sensitive teeth sufferers.

• Another cause of mild toothache is habitual teeth grinding (by day or by night). The medical term for this is ‘bruxism’

Other causes of mild toothache are not strictly speaking ‘dental’. They include:

• the pain of sinusitis, where several of the upper teeth are affected and you may have a head cold also.

• the pain of ‘temporo-mandibular joint dysfunction’ (i.e. pain in the region where your jawbone hinges into the skull, just in front of the ear) can mimic toothache.

Remember, only your dentist is qualified to find the cause of your toothache. See them.



Section 9 What Will Happen at the Dentist? (What to expect when you seek advice from your dentist/ health professional) Your dentist will most likely want to x-ray the region of your toothache to visualize the anatomy of the region. Therefore they will decide if the endodontist or the dentist is the most appropriate health professional needed. Rarely the problem may not be dental and the advice of a medical doctor will be needed. Root Canal Treatment – Financial and Medical Aspects Assuming the problem is dental, then root canal treatment is a likely treatment. Section 7 gives some further details regarding this. Most dental insurance policies cover you for root canal treatment. It is considered a basic service. Usually 50-80% of the ‘usual and customary’ dental fees are covered. Ask your dentist/ endodontist what their fee is before you have treatment. This will avoid any misunderstandings. Ask about payment terms i.e. the actual amount and also the timing of the payments due. Sometimes cash flow is more important than the actual amount payable. Not many of us have instant access to hundreds or thousands of dollars. Phone your insurance providers to check you are covered. Read the small print. Make sure that the dental fees you expect to pay are acceptable to the insurance company. Make sure you are clear about the % coverage of the fees in the policy and thus the % that you have to pay. Even if the affected tooth has previously been crowned, then it makes no difference. Root canal treatment can still be done. Your dentist will just drill the cap/crown, do the root canal work and do the filling work afterward.


Stop Your Toothache! – Full Version If a general dentist does your root canal work, then the filling is done immediately. If your endodontist does your root canal work, then they mat insert a temporary filling and ask your own dentist to put in a permanent filling. There is a slight decrease in the structural integrity of your tooth if it has root canal work and has had previous root canal work and insertion of a cap/crown. This can lead to a tooth fracture after the treatment at any point or even during the course of the root canal treatment. This only happens in a tiny %, but it is important to understand that this might happen. If it were to happen there would be the additional cost of a replacement crown of an extra $1000 or so. Other Acceptable Solutions A.) Crown (cap) A crown (otherwise known as a cap) is a protective cover put on the tooth after root canal work. It looks like the top of your tooth. When a root canal treatment hole is drilled, it makes the tooth structure slightly weaker. A cap re-strengthens the tooth and decreases the chance of a tooth fracture. This is most likely with molars (back teeth) due to the increased stress / shearing forces of chewing your food. B.) Tooth replacement with a bridge or an implant. 1.) A bridge is good because it is cosmetically acceptable, for example you can smile a completely natural- looking smile. Furthermore, it is acceptable from a medical/dental point of view. Your natural ‘bite’ is restored. What is the definition of a bridge? It is when the 2 teeth either side of the removed tooth are ground down and 2 new crowns are made and a 3rd crown is put in the middle to fill the gap left by the pulled tooth. It is possible to have a bridge over 2 teeth. This increases the stability but also increases the cost. Furthermore, cleaning is awkward because all 3 crowns and therefore 2 teeth are attached together.


Stop Your Toothache! – Full Version 2.) Dental implant. This is when a dental screw is screwed into the bone where your old tooth was removed. It is left for around 6 months to heal. Then a fake tooth is attached to the screw. The disadvantage to this treatment is the cost which is about $3000 per tooth. The advantages however are: -your other healthy teeth are not involved. There is no grinding down of them necessary. - therefore cleaning is made easier - dental implants look most like real teeth. Therefore they are more socially acceptable and you are unlikely to have any confidence issues. Other Options A.) Removal of the tooth B.) Apicectomy A.) Removal of the tooth is one option. It has its disadvantages and is not usually the best solution. This is for 2 main reasons: Medical/dental reasons - neighboring teeth have lost the physical support of the removed tooth. They shift imperceptibly over time. Therefore you don't bite down straight and the teeth become mis-aligned. This often leads to jaw problems and headache. Furthermore you have decreased chewing efficiency. Remember that chewing food in the mouth is the start of digestion. Therefore you can ultimately suffer with indigestion. Cosmetic/social reasons - especially if your front teeth and pre molars are missing. This is noticeable to others when you open your mouth, talk, cough, yawn and smile. This decreases your attractiveness to others and decreases your confidence. This has implications at work, in your social life and in your home life. Unfortunately in life you are judged by your appearance.


Stop Your Toothache! – Full Version B.) Another solution may be an apicectomy - this is surgery on the root canals from the gum line. It is quite rarely performed and subsequent problems include bone infection. The technique involves a gum incision so the root can be accessed directly. It is then sealed off from its end. Conclusions Root canal treatment and cap/crown insertion is probably the best way to go in terms of costs and other factors. Root canal treatment costs roughly $1000; the crown costs roughly $1000 giving a total of approximately $2000. It is also the best way to go in terms of your oral health as the tooth is subsequently easier to clean. Therefore there is less future decay and infection in the affected tooth, leading to a lesser chance of neighboring teeth being affected by decay and infection. But it is important to remember that a tooth that has had root canal treatment is not immune to further decay and infection. “OK, so much for the theory. What will this be like from my point of view?” Root canal treatment often gives instant relief. A molar (back tooth) treatment takes 1 hour and requires 1-2 visits. Apart from the initial sting of your dentist or endodontist injecting you with the local anesthetic, you should feel no pain during the procedure. After any dental work you have done, you will get probably be given some antibiotics to help prevent infection and some painkillers for any pain you may experience after the procedure. See the next section for more details. This section of the booklet is designed to help take the fear out of going to the dentist. Hopefully you have been reassured by it, and will be happy to seek your dentists help.



Section 10 What Happens After the Dentist? “What about after my dental procedure?”

• Antibiotics- you will probably be given antibiotics. Most antibiotics work better and quicker on an empty stomach and are best taken before meals. Check with your dentist or pharmacist first if you are not sure.

• Painkillers- in contrast some painkillers such as ibuprofen and

those containing codeine are best taken with or after food as they can cause stomach pain or nausea on an empty stomach.

Complications after your dental procedure These can include:

• A flare up of infection. This happens in about 1% of people. You get pain and swelling. It is due often to toxins released by dying bacteria.

• Pain - often the pain you get after a dental procedure is in direct

proportion to the amount of healing required. A reliable sign is if it still hurts to chew on affected side. If this is the case, then chew on the other side.

You may be wondering why you can still get pain if the nerve in the root canal is gone following root canal treatment. This is because surrounding nerves outside of the tooth in the gum are still alive.

• A high tooth. An adjustment to your ‘bite’ may be needed.

• Tooth fracture - a rare complication of dental work. This will cause a very sensitive feeling on the affected side. It is sensible to chew on other side in the meantime, but seek advice from your dentist.



Section 11 Preventing Toothache the Next Time There is no short cut to preventing your toothache happening again. Good dental hygiene from now on is the only way. Follow this simple 6 point plan. Set aside just 5 minutes a day to help prevent your toothache coming back. The following is advice that you've probably heard many times before, but that may have new significance to you, now that you have suffered with toothache. 1.) Brush your teeth at least twice daily for 2 minutes. Use a stopwatch if necessary. Some electric toothbrushes time the brushing session automatically. 2.) Floss regularly, ideally daily. Proper dental tape is better than dental floss for this. The correct technique for flossing is very important to learn. The wrong technique can cause cuts to your gum. Ask your dentist or hygienist for advice. 3.) Mouthwash. Use it regularly twice daily after you have brushed your teeth. Swill a capful of mouthwash around the mouth for 30 seconds and spit out. (30 seconds is a long time and you may wish to time this also). Mouthwashes help get rid of food particles that haven't been removed by brushing. Techniques 1-3 will give you that great ‘just left the dentist’ feel to your teeth every day! 4.) Minimize sugar intake. Try sugar free alternatives if they are to your taste. The reason for this is that sugar plus bacteria (that live on your teeth) causes acid to attack the teeth which leads to decay. 5.) Other traps - carbonated (fizzy) drinks – even if they are sugar-free! These types of drinks can still cause acid erosion of the teeth, despite being sugar - free. Try using a straw. The drink goes straight down your throat without washing over your teeth. 6.) See your dentist / hygienist regularly, e.g. every 6 months. Despite the measures mentioned above you may get a build up of tartar (scale) which needs to be removed.



Section 12 Summary Thanks for choosing to read this report designed to give you relief from toothache. I hope you’ve found the information in this report useful. And I hope it’s been enough information to stop your toothache. Remember that these remedies have been designed so that you can find them at the drug store, the grocery store, or even in the house right now! Remember that although the techniques for toothache relief described in this book have successfully helped toothache sufferers, this booklet is not a substitute for advice from a dentist or other health professional. The pain that you have is nature's way of telling you that something is wrong and is actually a good motivator for you to seek dental advice. The techniques described in this booklet are intended to give only temporary pain relief until you seek advice at the earliest opportunity from a dentist or other health professional. Best Wishes Dr. V. Kuhan IMPORTANT: this information is solely for informational purposes. IT IS NOT INTENDED TO PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE. Dr. V. Kuhan cannot take responsibility for any possible consequences from any treatment, procedure, exercise, dietary modification, action or application of medication which results from reading or following the information contained in this information. The publication of this information does not constitute the practice of medicine, and this information does not replace the advice of your physician or other health care provider. Before undertaking any course of treatment, the reader must seek the advice of their physician or other health care provider. The brand name products mentioned in this publication are trademarks or service marks of their respective companies. The mention of any product in this publication does not constitute an endorsement by Dr. V. Kuhan, nor does it constitute an endorsement by these companies that their products should be used in the manner described in this publication.


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Stop Your Toothache! â€“ Full Version