If you’ve ever been unfortunate to suffer any kind of dental health problem you’ll know full well that it’s no laughing matter. Toothache doesn’t have a bad reputation for nothing after all, and with over 90 per cent of people in the UK admitting some kind of fear of the dentist, it would seem our teeth are something we should be keen to look after.

The key to good dental health is prevention. Although the advances in technology have meant that modern dentistry is able to cure most dental concerns relatively painlessly, the procedures are often costly and can still be unpleasant. The only way to avoid dental problems is to prevent them occurring in the first place. This is easily achievable by following three easy steps. Firstly, by brushing correctly twice a day using an appropriate toothbrush for your teeth (your dentist will be able to recommend a suitable brush) for three minutes. Secondly, by flossing at least once a day you will be able to clean the parts of the teeth that conventional brushing is unable to reach. This includes between the teeth and below the gumline. Flossing also removes food particles that get stuck in the teeth which are one of the main causes of plaque and bad breath. Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, is by having regular six-month dental check-ups. Even though many people are afraid of the dentist, by visiting regularly there really will be nothing to fear. In fact, the more you visit the less likely the chance of any problems occurring, the less scary your check-ups will be. It really does make sense.

There are other things you can do to protect your teeth and gums, such as drinking water after meals, eating the right foods and not snacking in between meals. These will all help to maintain good oral hygiene but will only work in tandem with effective cleaning.

The alternatives to protecting your teeth and gums is a lifetime of tooth decay, gum disease and costly dental procedures that doesn’t bear thinking about. A Surbiton dentist will be able to offer you regular check-ups and offer you advice about the proper cleaning methods.

When it comes to dental problems, your foremost line of defence is a general dentist. While general dentists chiefly offer preventative treatment and minor restorative cure, they usually are capable of performing an extensive range of dental treatments, including cosmetic procedures.
While general dentists normally do not undertake postgraduate education programs in dental specialization, they continue to undergo training even after leaving dental school. By being present at lectures and taking part in practical intensive courses that continuing education programs provide, general dentists gain additional dentistry knowledge. Hence, general dentists who choose to take up practice instead of participating in specialized postgraduate training courses may still obtain a higher dental education than that which DDS and the DMD degrees offer.
General dentists in Kinston upon thames who don’t carry out a specific procedure will refer you to a specialist.
Dental Emergency
Now a dental emergency refers to a kind of medical emergency that involves the gingival or the teeth. If you experience pain, regardless of the intensity, in these mouth areas, it can point to an acute underlying problem which could get worse over time. It is essential to call on a Kingston upon thames dentist as early as you can for a professional assessment to reduce injury to the gums, teeth, as well as supporting bone. To get relief from acute oral pain short-term treatment may be taken.
Toothache
A toothache, which is also called odontalgia or by its less common name odontalgy, is a painful ache around or in a tooth. In the majority of cases toothaches are brought on by tooth or jaw problems like gum disease, cavities, the surfacing of wisdom teeth, jaw disease, infected dental pulp, a broken tooth, or an exposed tooth root. Toothache causes may also be symptoms of heart diseases like a myocardial infarction, or angina, because of referred pain.
If one or more of your teeth are taken out a condition called dry socket can arise, resulting in acute pain. The seriousness of a toothache could extend from a slight distress to a severe pain, which may be felt either at irregular intervals or persistently. This pain can frequently be further worsened by extreme temperatures or chewing. A thorough oral check-up together with X-rays could assist in finding out the cause. Acute pain may be regarded as a dental emergency.
An atypical odontalgia refers to a kind of toothache seen in seemingly healthy teeth. The pain which usually is not very sharp frequently shifts from tooth to tooth, lasting from about four months to many years. This is mostly experienced by older women. It is still not known what causes atypical odontalgia.
Palliatives
To get relief from dental pain, clove oil enriched with eugenol may be availed of to treat it; using a cotton swab, a drop may be dabbed on as a palliative. For example, after a wisdom tooth is taken out, a condition called dry socket may arise where nerve endings tend to be exposed to air. To obtain relief from this kind of pain, a piece of aseptic cotton or gauze dipped in clove oil may be put in the socket once it is thoroughly cleaned with saline.
OTC topical anaesthetics having active ingredients like choline salicylate or benzocaine may be directly smeared on the gum to numb the sensation.
Apart from the above mentioned there are various home cures with different levels of effectiveness for getting immediate relief from oral pain.
Analgesics like paracetamol (acetaminophen), aspirin, and ibuprofen also are widely used; ibuprofen and aspirin have the further benefit of being anti-inflammatory. Heat and/or ice are also regularly used. For temporary relief from pain a Kingston upon thames dentist may recommend any anti-inflammatory corticosteroids like Dexameth.