$Unique_ID{PAR00171}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{Medical Advice:  Toothache}
$Subtitle{}
$Author{
Editors of Consumer Guide
Chasnoff, Ira J}
$Subject{Toothache Toothaches tooth Pain Redness gum swelling swollen gums
dental hygiene brush teeth floss fluoride fluoridated teeth injury injuries
infection infections abscess abscesses pus cavity cavities root pulp
aspirin acetaminophen painkiller painkillers antibiotic antibiotics dentist
dentists}
$Log{
Tooth Decay*0017101.tif}

Your Child:  A Medical Guide


Toothache


     Quick Reference

     SYMPTOMS
     - Pain
     - Redness and swelling of the gums

     HOME CARE
     - Give aspirin or acetaminophen for pain.
     - Apply an ice pack to the jaw.

     PRECAUTIONS
     - Do not apply heat to the site of a toothache.
     - A careful program of dental hygiene is the first defense against
       toothache.  Your child should brush his teeth at least once daily and
       use dental floss.
     - Have your child see the dentist regularly from age two or three on.
     - Never apply aspirin directly to the site of a toothache.
     - Provide extra fluoride if the water in your area is not fluoridated.
       Ask your dentist about this.


     In common with earaches and the onset of labor, children's toothaches
seem always to happen at the least convenient time--after pharmacists have
closed their doors and doctors and dentists have closed their offices.
     A toothache can be caused by an injury to a tooth, an infection between
the gum and the tooth, or an abscess (a cavity containing pus and surrounded
by inflamed tissue) of the root of the tooth due to extension of a cavity
(even a filled one) into the tooth's pulp (central portion).

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

     The cause of a toothache is obvious if the gum near the tooth is red,
swollen, and tender or if a cavity is visible.  If the source of the pain is
in doubt, tapping gently with the handle of a spoon will cause sharp pain in
the affected tooth.

HOME CARE

     Temporary treatment is to ease the pain of the toothache with aspirin or
acetaminophen.  An ice pack on the jaw may help.  Heat may make the toothache
worse.  Call your dentist.
     An important part of home treatment is prevention.  Your child should see
a dentist regularly, beginning at age two or three.  The child should brush
his teeth at least daily and use floss.  Through adolescence, fluoride must be
provided each day.  If you live in an area where the water is not fluoridated,
supplementary fluoride is needed.  Talk to your dentist about this.

PRECAUTIONS

  -  Do not apply heat to the site of a toothache.
  -  Take your child to a dentist regularly to avoid any emergency situation
     involving a toothache.
  -  Never apply aspirin directly to the site of a toothache.  (This practice
     can cause a chemical burn.)

MEDICAL TREATMENT

     Your doctor may prescribe a painkiller or, if infection is present, an
antibiotic.  Treatment of the tooth is left to the dentist.

RELATED TOPICS:  Gumboils; Teething