| The 2 main kinds of toothache and what you can | | | | Sometimes the pain of toothache can be |
| do about it (until you see your dentist) | | | | associated with nausea. This can be due to fear, |
| There are 2 main kinds of toothache | | | | anxiety or side effects of some painkillers, such |
| Firstly, sensitivity to hot/cold and sweet things. | | | | as those containing codeine. |
| This is due to exposed dentine (the sensitive part | | | | A simple acupressure technique can help : push |
| of your tooth under the tough outer enamel | | | | the tip of your right thumb and the tip of your |
| coating). | | | | right index finger together firmly to form an 'O'. |
| The second more severe kind of toothache is | | | | Do the same with the left thumb and left index |
| due to infection of the innermost "core" of the | | | | finger. Furthermore try and fix your eyes on a |
| tooth, called the pulp. Furthermore the infection | | | | distant object e.g. look through a window in your |
| can lead to an abscess i.e. a collection of pus. Such | | | | house or office into the distance. |
| cases are characterised by the tooth being very | | | | I used this technique to help with motion sickness |
| painful and even sensitive to touch. Additionally | | | | while I was whale -watching on my honeymoon in |
| you may have fever and swollen glands (lymph | | | | New Zealand. It really works. |
| nodes) in the neck as well as gum swelling. | | | | Even your posture / position can make a |
| In both cases you need to see a dentist. | | | | difference. Although you'll feel like lying down you |
| In the first kind of toothache you obviously need | | | | should sit or stand. Otherwise the increase in your |
| to avoid the trigger factors of heat/cold/ sweet | | | | blood pressure associated with lying down could |
| items on your teeth. Even something as simple as | | | | increase the throbbing nature of the pain. |
| mouth breathing can make the sensitivity worse. | | | | Although the natural remedies described above |
| The nose is designed to warm and humidify the | | | | can give you temporary pain relief, I do also |
| air as you breathe in, so this is the best way to | | | | recommend that you take conventional painkillers |
| go. If you breathe through your mouth habitually | | | | such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen |
| (for example if you suffer with nasal congestion/ | | | | (Advil) - assuming your medical history allows this. |
| stuffiness) then the blast of cold air goes directly | | | | Check with your doctor/ dentist/ pharmacist if |
| over the teeth causing increased sensitivity. | | | | you are not sure. Always read the label. |
| Other breathing techniques involve breathing in | | | | I hope that this short article gives you a sense of |
| through your nose and out through your mouth. | | | | 'perspective' about the common causes of |
| This will help you to relax and thus lower your | | | | toothache and gives you some natural and |
| heart rate and blood pressure , which will help to | | | | pharmacological remedies until you see your |
| reduce the throbbing pain. | | | | dentist. |