If you feel a great deal of pain coming from one of your teeth or if you see a large abscess next to a tooth, then you probably have an infection that needs to be treated. Your dentist will likely perform a root canal to get rid of the infected dental pulp. Most people fear root canal treatments, but the necessary procedure is not that painful. Although this is true, you may feel some discomfort during the root canal. You can do your best to reduce pain and soreness by following the tips below.
Inquire About a Pulp Capping Procedure
When a tooth becomes infected, bacteria attack and eat away at the dental pulp that sits in the crown of your tooth. Once the pulp is destroyed, the bacteria move down to the bottom of the tooth where the dental nerve is located. The dental nerve is responsible for transmitting pressure, pain, and temperature sensations to the brain, and the bacterial activity causes the tooth to hurt. Typically, a dentist will release the infected nerve along with puss and bacteria once the infection is identified.
If you notice dental pain before the bacteria reach your dental nerve though, then a full root canal procedure may not be necessary. Your dentist can perform a far less uncomfortable and invasive procedure called a pulp capping. During this treatment, your dentist will drill into the tooth crown and clean out the infected pulp. A sealer is then placed in the crown to stop the infection. The tooth nerve will be left in place and this will keep your tooth alive after the procedure is over. If your dentist says that you need a root canal, make sure to ask if a pulp capping is more appropriate for your condition.
Treat Your Abscess
If you have an abscess that sits near your infected tooth, then this sac contains a great deal of pus, swollen tissues, and bacteria. The infected tissues can cause a great deal of pain and they can place pressure on the adjacent tooth as well. Abscesses are typically drained or treated with antibiotics after your root canal procedure. Unfortunately, this means that lidocaine injections may need to be secured through the abscess to numb your tooth. Also, your dentist may place pressure and stress on the abscess as the infected material is released. This can cause pain during the root canal procedure.
Create a Natural Treatment
To prevent discomfort, consider treating the abscess conservatively before your root canal. You can use natural substances to treat the pus sac, and a mixture of clove, olive, and tea tree oil can minimize pain and bacterial activity. Clove oil contains a natural pain relieving agent called eugenol and tea tree oil can kill bacteria and other harmful microorganisms.
To create your abscess treatment, place two tablespoons of olive oil in a dish and add 10 drops of clove oil and 5 to 7 drops of tea tree oil. Stir the mixture and then soak up a small amount of the fluid with a cotton ball. Place the ball on your abscess for 15 minutes. Repeat the process several times a day and make sure to collect pus that releases from the formation so bacteria does not infect other areas of the mouth.
If you do not want to place oils in your mouth to treat your abscess, then consider using garlic juice to treat the area. Garlic can reduce pain and kill bacteria much like clove and tea tree oil, and it may be more palatable. This is especially true if the pain in your mouth has been causing nausea. To use garlic oil, mash up two garlic cloves and place them in a cheese cloth. Squeeze the cloth over a glass to release the oils and gargle with the fluid.
If you have an infected tooth, then treatment is absolutely necessary to reduce pain and further oral concerns. If you are stressed about treatment, then consider asking for a pulp capping and treat abscesses to minimize discomfort.
