Managing Dental Problems at Home

It is important to brush your teeth 2 times daily for 2 minutes with a toothpaste that contains fluoride. Diet and the frequency of sugar is equally as important for dental health as cleaning. You can find more information on top tips for a healthy smile here and on the Childsmile website for 0-12 years of age, including ideas for healthy snacks.

If there is decay in a tooth and it is extremely sensitive to hot or cold, then antibiotics are unlikely to help. Good cleaning with a fluoride toothpaste and reducing sugar intake may reduce the chance of the decay getting worse. You should speak to your dentist about having the decay removed and a filling placed. If you do not have a dentist, a list of practices taking on new NHS patients can be found here.

Pain control

Over the counter painkillers can help to settle the pain but make sure to follow the instructions. Taking too many tablets will NOT improve the pain but can cause serious medical problems such as overdose.

If there is a hole in the tooth or the tooth/filling has cracked:

• A self-made temporary filling can be packed into the space. Temporary filling kits are available from supermarkets and pharmacies.
• Take painkillers
• Avoid very hot or cold food

If these measures do not help the pain or if you have a swelling, then contact your dentist for further advice. If you do not have a dentist, a list of practices taking on new NHS patients can be found here.

If you need any advice on registering with a dentist or having an emergency appointment arranged within normal working hours, you can call the Dental Information and Advice Line (DIAL) on 0345 45 65 990.

If you have a swelling which is increasing rapidly, or likely to affect your airway or your eye – contact your dentist as soon as possible, or go to A&E.

If you have a swelling which is increasing slowly in size, or feels hot/firm to touch – contact your dentist.

Lower wisdom tooth pain can often be due to inflammation of the gum around the tooth. This can be made worse by biting from the top tooth.

Most flare ups can be managed with simple measures and should improve within a few days to a week:

• Take painkillers
• Mouthwash with chlorhexidine or warm salty water
• Soft diet (to reduce trauma from biting)
• Keep the area clean – Brush the area gently with a small headed toothbrush, this may feel uncomfortable, but good oral hygiene will help it heal faster

Contact your dentist if you have any of the following, as you may need a course of antibiotics:

• Swelling in your face or cheek
• Difficulty swallowing
• Difficulty opening your mouth

An erupting tooth can be uncomfortable. Make sure you keep the area clean, take painkillers and rinse with salty water or chlorhexidine mouthwash. If painkillers do not control the pain, seek help from a dentist.

Pain after an extraction is common for several days but can usually be well controlled with pain killers. If you smoke or rinse too soon after an extraction, then there is a risk of dry socket – this is when the blood clot in the extraction socket comes away. This can be very painful, and antibiotics do not help with this.

Onset of pain 24 – 48hrs after an extraction can be a sign of a dry socket.

If this occurs you can do the following:

• Gently rinse using warm salty mouthwashes to help soothe the area
• Continue taking pain killers
• Maintain good oral hygiene
• Avoid smoking
• Contact your dentist if you have pain which worsens over time, rather than improves.

Following the instructions given to you by your dentist after an extraction will help to ensure the area heals well. After a tooth extraction, small amounts of blood can mix with your saliva, making your saliva turn slightly pink – this is normal. However, if there is continued active bleeding, similar in volume to a nose bleed:

• Place a rolled-up piece of cotton or gauze over the socket and bite firmly to maintain continuous pressure for 20 mins before checking if the bleeding has stopped
• Repeat this once if necessary
• If bleeding does not stop, or if you are on blood thinners, then contact your dentist.

If you continue to have problems after a tooth extraction, then contact your dentist for further advice.

Ulcers can be very painful, but most will heal within a week or so. If you have an ulcer that has been present for 3 weeks or more then contact your dentist so that this can be checked.

At home you can:

• Mouthwash with warm salty water or chlorhexidine (chlorhexidine is not suitable for children under 7 years)
• Take pain killers
• Use pain killing mouthwash or spray, which can be purchased from supermarkets or pharmacies
• Soft diet to prevent further trauma

If a sharp tooth or broken filling is causing the ulcer, then follow the advice for toothache.

If your denture is causing an ulcer:

• Smooth sharp edges with sandpaper or a nail file.
• Denture fixative can be used to help secure a denture to avoid rubbing.
• Leave the denture out as much as possible until the ulcer heals.
• For more information on caring for false teeth, please visit here.

If you have a minor head or face injury:

• Rinse the area gently with warm water or a mild antiseptic
• Remove any foreign objects from the mouth
• Apply ice packs or a bag of frozen peas to bring down any swelling
• Apply pressure with a finger to stop bleeding
• Rest – you do not need to stay awake if you are tired
• Take painkillers such as paracetamol

You should contact NHS 111 or go to A&E if:

• Significant facial trauma has occurred
• There has been a head injury
• You have been knocked out (loss of consciousness) or have blurred/double vision or vomiting
• There is uncontrollable bleeding (or if you have a bleeding disorder, such as haemophilia)
• The airway is compromised

More information on head injuries can be found here

Injuries to teeth occur most frequently in children and young adults. Proper diagnosis, treatment and follow-up are very important, but there are some initial steps you can take at home that can help.

Clean the crown/cap and tooth. If the crown appears mostly hollow, then it may be possible to re-cement it:

• Check the crown/cap fits without cement and make sure the bite feels normal
• Use a dental cement or a denture fixative that you can buy from a pharmacy or supermarket
• Do not use super glue
• Practice placing the crown/cap a few times before using the cement/fixative.
• Place the crown/cap and press firmly with your fingers and then bite firmly to make sure it is fully seated
• Remove the extra cement/fixative with floss or a toothpick
• This is unlikely to work for veneers

Brush 2 times per day with fluoride toothpaste for 2 minutes. Concentrate on areas that you get bleeding from. Chlorhexidine mouthwash can help in the short term, but prolonged use can stain your teeth. Chlorhexidine may not suitable for children under 12 years, so please check before using.

If the gums are very painful and this does not improve then you may need to contact your dentist. If you do not have a dentist, a list of practices taking on new NHS patients can be found here.

It can help to apply a soft wax, such as the wax outer coating of Babybel cheese, to cover a sharp, non-removable appliance.

The British Orthodontic Society have created a number of video tutorials on how to deal with common problems with braces, which you can watch here.