What’s The 3-3-3 Rule For Toothaches?

A man in pain from a cracked toothIf you have ever had a toothache, you probably know that the unique pain is simply unforgettable. Obviously, you should promptly visit your dentist if you have any tooth pain, but if you have to wait to do so for whatever reason, you can use several coping strategies, one of the most popular being the 3-3-3 method.

What Is the 3-3-3 Method for Tooth Pain?

Tooth or gum pain is almost always due to swelling or inflammation. If you reduce the swelling, then you will reduce the pain. The best way to reduce the pain and inflammation in the short-term is with the 3-3-3 method: 3 ibuprofen (600mg total) 3 times a day for 3 days.

One thing you must not do is take the ibuprofen only to stop taking it once you start experiencing pain relief. The trick is to keep the ibuprofen levels up so that you can reduce the inflammation. If you stop taking it, then it will be a while before the ibuprofen kicks in again.

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Abscessed Teeth Are Serious Dental Emergencies

A woman with facial swelling from a dental abscessThere is no question that not only is an abscessed tooth painful, but it can also be extremely hazardous to one’s overall health.

An abscessed tooth refers to a tooth that has an infection either inside or around it. That abscess can lead to a wide variety of other health issues.

While some people may want to discount an abscessed tooth as “just another dental issue,” the truth is that it’s much more serious than that! Some of the signs include extreme pain, bad breath, and swelling of the gums. These are bad enough, but an abscessed tooth goes well beyond that.

There are more and more reports coming out that abscessed teeth are leading to additional infections. These infections can lead to headaches, migraines, fevers, and in some extreme cases even death.

This is why an abscessed tooth is a dental emergency. Aside from the extreme pain, that infection can lead to brain damage and death, or heart attack and death. The gums are a sensitive area in the mouth, which means the infection can easily spread to parts of the body with fatal results.

Don’t take the appearance of an abscessed tooth lightly. Even if a dentist can’t get you in for immediate tooth work or removal, if needed, they do have the ability to prescribe both painkillers and antibiotics to help fight and corral the infection.

This is critical. When you see serious swelling in the gums and jaw, those are very dangerous signs that the infection is spreading beyond the abscessed tooth. You need high quality dental care fast and you need to treat any signs of an abscessed tooth as an emergency dental procedure.

More than any other dental issue, a dental abscess can cause serious health ramifications. Don’t treat them lightly!

If you suspect you have an abscess call a dentist in Rochester, NY immediately!