Toothaches can be very difficult to deal with and there are many reasons you may get one. Of course, it's best to avoid them as much as possible in the first place. However, for those times when you do get one, you want to know how to treat the pain until you are able to see your dentist. This article will help educate you on both avoiding toothaches and how to rid yourself of the pain of one when they do occur.

Prevent yourself from getting cavities: You more than likely know that you can prevent cavities by brushing your teeth, flossing after meals and rinsing with mouthwash before bed. However, there are a few other tips you can follow that will help to keep your teeth in better shape to really avoid cavities.

You can get in the habit of chewing sugarless gum, which will help to constantly remove bacteria and small bits of food from the surfaces of your teeth. Chewing gum also helps to produce more saliva, which is good in the prevention of cavities. Also, drinking water directly after every meal and snack will help keep your teeth healthier.

Preventing breaks, chips and fractures is also important and can be done by refraining from bad habits like chewing ice and using your teeth to open packages or bottles. Also, go directly to the dentist for a professional mouth guard if you are involved in sports, rather than getting one from a store. This way, you know your teeth are being as protected as possible.

Getting relief from a toothache: If you do experience a toothache, then you want to get a phone call in to your dentist right away. No matter what is causing the pain, it's important for it to be addressed by a professional. Until then, you can use a few different methods for pain relief.

You can take an over-the-counter anti-inflammatory which will help with the pain and relieving any inflammation. Also, gently biting on a medium-sized piece of ice until it melts will help you to get relief from the pain by numbing the area. Make sure you are biting with the affected tooth.

You can also soak a piece of gauze in some clove oil and place the gauze next to the affected tooth for relief. The clove oil will give you a bit of a stinging sensation at first, but then it will take the pain away, so you can feel better until a dentist like Scott Brenner, DDS can get you in.