Managing dental pain at home during the coronavirus pandemic

We’ve been told it’s going to get worse before it gets better. We’re staying at home, and being sensible, so we don’t contract or spread Covid-19. During the coronavirus lockdown managing dental care at home, therefore, could help keep us and other family members safe.

But staying a home won’t stop us from getting tooth ache. If we have dental decay or an abscess, for example, it’s going to hurt. And the last thing we want to do right now is go out for emergency dental care. So what can we do?

• Read about care for time-sensitive Urgent and Emergency dental conditions here. 

Managing dental pain at home can help

These are definitely unusual and challenging times.

Normally we’d be encouraging people to get in touch with their dentists. But we’re all having to re-evaluate our regular practices, even courses of action that are usually the most sensible. We usually recommend patients book a dental appointment to sort out any oral discomfort before it has the chance to develop into a bigger problem. Indeed, we really like to see people so regularly that they never get the chance to feel any discomfort in their mouth.

But now all that’s changed, so we’d like to offer you advice to try to prevent any problem you have getting worse. We sincerely hope that you’ll be able to avoid dental pain while you’re locked down at home, or even manage dental pain yourself if possible.

Why does my tooth/mouth hurt?

The most common cause of oral pain is an infection. The pain might be toothache, because the infection is in the actual tooth, or it may be more general pain. There may be with swelling too. Before it gets worse, just like coronavirus, you can try to contain it.

Left unchecked, infection can spread to your body, causing a raised temperature. If you already have other health issues, such as diabetes or a heart condition, any infection can be dangerous.

Pain cannot be ignored. It’s a symptom that there is a problem. However, due to the current pressures on the health system, if you can manage the condition at home, that will save you having to go out . We all want to avoid putting ourselves and others at risk.

However, if you have a dental emergency or it’s urgent, then you need to seek professional help.

The best way to find out how to manage acute pain is to use NHS 111 online. If you’re unable to go online, phone 111. Emergency dental care facilities are being set up to offer treatment for problems that won’t respond to at-home care.

• Why does my tooth ache?
• Do I have an abscess?
• Have I got sepsis?
• Is the lump in my mouth cancer?

We highly recommend that you seek remote professional advice if you can’t manage your dental care at home.

What can I do until I can get to a dentist?

To try to manage dental pain, and stop it from getting worse, stepping up your oral hygiene routines can make a difference.

• Make sure you floss gently around the hurting tooth carefully at least once a day, paying particular attention to the margin where the tooth goes into the gum.
• Use an interdental brush to clean the gaps between teeth. Disturbing bacteria by brushing and flossing protects teeth by reducing the build up of plaque.
• Brush your teeth at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste.
• Rinse your mouth with either salted water or an antibacterial mouthwash at other times during the day.
• Drink water at regular intervals to stimulate saliva and help the fight against bacteria.

Find some relief from dental pain with non-prescription medication.

• Be sure to follow instructions for the correct use of any pain relieving medications. Check carefully the recommended dose.
• Your local pharmacist is a health care professional. Telephone for advice about appropriate medication.
• Current thinking on virus resistance recommends paracetamol, for example, over anti-inflammatories such as ibuprofen.
• Numbing/teething gels may provide some relief.

Dental practices offer remote advice during lockdown

Unfortunately we cannot help you in person right now, even if you are in pain. We do, however, offer remote advice.

Please get in touch to ask us a question.

If you haven’t been able to manage your dental pain at home, you probably need either a course of antibiotics to tackle infection, or a dental procedure to remove infected tissue.

• Answers to your root canal worries 

If you have questions about your dental issues during the coronavirus pandemic, you’re welcome to contact us, Our team aims to answer emails within 24 hours. Please remember, we cannot offer prescriptions or treatment, only advice.

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