Picture this: You’re enjoying a nice meal with friends, chewing on some delicious chicken, when your jaw suddenly pulses with pain. Or is it your tooth?
You can’t determine the source of the pain. All you know is that your mouth hurts, and it’s making it impossible to chew, much less enjoy your food.
No matter what caused your toothache, you need to find a way to fix it. You can only hope and pray that it isn’t a cavity.
So, what does a cavity feel like, and how do you relieve cavity pain? Here’s what you need to know.
What Does a Cavity Feel Like?
When you first develop a cavity, you might not even notice it beyond a white spot on your teeth. Then, it will become sensitive to heat and cold. You could also experience spikes of pain when you chew.
You may be able to manage these symptoms with OTC toothache relief. However, the underlying issue will continue to worsen, even if the pain abates.
When Do Cavities Become Serious?
As the cavity goes deeper, causing tooth decay, the pain will worsen and become unrelenting. You may experience swelling in the gums and jaw. As the infection deepens, your body temperature will rise and you’ll start getting nauseous.
At this point, you need to seek medical attention or schedule a dental appointment. If you have dental anxiety, this may be difficult. However, without proper care, the infection could become septic.
How Do You Relieve Cavity Pain?
Now that you understand what a cavity feels like, you may wonder what you can do about your cavity pain. Below, we will discuss both pain remedies that you can use, as well as methods to prevent cavities from forming in the first place.
Gargling Salt Water
One common home remedy for cavity pain involves adding a small amount of salt to a glass of warm water. Then, you gargle the saltwater and spit it out to reduce inflammation and clear out food debris.
Applying OTC Ointments
You can find toothache relief ointments at every pharmacy and big box store these days. These analgesic ointments might help you manage the pain while you book a dental appointment.
Avoiding Sugary or Acidic Food and Drinks
If you want to prevent cavities from forming in the first place, cutting down on your sugar consumption is a great first step. Plus, if you already have a cavity, the sugar or acid in your food could worsen the pain.
Looking for More Help With Dental Issues?
Cavities are a common dental issue, but dealing with cavity pain doesn’t have to be. We hope that our guide helped you understand both what cavities feel like and how you can manage your pain levels.
Are you looking for more help with common dental issues? If so, then check out the Health section of our blog for more articles like this one.
