Dental pain doesn’t just come from cavities or infections—your daily habits, diet, and oral hygiene routine play a huge role in keeping your teeth pain-free.
🦷 1. Maintain a Perfect Oral Hygiene Routine
Poor hygiene = plaque buildup = sensitivity + gum pain.
Morning Routine
Brush for 2 minutes using fluoride toothpaste.
Clean tongue to reduce bacteria.
Rinse with water (avoid harsh mouthwashes in the morning).
Night Routine
Brush again before bed (this is the MOST important).
Floss to remove food between teeth.
Use a fluoride mouth rinse if prone to cavities.
Avoid eating anything after brushing.
- Diet that Prevents Dental Pain
Your food choices directly affect tooth sensitivity & inflammation.
Foods to Avoid if You Get Frequent Dental Pain
Too hot or cold food
Carbonated drinks
Sticky or sugary snacks
Frequent tea/coffee without water afterwards
Hard foods like chikki, nuts, ice cubes (cause micro-fractures)
Foods That Protect Your Teeth
Milk, paneer, curd
Almonds, spinach (calcium-rich)
Fiber-rich fruits and vegetables
Water with every meal
Sugar-free chewing gum to stimulate saliva - Stop Teeth Grinding (Bruxism)
Grinding at night can cause:
jaw pain
headache
cracked teeth
sensitivity
What to Do
Get a nightguard
Practice jaw relaxation exercises
Reduce screen time before sleeping
Avoid sleeping on your stomach (adds jaw pressure)
🪥 4. Use the Right Toothpaste & Technique
Sometimes pain happens simply because of the wrong brushing method.
Use Soft Bristle Brush
Hard brushes cause gum recession → sensitivity.
Correct Technique
Use gentle circular strokes
Do NOT scrub left-right
Replace brush every 2–3 months - Hydration & Saliva Protection
Dry mouth increases cavities and sensitivity.
Avoid:
Smoking
Alcohol-based mouthwashes
Excess tea/coffee
Do:
Drink 8–10 glasses of water
Use saliva-boosting sugar-free gum
Use humidifier at night if mouth dries when sleeping
🧊 6. Home Remedies for Temporary Relief
These help until you visit a dentist.
Temporary Measures
Warm salt-water rinses
Cold compress (not hot!)
Avoid chewing on painful side
Clove oil on cotton (for mild pain only)
️ These do NOT replace treatment. They give only temporary comfort. - When to Visit a Dentist Immediately
Seek urgent care if you experience:
pain lasting more than 24–48 hours
swelling of face or gums
severe sensitivity to cold
broken tooth
pus or bad smell
pain while chewing
Early treatment saves the tooth and prevents emergencies.
How Dentists Treat Different Types of Dental Pain
Every type of tooth pain has a different reason, so the treatment must be specific. Here is a detailed explanation that helps people understand why they need treatment and what happens if they delay it.
1️⃣ Pain from Cavities (Dental Caries)
🟢 Treatment Options
Simple Filling
Used when the cavity is small
Restores tooth shape and stops pain
Materials: Composite (tooth-colored)
Quick, painless, and inexpensive
Onlay / Inlay / Crown
Needed when cavity is deep and has destroyed large tooth portion
️ If ignored
Pain becomes severe
Infection can reach the nerve → Root Canal required
2️⃣ Sensitivity Pain (Hot/Cold Pain)
🟢 Treatment Options
Desensitizing Toothpaste
Helps seal open tubules and reduces sensitivity in 2–6 weeks.
Fluoride Varnish Application
Strong protection for exposed roots and early enamel wear.
Bonding / Composite Coating on Exposed Roots
Covers the root surface and instantly reduces pain.
Gum Grafting (for severe gum recession)
Used when the gum has receded too much.
️ If ignored
Enamel keeps wearing
Sensitivity becomes long-lasting
Tooth may fracture or need RCT later
3️⃣ Sharp Pain / Pain on Biting
Usually because of:
cracked tooth
high points on a filling
trauma
early infection
🟢 Treatment Options
Adjustment of High Points
Quick fix done chairside.
Cracked Tooth Treatment
Minor crack → bonding
Moderate crack → crown
Deep crack → root canal
Nightguard if grinding is the cause
️ If ignored
Crack spreads
Tooth may split → extraction may be required
4️⃣ Severe Continuous Pain (Pulpitis)
This is nerve inflammation inside the tooth → very painful.
🟢 Treatment Options
Root Canal Treatment (RCT)
Removes the infected nerve
Relieves pain instantly
Saves the natural tooth
Followed by a crown for protection
Medicines (only supportive)
Antibiotics and painkillers do NOT cure the tooth — they only control symptoms.
️ If ignored
Swelling of face
Abscess
Fever
Emergency extraction
5️⃣ Gum Pain / Swelling
Usually from gingivitis, gum infection, or food lodgement.
🟢 Treatment Options
Scaling & Deep Cleaning
Removes plaque/tartar
Reduces inflammation
Stops bleeding gums
Gum Curettage / Laser Treatment
For severe gum infection pockets.
Antibiotics (only if needed)
️ If ignored
Gums recede
Teeth loosen
Bone loss
Bad breath becomes permanent
6️⃣ Pain from Wisdom Teeth
Wisdom teeth often cause infection or pressure pain.
🟢 Treatment Options
OPG X-ray
To check position.
Cleaning & Medication
For mild pericoronitis.
Wisdom Tooth Extraction
If tilted, infected, or without space.
️ If ignored
Repeated infections
Swelling
Trismus (mouth can’t open)
Spread of infection
7️⃣ Pain from Jaw Joint (TMJ Pain)
Comes from stress, grinding, trauma, or incorrect bite.
🟢 Treatment Options
Nightguard / Splint Therapy
Protects teeth & relaxes joint.
Physiotherapy
Heat therapy, stretching, jaw exercises.
Stress Management
Sleep hygiene, relaxation, posture correction.
Bite Correction (if needed)
Minor adjustments by the dentist.
️ If ignored
Chronic jaw pain
Clicking and locking
Headaches
Muscle fatigue
8️⃣ Pain After Dental Treatment
Common and temporary.
Management
Mild pain after filling → normal for 1–2 days
Root canal sensitivity → normal for 3–5 daysExtraction pain → managed with cold compress + meds
Avoid chewing hard foods until healed
If pain increases after 3–4 days
Return for review — could be infection or high bite.