Toothache is relatively frequent in pregnancy and can appear suddenly and last for hours or days, affecting the tooth, the jaw and even causing head and ear pain, when the pain is very severe. It is important that as soon as the pain arises, the pregnant woman goes to the dentist so that she can identify the cause and start treatment if necessary.
Generally, toothache in pregnancy is caused by increased tooth sensitivity and gingivitis, which is inflammation of the gums, which is common during this stage. But the pain can also be related to other causes like broken tooth, abscess or growing wisdom tooth.
What to do to relieve toothache in pregnancy
To relieve toothache in pregnancy what you can do is:
- Use anesthetics like Paracetamol or Ibuprofen every 8 hours. Although some medications are able to cross the placental barrier, they are not related to effects on the baby, however it is important that its use is indicated by the dentist. Other anesthetics, such as Benzocaine, for example, can bring serious complications to the baby, as it can decrease placental circulation, preventing enough oxygen from reaching the baby, which can cause the baby to die. Mouthwashing with warm water and salt helps to relieve pain, in addition to being safe for pregnant women; Use toothpaste for sensitive teeth, such as Sensodyne or Colgate Sensitive, however it is recommended that the toothpaste does not contain fluorine or that it contains few amounts, as excess fluoride can decrease the absorption of essential minerals for pregnancy, which can bring complications for the baby; Apply ice, protected with a cloth, on the face, as it helps to relieve pain and discomfort.
Although going to the dentist is a delicate subject for many pregnant women and dentists, it is very important that the woman continues with the regular visit to the dentist so that the health of the mouth is maintained. When the treatment recommended by the dentist is done as directed, there is no risk to the mother or baby.
It is important that the pregnant woman goes to the dentist as soon as she feels toothache to check the cause and, thus, start the treatment or perform cleaning, filling, root canal treatment or tooth extraction, which are treatments that can also be performed during pregnancy. The dentist can also recommend the use of antibiotics if they see a need, and the use of Amoxicillin, Ampicillin or antibiotics of the macrolide class may be indicated, these drugs being safe during pregnancy.
Natural remedy for toothache
To relieve toothache at home, you can chew 1 clove or mouthwash with apple and propolis tea, as they have an anti-inflammatory effect. In addition, a good natural remedy for toothache is to apply a parsley compress to the affected tooth, as it has anti-inflammatory properties that can help relieve toothache.
Main causes of toothache
Generally, toothache is caused by the presence of caries in a tooth, especially when oral hygiene is not done properly. However, there are other causes for toothache that include:
- Gingivitis: An inflammation caused by an increase in progesterone in pregnancy, which leads to bleeding during tooth brushing; Broken tooth: the crack of the tooth may not be visible to the naked eye, but it can cause pain in contact with hot or cold food; Abscess: causes a swelling in the mouth due to infection of a tooth or gum; Wisdom tooth: causes inflammation of the gums and is usually accompanied by head and ear pain.
When the toothache does not go away, the person should consult a dentist, as it may be necessary to take medicines such as antibiotics, to treat the infection or to clean, fill, root canal or extract the tooth. The causes of toothache can cause serious injuries to the pulp of the tooth and, in these cases, it is necessary to have the root canal of the tooth treated at the dentist.
