Dryden
Brown Ltd
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TRAVEL
HEALTH
TOOTH & MOUTH PROBLEMS
Toothache
Toothache is generally the result of tooth decay which is
often caused by poor dental hygiene, although the tendency
to suffer tooth decay is partly inherited. Pain from other
locations can be felt in the teeth (health professionals
call this referred pain or radiating pain).
Common causes:
Earache.
Injury to the jaw or mouth.
A heart attack can also result in jaw pain, neck pain, or
toothache.
Sinusitis (inflamed air passages in the skull that surround
the nose).
Over the counter (OTC) pain medications may be used
while waiting to see the dentist:
PARACETAMOL 1gram every four to six hours (maximum
4g in 24 hours).
SOLUBLE ASPIRIN 600 to 900mg every four hours (maximum
3600mg in 24 hours). Soluble Aspirin is not suitable
for children under 16 years old.
IBUPROFEN 200 to 600mg every four hours (maximum 2400mg
in 24 hours). Paracetamol may be used together with
either Aspirin or Ibuprofen taken at the same time
or separated by two hours so that breakthrough pain
is covered.
FIXED
READY- MADE COMBINATIONS ARE EXPENSIVE AND ALTHOUGH
HEAVILY MARKETED ARE NOT RECOMMENDED AS THEY REDUCE
YOUR CONTROL OF SELF MEDICATION
Try a warm flannel or ice pack, either or both can
help reduce pain.
Oil of Cloves is an old fashioned 'local' anaesthetic
which numbs the tooth and is very effective.
TEETHING GELS or local anaesthetic GELS can also be
bought for this purpose.
For toothaches caused by a tooth abscess the dentist
may recommend antibiotic therapy and other treatments.
When travelling abroad we would advise that you politely
decline any proper dentistry until you return to your
own dentist (unless your absence is a long one). If
in doubt phone your own dentist.
Call a dentist
if:
There is a persistent (longer than a day or two) or
severe toothache.
There is a fever, earache or pain upon opening the
mouth wide.
Note: if the problem is caused by pain from
another location of the body, you may need to contact
a doctor.
To order
your copy of a What should I do? booklet
use one of the following methods:
On-line
Shop
Phone: +44 (0) 23 8022
9041
Fax: +44 (0) 23
8022 7274
 
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