TOOTHACHE
Dental pain is usually caused by irritation or infection of the tooth pulp (its inner area) due to tooth decay or filling loss, for example. The pulp infection may spread through the root of the tooth to the surrounding tissues, causing severe pain, swelling and development of an abscess with pus (dental phlegmon) and fever. In the particular case of a painful wisdom tooth, there may be difficulty when opening the mouth. In other circumstances, the pain may be due to bad fitting of dental prosthesis.
In case of plain dental pain, without swelling symptoms, a pain-killer may be given to the patient, such as paracetamol or acetyl salicylic acid 500 mg. every six hours. If it does not ease, a stronger one such as a metamizole ampoule or tablet (DRAWER 3, first aid kits A, B and C) may be given. It is advisable to chew on the other side of the mouth, and food and drinks ingested should be lukewarm.
If there are signs of dental infection, as well as the analgesic treatment the patient should be advised to use a warm mouthwash solution (a fourth of a teaspoon of salt in 200 ml.of warm water), with hexetidine (DRAWER 7, first aid kits A and B) or diluted oxygenated water (DRAWER 14, first aid kits A and B), for five minutes three or four times a day.
If these measures are not enough, and the pain is unbearable, try a local dental anaesthetic on the painful site (DRAWER 9, first aid kits A and B).
If the pain and swelling ease, the mouth washings must continue until the patient is seen by a dentist. If they do not ease, ask for MEDICAL ADVICE VIA RADIO .
Try to avoid using prosthesis as long as the wounds have not healed. In all cases, correct dental hygiene must be followed.