Oral pain can occur in various areas such as teeth, gums, roots, palate, tongue, and jaw. Cavities are one of the leading causes of oral pain, which can affect nerves due to infections of the tooth and gums. Impacted and abscessed teeth, as well as sore jaws from teeth grinding, can also cause discomfort.

Medications

Dental procedures such as tooth extractions and oral surgery can require medications to prevent or fight infections, and to relieve any post-operative discomfort and pain. It is crucial to follow the instructions for medication use provided by the dentist.

Managing Pain

There are many ways to relieve oral pain, such as using ice packs on the affected area, avoiding hard candy or ice, and not sleeping on your stomach. Dentists also use a variety of pain management tools, including anesthetics such as Novocaine and analgesics such as aspirin.

Anesthesia

Dentistry has progressed to the point where pain is almost non-existent. Powerful pain-killing medications known as anesthetics not only help patients avoid discomfort during a procedure, but also post-operatively. Children may require higher doses of anesthetic.

Air Abrasion

Air abrasion is a relatively new technique that uses powerful particles of aluminum oxide to remove debris and decay. Unlike traditional dental drills, air abrasion is less invasive and does not produce the same high-pitched whirring noise. Patients find this technique exciting as it minimizes discomfort during the procedure.