When You Should Avoid Ice to Remedy a Dental Pain Problem
Posted on 8/23/2021 by San Francisco Dental Arts
If you are experiencing a dental issue, reaching for ice makes sense as a temporary means of controlling the pain.
However, there are some situations where an ice pack will render relief, and other situations where ice will not benefit your teeth.
Ice Can Be Helpful for a Toothache
It is a good idea to apply a cold compress or ice pack on the outside of your cheek if you're experiencing dental pain.
A toothache, due to injury, is a great time to grab an ice pack. This is an excellent way to keep tooth pain under control. It is immediate and effective.
If you don't have an ice pack, you can grab a bag of frozen vegetables and place them against the side of the face where your dental pain originates.
You might want to put a cloth between your cold compress and your cheek.
Don't Use Ice in This Way
Equally important, is the knowledge of how to use ice. Using a cold compress, or an ice pack, is not beneficial in every dental situation.
For instance, if you chew on a piece of ice hoping to deaden some pain, you could damage your enamel. The enamel on your teeth is the outer coating, and the only protection for your tooth.
By chewing ice you could chip a tooth, or crack it, or even break the tooth. If the tooth has a crown or filling, chewing ice could break those dental interventions as well.
Call for Your Appointment
If you have any pain in your mouth it would be best to call our office right away to make an appointment so we can help you feel better and treat the dental issue.
San Francisco Dental Arts, 220 Montgomery St Ste. 825, San Francisco, CA 94104 / 415-854-9396 / thesfdentist.com / 12/4/2024 / Tags: dentist San Francisco CA /