Tonight certainly wasn’t the first time I have felt the pain of a toothache, but I could not figure out why it was hurting. The tooth hasn’t been the least bit sore, which for me is a sign trouble is coming. I get up, walk into the bathroom and take a look. Of course, the filling had fallen out and I assume I swallowed it in my sleep. Since I have a bad habit of clinching my teeth while asleep, I’m positive this was the culprit.

I took three Advil, rinsed my mouth with a mixture of peroxide and water-nothing was working. So off to Rite Aid I went, since I wasn’t in the mood to fight the late night crowd at Wal-Mart. The two products I have used in the past are Dentemp OS and Baby Orajel. Oddly enough, the Baby Orajel works better. Dentemp works wonders because for one, it’s easy to use and you can eat on it after letting it set for 30 minutes. This is one of the best products to use if it’s going to take a day or two to get an appointment with your dentist, since it prevents air and particles from irritating the nerve and gum of the tooth the filling came from. You can also use it to temporairly cement loose crowns.

The product has been tested and approved by the FDA and my dentist said he told other patients to use it if an appointment could not be made immediately. Although it’s only temporary dental repair, I can say I have had it in for up to two weeks with no problems. Remember, though, a toothache is serious, infection can set in, so as soon as you start feeling the pain, contact your dentist. Unfortunately, I no longer have a dentist and no insurance of any kind, so I haven’t a clue as to what I’m going to do.