When performing a filling, the dentist will remove the decayed area of the tooth, clean around it, then fill in the area that he has removed with a special material that will cater to the shape and form of the tooth. Fillings work by closing out the area where the bacteria enters into teeth, helping to prevent any type of decay in the future. Once you have help it in your mouth a minute or so, you should either swallow it or spit it out. Tinctures are natural remedies that use herbs and alcohol to massage the affected area and stop the pain by numbing the nerves of the tooth that is causing you so much pain. The best way to deal with toothache is to put out the fire. In most cases, the numbing shots will work very well with one or two applications. If you are already in pain when you visit the dentist, the shots will put your mind at ease and stop the pain almost immediately. If you have a tremendous fear of dental pain and simply cannot stand the thought of getting a shot, then you may be interested in laughing gas or IV sedation. In most cases, if the problem goes without being checked, it can lead to serious trouble and maybe even become a life threatening situation. Normally, when you have a toothache, you ll experience tremendous pain. The pain will stem from the affected tooth or the jaw, and you ll know it almost immediately. If you do have periodontal disease, your dentist can tell you how to stop the progression and prevent things from getting any worse than they already are. To be on the safe side and protect your teeth and your gums, you should always go to the dentist for your regular checkups and cleaning. If you catch it in time, your dentist will be able to help you treat the earlier stages of gum disease. During the procedure, he will numb the area then drill a hole into the tooth. Using various tools and equipment, he will go down inside of the tooth and scrape away the nerves and dead pulp. This is a very effective procedure, although very time consuming as well. In most cases, a root canal can take several hours, although it is the only way to stop the dying pulp and save the tooth.