Toothache pain: behavioral impact and self-care strategies.
A computer-assisted telephone interview in Maryland of adults who had low income and were Hispanic, Black, and White and who had experienced a toothache during the previous 12 months was conducted. Respondents reported a high prevalence of toothaches, with 44.3% having experienced more than five toothaches during the preceding 10 years. Pain intensity associated with the most recent toothache was high with 45.1% of the respondents reporting the highest pain possible. Pain interfered with many aspects of normal functioning. Self-care strategies generally took precedence over professional health services. Pain sufferers used a combination of self-care and formal care strategies. Initial strategies most often focused on nonprescription medicines(home remedies and prayer. The majority of respondents ultimately sought pain relief from a dentist. We identified a number of significant differences in the strategies used across racial/ethnic groups.
Cohen
Leonard A
LA
Department of Health Promotion and Policy, University of Maryland Dental School, Maryland, USA. lacohen@umaryland.edu
Bonito
Arthur J
AJ
Akin
Donald R
DR
Manski
Richard J
RJ
Macek
Mark D
MD
Edwards
Robert R
RR
Cornelius
Llewellyn J
LJ
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003729:Dental Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D029221:Faith Healing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008396:Maryland / Q000453:epidemiology; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D008875:Middle Aged; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011203:Poverty / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015995:Prevalence; D012648:Self Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014098:Toothache / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
D004366:Nonprescription Drugs