Toothaches can be crippling.
It is estimated that as many as 15 million working days are lost annually in the US due to toothaches.
Many causes can contribute to tooth pain, so consulting a dentist is always the best option in such cases. However, until then, there are many remedies you can do at home to alleviate a toothache first.
The quickest is to reach your medicine cabinet and grab a Tylenol or Advil. However, we’ve put together a list of practical home remedies for toothaches, so you can give them a go before going for the dental consultation.
Understanding the Causes of Toothaches
There are many causes of tooth pain, some of which you may be unaware of are:
- Issues with your teeth and gums
- Tooth decay
- Infections
- Periodontal disease
- Tooth trauma
- Crown pain
- Erupting teeth
- Cracked or loose fillings, and many more.
When to seek professional help for a toothache
You need to seek professional help if the pain is severe and intolerable. You may attempt a few at-home treatments first.
I’ve listed a few concerning pain signals below that you should be aware of:
- Swelling
- Severe pain
- Pus or discharge
- Infected tooth
- Bleeding gums
- Difficulty opening your mouth
- Broken tooth
- Problem in chewing
6 Home Remedies for Toothache Relief
Home remedies can help with tooth pain relief before you visit the dentist. There are several doable and tried-and-true home remedies to try at home, few are mentioned below:
Salt water rinse for toothache relief
You can get rid of germs effectively with Saltwater, which is known as a very effective way to treat toothaches.
Salt water rinse raises the pH level in your mouth, creating an alkaline environment that combats infection and disease.
How to use:
Just mix half a teaspoon of salt with some warm water and gargle with it.
You can do this process twice a day as it doesn’t have any side effects.
What are the benefits:
Saltwater reduces inflammation in the mouth and raises the pH level, which fights oral sores, sore throats, toothaches, and other serious diseases.
Honey & Warm Water
Honey is well-known for its antibacterial characteristics, which restrict the growth of bacteria in your mouth and can relieve toothache.
How to use:
To cure toothache, take 1 tablespoon of honey, mix it with warm water, and use it to rinse your mouth.
What are the benefits:
The antiseptic hydrogen peroxide in honey will ease your toothache, and the honey’s antibacterial characteristics will limit the growth of bacteria in your mouth, which prevents your mouth from another sort of infection.
Turmeric
Turmeric is commonly found in homes and has potent anti-inflammatory and antibacterial qualities, which is why it is used as a tooth pain reliever in home remedies.
How to use:
Turmeric can help with tooth pain in two different ways.
- Mix turmeric with warm water to make a paste, then apply it to the affected area.
- Make a mixture of warm milk and turmeric powder; then, drink it.
What are the benefits:
Turmeric contains curcumin, a compound with anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects; therefore, it is an effective remedy to ease your pain of toothaches and other types of pain.
Desensitizing toothpaste
Sensodyne Cool Gel, a desensitizing toothpaste, is a good option to try for easing toothache at home.
It is readily available at any local pharmacy. Dental professionals also recommend this toothpaste.
How to use:
This desensitizing toothpaste (Sensodyne Cool Gel, toothpaste) can be directly applied to the affected area or you can brush with it twice a day.
What are the benefits:
Desensitizing toothpaste like Sensodyne blocks tooth-to-nerve pain spread.
Plus, it has numerous other benefits for your oral health, hence it comes highly recommended by professionals.
Pain medication for toothache relief
If the discomfort is too much to bear, you can take painkillers for some time.
This is just a temporary relief, not a permanent one.
How to use:
Painkillers such as aspirin, ibuprofen, or acetaminophen can be taken to relieve the pain temporarily as recommended on the package.
What are the benefits:
These medicines are only effective for the short term because they can only relieve pain temporarily, allowing your pain to subside a bit before you visit the dentist.
Cold compress Ice Pack for toothache relief
Ice is a potent pain reliever, as it numbs the pain in the affected area and alleviates the cause of the pain.
How to use:
You can apply an icepack to the affected area or wrap an ice cube in any cloth and place it on the affected area for 10 to 15 minutes until it melts completely.
What are the benefits:
The ice constricts the blood vessels, which reduces pain.
7 Natural Remedies for Toothache Relief
There are a lot of natural remedies that work wonders for toothaches; they’re inexpensive, easy to get, and you can try them out for yourself.
Peppermint Tea Bags
The analgesic and anti-inflammatory qualities of peppermint make it a popular magical plant for relieving toothache.
How to use:
Dip a peppermint tea bag in warm water, let it cool, and then apply to the cheeks near the affected area.
You can also freeze the tea bag and use it the same way when it’s cold.
What are the benefits:
Peppermint contains numbing, soothing, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory effects which will numb the pain and reduce it immediately.
These qualities of peppermint work together to prevent the growth of bacteria, improve oral health, and alleviate pain.
Hydrogen Peroxide Rinse
Hydrogen Peroxide can be used for many purposes including toothache. It is usually recommended to use it for tooth infections rather than just for pain.
How to use:
You need to combine 3% hydrogen peroxide and water equally, then gargle the mixture for approximately 30 seconds, and then spew it.
Important note: The product is a chemical, so it is important to exercise caution when using it, such as: don’t swallow it keep it away from children, and don’t let it get in your eyes.
What are the benefits:
It is replete with anti-bacterial properties, it prevents plaque buildup, combat bacteria in the mouth, and helps in healing bleeding tooth or gum.
Clove Oil
Clove oil is a popular natural treatment for toothache pain because it contains eugenol, an ingredient with anesthetic and antibacterial properties.
How to use:
There are two methods to use clove oil for pain relief:
- To treat the sore spot in your mouth, soak a cotton swab in clove oil and then dab it there.
- Take clove oil in some olive oil mix it, and use it as a mouthwash.
What are the benefits:
Clove oil is quite good for a variety of reasons. It includes eugenol, which can help numb pain, reduce swelling, and prevent germs in the mouth.
Garlic
Garlic contains antioxidants and anti-inflammatory qualities, which play a role in reducing discomfort and swelling in your mouth.
How to use:
Garlic can help with tooth discomfort in two ways.
- Make chopped garlic paste and apply it to your tooth, or, if you prefer or, can, then chew the garlic slowly so it doesn’t hurt your teeth.
- For more effective effects, add a pinch of salt to your garlic paste and apply it to the problem area.
What are the benefits:
Garlic has numerous benefits, including antimicrobial and antibacterial characteristics that kill germs and prevent infections from spreading in your mouth.
The anti-inflammatory qualities of garlic help to reduce the swelling.
Guava Leaves
Guava leaves are also an effective natural cure; however, as it is a seasonal fruit, it is not available year-round.
But if you have a toothache during Guava season, you can use it to relieve the pain.
How to use:
You can chew on guava leaves to ease a toothache or boil them, let them cool, and then use the mixture as the mouthwash.
What are the benefits:
Guava leaves include plenty of anti-inflammatory compounds, which are excellent for dental health and can alleviate toothaches.
Preventing Toothaches
If you want to keep your mouth healthy and free of cavities, bad breath, and other oral health issues.
Brush your teeth twice a day with desensitizing toothpaste and get your teeth scaled occasionally to remove tartar, calculus, debris, and plaque.
This will stop the germs from growing, and you won’t have to deal with any pain or discomfort.
It is recommended that you get regular dental checkups to keep your oral health in check, maintain your hygiene, and seek any necessary care.
What to expect during a dental appointment for a toothache?
If the pain is intolerable and cannot be relieved with any of the home or natural therapies, it is time to see a dentist.
You may expect a thorough chat with your dentist, who will ask pertinent questions to determine the reason for your pain and will inform you about common causes of tooth pain.
While you see your dentist for dental appointments, you can anticipate the following:
A full discussion of your medical history and the symptoms you’ve been experiencing, including how long they’ve lasted and how severe the toothache is right now
Your dentist will perform an oral examination at the clinic to check whether you can bite properly and if you have any sore and affected teeth, gums, infections, or loose fillings that may be causing pain.
Your dentist will most likely recommend X-RAYS to determine what is causing the pain.
The dentist will check your oral health and recommend possible treatments, procedures, time duration, and fees.
Conclusion
Many people who have experienced toothaches have found relief using all of the above natural and home remedies.
For many people, dental visits are particularly expensive, especially if they do not have dental insurance. However, these solutions are both inexpensive and efficient for treating all types of tooth pain.
Test out the solutions and see which one(s) is most effective for you.
If the discomfort does not subside, it is advised that you see a dentist right away for a thorough examination.
