Aside from gallstones and giving birth, a toothache can be some of the worst pain you ever encounter. Add in the fact that it can come at any point (during the night, on vacation etc) and it quickly becomes evident that a toothache home remedy guide is a good idea! Especially if you don’t want (or can’t) keep popping pills until you get to the dentist.
Before we start the guide, let’s talk seriously for a second. Most toothaches won’t go away until you see a professional and get treatment. In some cases, such as an abscess, you need to visit a dentist as soon as you can. Failure to do so could lead to serious infection and in some cases can lead to sepsis. Learn the symptoms of an abscess and get treatment as soon as you can.
The toothache home remedy guide listed below will probably not cure your toothache. It will only give you temporary pain relief and you should visit a dentist as soon as you can. Having said that, let’s take a look at the best solutions out there.
Toothache Home Remedy – The Best Solutions
Salt Water – This one has been around seemingly forever! All you need to do is mix a heaped spoon of salt and a glass of warm water together. Once fully dissolved, swill it around your mouth, concentrating on the area that hurts. Then spit it out. Keep repeating until the pain goes down. This saline solution is great for cleaning out infections and should help to manage the pain and reduce inflammation.
Hydrogen Peroxide – Available from your local pharmacy. Again, swill it around your mouth before spitting it out.
Spices – Vanilla extract, peppermint extract, almond extract and even citrus will work wonders to control your pain and inflammation. These all work by killing the bacteria responsible for your infection. Dab straight onto the affected area multiple times a day.
Alcohol – A strong spirit such as whiskey, vodka or brandy will help to cleanse the area and kill germs. And with this one, if you swallow after swilling around your mouth, you get an extra helping hand due to the numbing effect of alcohol!
Strong Mouthwash – Works similar to the above by cleansing the area. But you don’t get to drink it after.
Ice Pack – The numbing effects of a pack of ice are well-known and will help to lower the inflammation. Place ice inside a towel and hold against your cheek. You could also use ice inside your mouth to really pinpoint the pain. However, a word of caution is needed. If the pain is caused by an exposed nerve, this will cause more pain than you had originally.
Tea Bags – The tannins present in tea can have a numbing effect. To use this method, make a cup of tea and then place the still warm teabag in your mouth against the affected area. Just don’t let it rip as it will taste and feel awful!
Cloves – This method has existed even longer than the salt water one. Take a few cloves and a splash of olive oil and make it into a paste. Smear it on the affected area and leave it to take effect.
Potato – Yes, a potato. This remedy is said to be most effective with an abscess. Place a piece of peeled ram potato on the affected area and leave it there. This will help to drain the pus and reduce the swelling. Interestingly, potato does contain properties considered to be antiseptic due to the alkaline content and will help to clean the area at the least.
Baking Soda – The antimicrobial properties present in baking soda will help to alleviate a toothache. It has a high pH level and works as a disinfectant and is especially good against the streptococcus mutans bacteria. Which is commonly found in the mouths of people with poor teeth health or those with tooth decay.
Toothache Home Remedy – Tips and Advice
There are other home remedies that do not seem to have any effect and are essentially old wives tales. However, the worst of the bunch has to be putting aspirin against the affected area. This will burn your gums and corrode your teeth. If you want an aspirin to help manage your pain, swallow it as normal.
Brushing your teeth (gently) can also bring some relief to the affected area.
If your pain is unbearable and there is no dentist available to you, call your local hospital. They will more than likely have a dentist there that will treat you. It won’t be free but it’s better to get treatment, especially before the infection has chance to spread.
Sometimes, a toothache can actually be your sinuses. This referred pain can be eased by taking a decongestant. And let’s face it, if you have tried everything else, what do you have to lose?