Toothaches are a pain in the jaw—literally. The level of pain can range from moderate to unbearable. An abscess, cavity, infection or loose filling are all potential causes of tooth pain, but whatever the cause may be, a trip to the dentist is in order as soon as possible. Until you can get an appointment, however, these home remedies can help alleviate the pain and make life bearable in the meantime.
Salt Water Rinse
Add about half a teaspoon of salt to approximately eight ounces of room temperature water. Swish around the mixture in your mouth vigorously, then spit it out.This process cleans the mouth and removes debris from between the teeth. The salt water rinse also helps to pull out some of the fluids that cause swelling. Use this treatment as often as you like.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Diluted hydrogen peroxide is a great mouthwash, especially if you think your toothache is the result of some sort of infection. Use a three percent hydrogen peroxide solution, swish it around in your mouth for about 30 seconds, and spit it out. Rinse your mouth thoroughly after each use, rinsing and spitting several times to ensure there is no residual hydrogen peroxide in your mouth.
Ginger Cayenne Paste
Mix a teaspoon of powdered ginger and a teaspoon of cayenne pepper with just enough water to make a thick paste. Place the paste directly on the hurting tooth itself for a natural, warming pain reliever. You’ll want to avoid getting the paste on your tongue or gums because the concoction can burn and irritate sensitive skin.
Clove Oil
Like the ginger cayenne paste, you’ll want to be careful not to get clove oil on your gums, cheeks, or tongue. Put a few drops on a cotton ball or a Q-Tip and apply directly to the affected tooth. Clove oil has anesthetic and anti-inflammatory elements that numb your toothache, fight infection, and kill bacteria
Ice & Cold Compress
Apply a cold compress or an ice pack to the jaw in the area of the toothache. The cold compress will soothe the pain and reduce swelling. The ice pack will numb the nerves that are causing your discomfort for a temporary relief. An old folk medicine trick is to put ice between the thumb and forefinger of your hand on the same side as the toothache for quick relief. WebMD stated that this old method actually works because extreme cold inhibits pain signals from sending messages to your brain.
Tea Bag Treatment
A cold or frozen tea bag can have a similar effect to the external application of an ice pack or cold compress. The tea bag, however, should be placed directly on the tooth. A chilled peppermint tea bag is definitely the way to go for a sore tooth, as peppermint has a natural numbing effect.
Myrrh Rinse
Myrrh is a powerful astringent and bacteria killer and a great natural mouth rinse when you are experiencing dental discomfort. Bring two cups of water to a slow boil or simmer. Add one teaspoon of powdered myrrh, and let it stand for 30 minutes before straining and allowing the liquid to cool to room temperature. Reader’s Digest recommends rinsing “with 1 teaspoon of the solution in a half-cup water five to six times a day.”
Tooth pain is a ridiculous beast. Being stuck with that pain and not having the time or money to go to a dentist is an awful situation to be in. Hopefully, you are never in that situation, but if you are, these home remedies will at least provide you with some temporary relief until you can get to a dentist. Don’t put it off for long, though. These remedies are only intended for short-term treatment.
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Sources: [Best Health Mag, Everyday Health, Livestrong, Reader’s Digest, WebMD]
