Have a Toothache? Here Are Four Home Remedies!

A toothache is a dental emergency characterized by sharp, throbbing tooth pain and is usually caused by infection. If left untreated, it can lead to tooth loss or potentially fatal secondary infections. If you are unfortunate enough to develop one, your primary concern should be scheduling an emergency dentist appointment so the pain can be treated and the tooth can be saved. Here are four home remedies to help keep you comfortable while you are waiting for your appointment.

Use an Ice Pack

Colder temperatures can dull pain by reducing your nerves’ reaction times, and ice is often the go-to solution for at-home pain relief. If you have a toothache, you can treat it with ice in several ways. One option is to hold ice water in your mouth for a few seconds while making sure not to chew on it. Another is to wrap ice in a towel and hold it against the cheek over the aching tooth for about fifteen minutes at a time.

Over-the-Counter Pain Relief

Toothaches generally result from infection of the pulp, which is a tooth’s innermost layer. When the pulp becomes inflamed due to infection, the pressure of the swelling distresses the nerves within. Common medicines you can buy at a pharmacy or grocery store like aspirin and ibuprofen can be quite effective at reducing the pain of a toothache because they specifically target inflammation. Alternating between these two medicines can increase the relief they provide by preventing your body from developing much tolerance to either one of them. Stores also sell topical gels specifically designed to treat toothaches.

Elevate Your Head

The pulp of a tooth also contains blood vessels, and the pressure they create by constantly swelling and subsiding within the inflamed tissue causes the miserable throbbing sensation that typically characterizes a toothache. You can keep this pressure at a minimum by keeping your head elevated, allowing gravity to reduce the force of the blood flow to the tooth.

Cotton and Clove Oil

Clove has antiseptic properties that make it useful for treating pain and inflammation. You can apply it to your afflicted tooth by putting clove oil on a cotton ball and holding it against the pained area. You can also apply a drop of the oil directly on the tooth or dilute a drop in a glass of water before using it to rinse your mouth.

An emergency dentist appointment is absolutely essential for treating a toothache, but you don’t need to suffer needlessly in the meantime. Knowing a few effective home remedies can save you a lot of stress and pain while you are waiting to receive professional dental care.

About the Author

Dr. Xinxing Liu earned her dental degree from the Nova Southeastern University College of Dental Medicine in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, and has practiced family dentistry for four years in Dallas, TX. Having much personal understanding of the value of corrective dental care, she strives to deliver the best and most comfortable oral health services available. Her office provides general, pediatric, cosmetic, restorative, and emergency dentistry. If you need to schedule an emergency dental appointment for a toothache, contact her office online or dial (469) 949-1993.