It’s the middle day of a holiday weekend and your tooth is throbbing. It could be a loose filling, a cracked or abscessed tooth, or even a sinus infection. If there is an infection present, the toothache may be accompanied by a fever and/or a foul taste in the mouth.
The answering service at the dentist office reports he is out of town, unreachable, but has a substitute dentist available and offers the contact information. You could go to the drugstore and buy a “toothache kit” pain reliever. Or maybe an ice bag. You already feel miserable, and, pretty soon you know you are going to whine enough that everyone else is going to feel as miserable as you. As you mull over the options, you could also go online and seek out “natural remedies for a toothache”, or simply read this blog post, because once you do, you’ll wonder why you didn’t have these items on hand as a “fixer upper” for that throbbing pain before this.
While a consultation with a top dentist is the ideal, it is not always an option. Although we recommend that you at least try to contact a top dentist for advice prior to trying an at home remedy.
Natural Solutions For a Toothache
Salt water – A teaspoon of salt dissolved in a cup of boiling water makes a pain-killing mouthwash which will clean away irritating debris and help reduce swelling. Simply swish some saltwater around in your mouth for about thirty seconds before spitting it out. The salt water cleanses the area around the tooth and draws out some of the fluid that causes swelling. Repeat this treatment as often as needed.
3% Hydrogen peroxide – A medicine cabinet staple for cuts and scrapes, hydrogen peroxide will zap the bacteria present in your oral dilemma and help to relieve some of the discomfort, if any . Simply swish a mouthful of 3% hydrogen peroxide solution around in your mouth to prevent the infection from becoming worse until your dentist can see you and determine the cause of the problem. Remember not to swallow the hydrogen peroxide, merely swish it around in your mouth a few times, and spit out the rest, followed by rinsing several times with plain water.
Ice – Ice is nice and also a surefire solution to relieve a throbbing tooth. Simply place a small ice cube in a plastic bag, wrap a thin cloth around the bag, and apply it to the aching tooth for about 15 minutes to numb the nerves. An alternative is to place that ice pack onto your cheek to numb the pain of the throbbing tooth. Work some magic on that painful tooth, by using a folklore remedy. i.e. massage your hand with an ice cube. When the nerves in your fingers send “cold” signals to your brain, they may override the pain signals coming from your tooth. Simply wrap up an ice cube in a thin cloth, then massage it in the fleshy area between your thumb and forefinger.
Chewing gum – If you have broken a tooth, or, you have lost a filling, a temporary “fix” for the pain is to cover the exposed area with softened chewing gum. Simply hold the gum in place until you can see a professional, and will help the pain immensely. To avoid further discomfort, avoid chewing anything with that tooth until you can have it repaired.
Some Other Suggestions
Peppermint tea – It’s got a minty flavor and packs some numbing power. Simply place 1 teaspoon of dried peppermint leaves in 1 cup of boiling water and steep for 20 minutes. After the tea cools, swish it around in your mouth, then spit it out or swallow it.
Black tea – The astringent tannins in strong black tea may help diminish pain by reducing swelling. This is another folk remedy, which suggests placing a warm, wet tea bag against the affected tooth for temporary relief.
Clove oil – Cloves are a traditional remedy for numbing nerves. The primary chemical compound of this spice is eugenol, which is considered to be a natural anesthetic. But, there is a caveat involved when using clove oil for pain … simply pouring the oil on the aching area will increase the pain, and it can actually worsen the pain if you get it on sensitive gum tissue or on your tongue. The best way to use clove oil for a throbbing tooth, is to put two drops of clove oil on a cotton ball and place it against the tooth itself until the pain recedes. In a pinch, use a bit of powdered clove or place a whole clove on the tooth. Chew the whole clove a little to release its oil and by keeping it in place for at least 30 minutes, or until the pain subsides.
Whatever method you choose to quell your toothache pain, remember that it is only a stopgap measure and you should see a professional as quickly as possible.
