If you have a pounding headache and a throbbing sensation in your mouth accompanied by soreness and tenderness you have got a very common problem: a toothache. Visit your dentist ASAP, but until you can get there, there happens to be many home remedies you can try to help ease the pain in the meantime.
Saltwater Rinses can work great as an at-home remedy to help ease toothache pains. Simply mix ½ teaspoon of salt with 8 oz. of warm water and swish it around in your mouth. DO NOT SWALLOW IT! Gently floss around the tooth to remove any bits of food applying pressure that may make the pain even worse.
OTC Pain Relievers are a great way to help relieve pain with over-the-counter medicine till you can get to the dentist. If you don’t have any OTC Pain Relievers around try ibuprofen. Choose aspirin for young children. If choosing aspirin be sure to take the aspirin like normal, and swallow the medication. Do not rest the aspirin on the tooth or rest it between the cheek and the tooth as leaving the aspirin on the tooth for too long can cause severe damage to the tooth due to the ingredients in the medication.
Cold Compresses are especially helpful if your face is swollen or puffy. Placing an ice pack on your cheek can help easer pain. If you have severe swelling you may also have a dental abscess inside your mouth. If you see pus or fluid coming out of the abscess you may have an infection in the abscess. This can also infect the gums and other teeth around the abscess as well as the gums there, too.
OTC Anesthetics are also pain-relieving gels or liquids that re applied directly to the tooth and nearby the gum area. Many will contain benzocaine which will help numb the mouth temporarily. These are for short-term use only.
Ice can help numb the area around the tooth area till you can get some dental treatment done to it. Simply tuck ice between the tooth and cheek to let it melt and help numb or dull the pain in the area. Ice is also believing to stop pain signals from going to the brain and helps till you can get to the dentist.
Clove Oil is a 100% natural remedy that is rubbed directly onto the sore area. Suggestions in some studies show that it may be as or more effective than benzocaine.
Oil Pulling is an ancient Hindu practice of swishing sunflower or sesame seed oil in one’s mouth. Sometimes studies have suggested that it helps relieve gingivitis, but it is not determined to treat toothaches yet. More studies need to be done before anything is definitively determined.
Garlic when crushed can release allicin which is an oily liquid and a natural disease fighter. However, some people claim it relieves aches and others say it doesn’t. Chewing a piece of garlic will do your body no harm. Cut it up and place it on the tooth! It’s safe if consumed as well.
Hydrogen Peroxide is a common remedy – in fact there is probably a bottle sitting in your medicine cabinet right now. It may or may not ease the toothache, but it will keep the area clean till you get to the dentist. Mix it with a 50% solution of water. The full-strength version of hydrogen peroxide can harm your teeth.
If you have any questions regarding this article contact us or call 909-465-1016.
The Ramona Dentistry Family
“Where Family Comes First”