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A toothache is the last thing you wish to experience. However, it’s almost inevitable, one way or the other. If you’ve ever felt a very unpleasant and intense pain around your jaw, gums, or one of your teeth, you know what a nightmare a toothache can be.
Tooth pain is one of the major problems in both kids and adults. It’s among the most common complaints regarding oral and dental health. According to the CDC estimates, more than 40% of adults deal with toothache annually.
Though tooth pain is quite common, it can become a serious problem if left untreated, affecting your daily life, sleep, diet, etc. Fortunately, dental pain doesn’t necessarily mean you should see your dentist. Today, we’ll discuss the things you can do to relieve tooth pain without seeking professional assistance.
These quick, dentist-approved remedies allow you to treat your toothache from home by providing quick and temporary pain relief. Keep reading to learn more.
1. Cold compress
Inflammation is one of the most common causes of toothache. If your tooth pain is accompanied by swelling, apply a cold compress such as a bag of frozen fruits or vegetables or an ice pack over the painful area.
Wrap the cold compress in a napkin or a dish towel and hold it against your cheek or the outside of your face for 10–15 minutes. The cold temperature of the compress will cause a constriction of your blood vessels, reducing blood flow to the painful area.
A cold compress therapy medicates the affected tooth area, helping to bring down swelling and reduce pain. Remember that this method won’t work for severe pain caused by a broken tooth, tooth decay, or mouth injury. In such situations, you should seek an emergency dentist to address the discomfort and pain immediately.
2. Hot pack
If a clenched jaw causes you tooth pain, apply a hot pack to the affected area to get some much-needed relief. In most cases, the pack’s warmth promotes muscle relaxation across the jaw, helping to ease spasms and tension that might be intensifying the pain.
Anything warm wrapped up in a towel will do here. However, this home remedy won’t work for swelling caused by toothache. Your body sends more blood to the affected area in an attempt to heal it, causing swelling. Applying a hot pack to a swollen area can only cause further inflammation and more swelling.
3. Over-the-counter pain and anti-inflammation medication
If the above-mentioned remedies don’t give the desired results, you can reduce pain and inflammation for your toothache by taking a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). NSAID medications like naproxen and ibuprofen can provide instant relief from tooth pain. They can also help ease the swelling by promoting an anti-inflammatory effect.
NSAIDs prevent the production of prostaglandins in your body – the main substances responsible for inflammation and pain. When a toothache causes inflammation in the affected area, the inflamed tooth starts to ache, causing swelling.
NSAID can help you reduce that pain and decrease both inflammation and swelling. Both naproxen (Aleve) and ibuprofen (Advil) are available over-the-counter. Keep in mind that NSAIDs and OTC medications are just prevention methods.
They are not a long-term solution to your toothache problem. If the pain remains persistent, visit your local dentist for professional treatment.
4. Mouthwash or medicated oral gel
In addition to over-the-counter (OTC) medications, you can remedy dental pain using medicated mouthwashes and oral numbing gels. These remedies contain numbing agents like benzocaine, which is a local anesthetic.
You may temporarily relieve tooth pain by applying an oral gel to the affected area. Some of the most notable OTC numbing mouthwashes and gels include Anbesol and Orajel.
5. Warm salt water rinse
Saltwater rinses are among the best, most popular home remedies for relieving pains and aches, including tooth pain and other oral health problems. Ancient Roman and Egyptian cultures used warm saltwater to treat and alleviate gum disease.
Thanks to its natural antibacterial and analgesic properties, salt water can help ease the pain caused by food debris or particles stuck between teeth. If unremoved, stuck food can cause gum irritation, even infection, that can decay your teeth.
Mix a cup of warm water with a teaspoon of salt. Swish the salt water around in your mouth for about two minutes. Don’t swallow the mixture. You can also try a hydrogen peroxide oral rinse.
Hydrogen peroxide might temporarily relieve tooth pain due to its mild antiseptic properties. It can ease irritation, help prevent oral infections, promote healing, and keep your mouth clean. However, keep in mind that hydrogen peroxide can be harmful if ingested.
Quick home remedies for toothache
In addition to these five quick toothache remedies for dental pain, here are a couple more homemade tricks you can try to ease your toothache:
- Peppermint tea – placing a water-soaked bag of peppermint tea against the painful tooth may provide natural numbing properties and promote healing.
- Fresh garlic – since it’s rich in allicin, it can provide an anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effect, helping ease tooth pain.
- Clove oil – due to its eugenol content, it has natural anesthetic and antimicrobial properties that might help you alleviate toothache and reduce painful inflammation.
- Vanilla extract – rich in alcohol and antimicrobial properties- can temporarily relieve tooth pain by numbing the affected area.
These are all great options that many people swear by.
Conclusion
When dealing with tooth pain, it’s vital to ascertain the type and severity of pain that you’re experiencing. While these quick remedies can help you stop tooth pain to a certain degree, they only provide temporary relief. They are not a long-term solution to your oral problem.
These remedies can help when you’ve broken a tooth, lost a filling, or had sensitive gums. However, severe tooth pain caused by tooth decay, bacterial infections, or abscesses requires medical assistance. If your pain persists for several days, individuals and families can receive comprehensive dental health care from cosmetic and family dentists at Marvel Dental, which has three easily accessible locations in Fort Wayne and Huntington, Indiana. For patients of all ages, the office offers excellent general, cosmetic, pediatric, emergency, and preventative dentistry. Also know about Cataract surgery.
