TL;DR
-
Seek Professional Help: Contact a dentist if pain is persistent or not controlled by OTC meds. Seek immediate care if you have a fever, swelling, or difficulty breathing/swallowing.
-
OTC Medications: Use acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or naproxen. Topical numbing gels with benzocaine can provide short-term relief. (Do not rub aspirin on gums).
-
Cold Therapy: Apply an ice pack to the outside of the face or rub ice between your thumb and forefinger (same side as the pain) for about seven minutes to dull pain signals.
-
Oral Rinses: Use a warm saltwater rinse (1/2 tsp salt in 8oz water) or a mixture of equal parts water and hydrogen peroxide to clean the area.
-
Natural Remedies:
-
Clove Oil: Apply directly to the tooth for natural numbing.
-
Garlic Paste: Apply crushed garlic to the site for its antibacterial and pain-relieving properties.
-
Thyme Oil: Use a few drops in water as a mouthwash or apply diluted to a cotton ball.
-
Peppermint: Apply a warm or cold peppermint tea bag to the sore area for mild numbing.
-
Guava Leaves: Chew fresh leaves or use a boiled leaf rinse for anti-inflammatory benefits.
-
Persistent Toothache
Having tooth pain can be very uncomfortable. It may affect how you eat and significantly disrupt your sleep. While we are here to help with acute pain, if your sleep is frequently interrupted by snoring or breathing issues, our team also serves as a specialized sleep apnea dentist near you to help you get the rest you need. Try to monitor your toothache over a 24 hour period. You should most definitely contact a dentist near you if you have a toothache that is persistent and not controlled by over-the-counter pain medication. If those symptoms are combined with a fever, headache, or pain in your jaw, and trouble swallowing or breathing, call your dentist immediately.
While you wait to see your dentist, there are a few toothache home remedies to try and provide some temporary relief.
Over-the-Counter Pain Medicine
When the toothache first develops, you will want to try to treat the pain with over-the-counter pain medicine like acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or naproxen. Aspirin will work too, but do not rub it on your gums or the affected tooth. That is an old wives’ tale that does not work and could harm the inside of your mouth. Over-the-counter anesthetics also provide pain relief. You can apply these gels or liquids directly to the sore tooth and gums. They contain a numbing agent called benzocaine, which can relieve the discomfort. Over-the-counter anesthetics are meant to be used only in the short term.
Cold Compresses and Ice
Researchers believe that ice can stop pain signals from reaching the brain. If you find yourself with a severe toothache, place ice into the hand that is on the same side as the painful tooth. Rub the ice between your thumb and forefinger for seven minutes, or until the area becomes numb. If you are experiencing swelling, use an ice pack on the affected area. The cold compress should help manage your pain. Please be cautious while dealing with swelling to the face, because it could be a sign that you have an abscessed tooth or infection. Swelling combined with red gums and a high fever means that you should contact your dentist immediately. Your dentist will be able to assess the situation and treat you from there.
Rinse With Saltwater
While you are waiting to be seen by your dentist, try rinsing out your mouth with salt water. Mix a half teaspoon of table salt with eight ounces of warm water. Swish the mixture around and then spit it out; do not swallow the salt water. You can try to gently floss around the affected tooth to remove bits of food that could be stuck. You can also try to rinse your mouth out with hydrogen peroxide and water. This solution should be equal parts hydrogen peroxide and water. After you rinse, spit it out; do not swallow hydrogen peroxide.
Use Clove Oil
Clove oil is a completely natural way to treat the pain from a toothache. Rub it directly on the aching tooth, or you can soak a cotton ball with the clove oil and dab it onto the aching tooth. Like the over-the-counter toothache gels and liquids, clove has a numbing agent that helps with toothache pain relief. Another natural way to treat a toothache is to make a homemade mouthwash from thyme oil. Add a few drops of thyme oil to water to make the mouthwash. Or, dilute the thyme oil with a few drops of clean water on a cotton ball and apply to the affected area. Thyme oil has powerful antibacterial properties, and it is also an antioxidant.
Other Natural Toothache Home Remedies to Consider
There are a few more natural techniques to consider. Garlic has been used for years for its medicinal properties. It can kill harmful bacteria and works as natural pain relief. Smash a clove of garlic until it turns into a sticky paste. Apply the paste to the sore tooth. Or, if it is not too strong a taste for you, try chewing a clove of garlic on the side of the sore tooth, then spit it out afterward. Guava is known for having anti-inflammatory properties, and guava leaves have antimicrobial traits that can help manage pain and keep the affected area sterile. Try chewing the leaves of guava or boiling the leaves to make a liquid mouthwash. Finally, peppermint tea bags have a mild numbing agent that can ease pain for a short time. You can place the tea bags on the sore area while it is still warm, or place them in the freezer to cool. Either way, the tea bags give a nice, natural option to choose from to control pain from a toothache.