Toothaches can be a pain in the neck - or mouth, making you desperate to do anything to stop tooth pain. This pain can be very aggravating and debilitating, and it comes with the pesky realization that you have to visit your dentist as soon as possible.
Unfortunately, toothaches often strike at the worst possible moment, such as in the middle of the night or when you are hundreds of miles away from your dentist. Fortunately, your pantry and medicine cabinets are full of products that can ease the pain for a few hours.
Hold a cold compress against the outside of your cheek for about 20 minutes to relieve tooth pain, especially if a toothache is accompanied by swelling. Cold numbs the area and helps reduce inflammation, ensuring the swelling goes down.
Toothaches that are accompanied with a foul taste in your mouth or a mild fever could signal an infection. Ease the discomfort by swishing a mouthful of 3 percent hydrogen peroxide solution, then spit it out. Finally, rinse your mouth several times with water. Hydrogen peroxide will kill some of the bacteria that are causing the pain.
Add a teaspoon of salt to one cup of boiling water for a pain-killing mouthwash. Swish the water in your mouth for about thirty seconds before spitting it out. Repeat this every few hours for pain relief. The saltwater solution cleans the irritating debris inside your mouth while reducing swelling. Furthermore, this solution cleanses the area around your teeth and draws out some of the fluid that's causing the swelling. As a bonus, swishing salt water inside your mouth can also relieve sore throat pain.
Cloves are known for their numbing properties. This is because they contain a natural anesthetic known as eugenol. However, clove oil should be used cautiously. Pouring a generous amount onto the wound could actually worsen the situation. This is because it could get on your tongue or on sensitive gum tissues. For best results, put a few drops of clove oil onto a ball of cotton wool and place it against the affected tooth until the pain goes away. If you do not have clove oil, place some powdered clove or a whole clove on the affected tooth. Chew on the clove for a few minutes to release the oil, and keep it on top of the painful tooth for about thirty minutes.
Ginger is an antioxidant with anti-inflammatory properties, while cayenne is high in vitamin C and helps reduce inflammation. Furthermore, cayenne has a chemical known as capsaicin which blocks pain messages from getting to your brain. When equal parts of these two spices are combined, they help reduce the pain and the swelling. To create the paste, mix cayenne, ginger, and some water, Roll a cotton ball in the paste and place it on your tooth. Ensure the cotton ball does not come into contact with your tongue and gums. Leave it there until the pain begins to fade.
These remedies can reduce the discomfort of a toothache and help you sleep at night. However, they do not provide a solution to the root cause of the pain. After the pain subsides, remember to book an appointment with a dentist to treat any underlying problems.
Call (305) 230-4041 to schedule an appointment with South Florida Dental Arts in our Miami dental office.
An emergency dentist is a particular type of dental professional who undergoes additional education and training to learn how to deal with urgent and emergency situations. While emergency dentists do learn how to provide general dentistry care, they also learn how to think and act on the spot when an emergency happens. In most cases,…
Wondering whether a damaged tooth constitutes a dental emergency? Read on to find out. A damaged tooth may be considered a dental emergency if it causes severe and borderline intolerable discomfort (pain, swelling, sensitivity), causes a severe cosmetic issue, or is at risk of worsening complications, such as the loss of the tooth or the…
Like a medical emergency, a dental emergency is nothing to take lightly or ignore. There are times when you will need to see the general dentist immediately to relieve pain or address urgent oral health issues. Not all situations will require this level of care. It is helpful to know when something, such as a…
A broken tooth warrants a need to visit an emergency dentist right away. Emergency dentists are great resources to utilize when an accident happens. They are general dentists who are trained in emergency dental care, which includes things like broken teeth, severe aching or abscesses. When a tooth breaks, it is necessary to get immediate…
Your dentist can help determine if you need dental crowns. There are many reasons for getting these restorations. The main goal is always to restore the tooth and enhance its functions. Here are the signs you may need dental crowns soon.Losing at least one tooth can cause more dental problems. It can lead to dental…
Dental sleep medicine treatment focuses on treating sleep apnea and other related conditions. More dentists are choosing to practice in this line of work because there are actually a lot of good dental sleep apnea treatments available to patients. Modern-day dentistry has evolved quite a bit, which has allowed for the evaluation of all kinds…