How to Stop a Toothache? Effective Home Remedies & Treatments

The ideal course of action when dealing with dental pain is to visit your dentist immediately. Unfortunately, circumstances may arise where you are unable to receive care right away; in this case, it’s important that you take steps to minimise the discomfort while waiting for an appointment. Below we’ve provided several practical tips to help ease toothache prior to seeing a dental professional.

What to do for a toothache?

You may be tempted to immediately address your toothache and relieve pain; however, it’s essential you first consider what is causing your toothache pain. Pain in our bodies serves as a warning sign that something might be wrong, which means if you’re experiencing oral discomfort, there likely exists an underlying problem that requires immediate attention.

If you’re experiencing oral pain, it could be due to a variety of critical causes, such as untreated gum disease, tooth decay, sinus infection, broken fillings, fractured teeth, or infected gums. A dental abscess is particularly serious and can have severe implications if left untreated – this includes the possibility of losing your tooth along with its supporting bone structure.

Bacterial infection, in extreme cases, may spread throughout your body, which may result in hospitalisation or more dire consequences. Therefore for these reasons, it’s essential that you see a dentist immediately should any of the following signs become apparent.

Some more symptoms to look for are:

Severe pain
Painful tooth/sore tooth
Red swollen gums/ gum infection
Discharge from any oral wounds in the mouth
Constant low-grade fever
Swelling on the face near the jaw
Difficulty swallowing
Unpleasant smell/ taste of the mouth

How to stop a toothache?

Dental pain can arise from a number of causes, so it’s essential to visit your dentist for an examination as soon as possible. However, if you think that the discomfort may be due to a cavity or slight fracture in the tooth, here are some useful tactics that could offer toothache relief until your appointment with the dental professional arrives.

11 effective home remedies for tooth pain relief

1. Apply clove oil

Clove oil contains eugenol, which is an analgesic and antiseptic compound. Applying it to the painful area may aid in soothing the pain associated with a toothache.

2. Salt water rinse

Swishing salt water around in your mouth can help reduce inflammation and remove food particles that may have become trapped in between your teeth or gums. This can also reduce bad breath caused by a tooth infection.

3. Use guava leaves

Boil several guava leaves in some water and then strain out the liquid when cool enough to handle. Use this solution on the painful tooth with a cotton swab or washcloth. The anti-inflammatory properties within guava leaves may help lessen pain and swelling linked with a toothache.

4. Take over-the-counter medications

OTC medications, such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen, are useful to reduce toothache pain until you are able to see a dentist for further treatment.

5. Chew garlic cloves

Try chewing on raw garlic cloves for about 15 minutes for temporary relief from toothache pain.

Due to the anti-inflammatory agents found within garlic cloves which work as an analgesic agent against bacteria growing inside an infected cavity.

6. Use baking soda paste

Make sure you mix baking soda with some warm water to form a paste before you apply it directly onto your teeth using your finger or cotton swab. This will provide temporary relief from painful episodes of cavities causing unbearable perpetual pains in between teeth sets and empty spaces, if any.

7. Warm compress

The heat from the compress helps relax the muscles and increase circulation, which can help reduce inflammation and speed healing. To use a warm compress for a toothache, soak a clean cloth in hot water, wring out the excess moisture, and then place it over the painful area of your jaw. Leave it on for 10 minutes or more if you need additional relief.

8. Liquorice root

Steep liquorice root overnight in boiling water, then strain it into a cup, allowing it to cool off before drinking it down at least a few times per day.

Consuming liquorice root can significantly reduce the accumulation of plaque and help prevent cavities. Plaque on teeth surfaces leads to increased saliva, causing gum disease.

9. Cold compress

If you’re experiencing a toothache accompanied by swelling, perhaps it’s time to reach for the ice pack! Applying a cold compress against your cheek in 20-minute increments (20 minutes on and then another 20 off) can bring some much-needed relief. The cooling sensation helps numb the area while simultaneously reducing inflammation and swelling – thus alleviating discomfort from the aching tooth.

10. Peppermint tea

Boiling several fresh leaves along with peppermint tea produces special, stimulating effects, often providing remarkable temporary outcomes easing off repetitive painful pangs adversely impacting the tooth’s nerve endings and constricted blood vessels located inside the mouth cavity. If you do not have peppermint tea, wet a cotton ball with peppermint oil and dab on the affected tooth.

11. Hydrogen peroxide rinse

To reduce tooth pain, mix equal parts water with 3% hydrogen peroxide (food grade) into a glass cup. Swish the mixture around your mouth for several minutes, and then spit it out. Be sure not to swallow it. Repeat the rinse twice daily for temporary pain relief.

What to do if your tooth pain is persistent and getting worse?

No amount of over-the-counter medication or home remedies can provide the relief you need when your toothache is unbearable. In these instances, it’s time to consult a professional. If the pain is too intense to bear, take advantage of your dentist’s emergency care line right away and get some much-needed respite. Otherwise, book an appointment as soon as possible so that further complications are avoided and you can obtain lasting comfort from your agony.

Dental treatments to treat a toothache

Your dentist will start the investigation by looking into your medical history and conducting an exam. You’ll be asked about the intensity of the pain, when it began, its location in your mouth, as well as what makes it worse or better. Afterwards, your dentist will inspect all relevant areas around the affected area, such as gums and teeth, for any potential causes, then take X-rays or perform additional tests if necessary to confirm the findings. Your dentist may opt for one of these treatments below:

Fillings

Dentists utilise composite or amalgam fillings to provide relief from toothaches and protect the affected teeth by sealing off any areas of decay and thwarting potential additional harm.

Root canal treatment

Root canal therapy is a life-saver for painful, infected teeth. It gets rid of the nerve tissue that has been damaged and stops any further decay from occurring; in turn, it saves your tooth from having to be pulled out.

Dental crowns

A crown covers and protects a damaged or decayed tooth, helping it to become stronger and more resilient while providing relief from the discomfort associated with a toothache.

Tooth extractions

In some cases, when other treatments aren’t successful at stopping a toothache, an extraction might be required to get rid of the source of pain and infection.

Depending on the seriousness of your concern, you may be treated right away or in a few days. If later treatment is recommended, your dentist might opt to provide pain medication to help manage any discomfort while you wait.

What not to do when having a toothache?

In order to avoid worsening the toothache, resist the temptation of using any sharp objects, such as pins or skewers.
Do not munch on tough items, such as popcorn kernels, ice cubes, or hard sweets.
Refrain from consuming scorching or icy foods that can aggravate your tooth pain.
When brushing and flossing, use gentle pressure to avoid making your tooth pain worse or causing more damage.
Avoid using over-the-counter medications for a prolonged period of time without consulting a doctor first, as these can be detrimental to your oral health in the long run.
If your tooth is loose, chipped, cracked, or broken, do not attempt to pull it out yourself.

How to avoid having a toothache at all?

To prevent the agonising pain of a toothache, there are several steps you can take. Make sure to brush two times a day and floss once every day. Eating nutritiously is also important; abstain from sugary treats and refrain from chewing hard items that could potentially break your teeth. Additionally, it’s essential to be proactive by scheduling regular dental visits; this will assist in detecting minor issues before they become painful problems requiring expensive treatments down the road. Taking these precautions now can help avoid future oral health issues later on.

If you’re struggling with toothache, Bright-On Bay Dental is here to pull you out of your discomfort. Our friendly dentists will bring fast relief and have you flashing that healthy smile again in no time. Schedule an appointment today by calling on (02) 9538 7028 – we’ve got your back.

References

How to get rid of toothache at night
https://www.healthline.com/health/how-to-get-rid-of-toothache-at-night

11 Natural remedies for toothache
https://www.healthline.com/health/dental-and-oral-health/home-remedies-for-toothache#_noHeaderPrefixedContent