Treating a toothache at home
A toothache is frustrating, painful and most of the time happens completely out of the blue! It’s not always clear why we develop a toothache so it can be hard to know exactly what to do.
If your toothache persists for more than 2 days, you will need to pay a visit to your dentist. (Sorry!) Your dentist will also want a peek even sooner if you are experiencing any of the following:
- Severe pain
- Fever
- Extra sensitive teeth to cold or hot stimuli (like cold water or warm soups)
- Swelling or discharge between the gums and teeth
- Jaw pain
- Pain at the site of a wisdom tooth
But we don’t want you writhing around in pain while you’re waiting for your dentist’s appointment, so here are some expert-approved home remedies that can provide you some temporary relief from your toothache.
Salt rinse
One of the simplest and most convenient solutions for toothache is a saltwater rinse. Not only is salt water a natural disinfectant and antiseptic, but it also helps to loosen food particles and debris that may be stuck in between your teeth. In fact, salt is such a wonderful remedy for sore teeth and gums that we use it in our all-natural tooth and gum powder. But we don’t just use any kind of salt. We use only the purest French grey sea salt straight from the Celtic Sea – one of the cleanest parts of the Atlantic Ocean!
Sea salt allows liquids to be passed through the body’s membranes and blood vessel walls effectively. This is important for cell growth and regeneration. Check out our article 10 Fabulous Facts About Salt You Didn’t Know, for more interesting salt trivia.
To use a salt rinse to relieve toothache, stir about a teaspoon of sea salt into a cup of warm water until dissolved. Swish around your mouth for about 30 seconds and spit.
Hydrogen peroxide rinse
Using hydrogen peroxide is another simple and effective way to ease toothache, especially if your toothache is caused by an infection. It helps to relieve pain and inflammation and can even reduce plaque build-up. Hydrogen peroxide is so effective at removing bacteria that we recommend you soak your toothbrush in a 3% solution of hydrogen peroxide once a week.
Hydrogen peroxide, however, can be dangerous if swallowed so be very careful when using it as a rinse.
To use hydrogen peroxide to relieve toothache, mix 3 % hydrogen peroxide (preferably food-grade) with equal parts water and swish around your mouth for 30 seconds. Remember, do not swallow!
Cold compress
A cold compress can be a great way to ease toothache, especially if the toothache is due to an injury or swollen gums. The application of a cold compress causes blood vessels to constrict, slowing down the blood flow to the affected area, which helps to make the pain less severe. A cold compress can also help to reduce any swelling and inflammation.
To use a cold compress to relieve toothache, place a bag of frozen peas or a towel-wrapped bag of ice to the affected area for 10 minutes at a time. You can repeat every few hours.
Garlic
Garlic has been used to relieve toothaches for thousands of years! And it’s all thanks to a compound called allicin which accounts for its powerful antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Not only can garlic kill the harmful bacteria that cause dental plaque but being a natural anesthetic, it is also a great pain reliever.
To use garlic to relieve toothache, crush the garlic into a paste and place directly onto the affected area. Or, if you’re feeling brave, you can gently chew on a garlic clove for up to 30 minutes to release the healing juices.
Clove
Clove is another great natural remedy that has been used to treat toothaches throughout history. Cloves contain a compound called eugenol, which is a natural antiseptic and anesthetic so they are absolutely fantastic at numbing pain.
Clove also has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties which make it a great remedy to fight off tooth and gum infections.
To use clove to relieve toothache, either soak a cotton pad with clove oil and apply to the affected area or gently chew on a clove for up to 30 minutes to release the healing juices.
Peppermint tea bags
Like cloves, peppermint has numbing properties that help to relieve the pain of toothache and soothe sensitive gums. Its high menthol content gives peppermint the cool, minty fresh flavor as well as providing a calming and soothing effect for toothache. Peppermint is also believed to inhibit certain strains of bacteria responsible for causing gum disease.
To use a peppermint tea bag to relieve toothache, place a warm peppermint tea bag onto the affected area until you feel the pain lessen.
Peppermint is another ingredient we feel very strongly about when it comes to soothing sore gums, which is why we include it in our all-natural tooth and gum formula!
