Toothache can be very painful, make you miserable and interfere with daily activities. In addition to pain in the tooth itself, you may experience other symptoms such as a low-grade fever, swelling in the area of the infected tooth, or pain in the jaw. There are various natural remedies for toothache that can help relieve pain. Consult a dentist if your toothache does not go away immediately to check if you have cavities or other dental problems.
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Method 1 of 2: Using Home Remedies
Step 1. Gargle with a warm saline solution
The first thing that can be done at home to relieve pain due to toothache is to gargle with salt water. One of the most common causes of toothache is infection, and salt is a cleaning agent that can treat infection. The salt can drain the fluid from the infected area thereby relieving the pressure within the soft tissues, and will eventually relieve the pain.
- To make a salt solution, prepare a full glass of warm water and add a teaspoon of table salt, or sea salt. Stir the mixture until the salt is completely dissolved.
- Use warm water, not hot water, so your mouth doesn't scald.
- Clean your mouth with this warm saline solution by taking one sip of the solution and swirling the water all over your mouth, especially where the tooth hurts. Do this for at least 30 seconds and then spit out the solution, don't swallow it.
- Repeat every hour to relieve your toothache.
- If you don't have salt, you can also use warm water instead.
Step 2. Use dental floss to remove plaque and food particles
After cleaning your mouth, continue to remove any plaque or food debris stuck between your teeth. With dental floss, carefully clean the area around and between your teeth. Be careful not to irritate sensitive teeth. It is important to clean up anything that might exacerbate the infection.
Step 3. Apply clove oil on the aching tooth
Clove oil is a medicine that has long been used to treat toothaches, because it has antibacterial and pain-relieving properties. This oil can reduce inflammation and also acts as an antioxidant. Clove oil can numb the area around the sore tooth and can relieve pain.
- Dip a cotton swab in clove oil and apply it on the aching tooth gently. The pain will start to lessen. For best results, repeat this step 3 times a day.
- While it can be safely used in small amounts, its use in large amounts can cause health problems. So make sure you have followed the directions on the packaging.
- Clove oil can be found in pharmacies or drug stores, but you can make your own by crushing two cloves and mixing it with olive oil.
Step 4. Use a cold compress
If your pain is caused by trauma to your teeth, use a cold compress to relieve the pain. Wrap an ice cube in a clean tissue or cloth and place it directly on the outside of the cheek near the aching tooth for about 10 minutes.
- The coldness of the ice will create a numbing sensation, which can help relieve pain. Instead of ice cubes, you can use ice packs or frozen vegetables.
- Do not directly apply ice cubes to the gums because it can damage the delicate tissue.
Step 5. Use a wet teabag
Place a wet teabag on the aching tooth. Wet teabags are a very simple and easy remedy to get at home. It won't treat the infection or cause of your toothache, but it can help relieve some of the symptoms of a toothache. Dip a tea bag in warm water (don't use hot water), then squeeze out the excess water and place the bag on the aching tooth for about 15 minutes.
- Tea bags contain tannins which have strong astringent properties and can temporarily relieve pain.
- Other ingredients that are also effective are eucalyptus and peppermint.
- Doing this routine regularly can make your teeth and gums dull.
Step 6. Treat toothache using turmeric
Turmeric not only serves as a spice in the kitchen, because it has been proven to be used as medicine. Turmeric contains curcumin, which is an active ingredient that can be used to lower histamine levels, which can help relieve pain.
- Add 5 grams of turmeric powder, two cloves of garlic, and two guava leaves into 236 ml of boiling water. Boil this mixture for 5 minutes.
- Strain the mixture and refrigerate. Then gargle with the mixture for a minute to relieve pain.
- Alternatively, take two tablespoons of turmeric powder and roast it in a saucepan. Let it cool, then gently place the roasted turmeric on the aching tooth using a clean cotton swab.
Step 7. Know what to avoid
In addition to trying to relieve tooth pain, you should also try to avoid certain things that can irritate your teeth and make your toothache worse. Everyone is not the same and you should investigate what causes your teeth to hurt and try to avoid them. Usually, very cold or very hot foods and drinks can be painful for people who have a toothache.
Method 2 of 2: Understanding the Limitations of Home Remedies
Step 1. Be careful with natural remedies
Natural remedies can indeed help relieve toothache pain and reduce discomfort, but if your toothache persists, you must treat the underlying cause. So most likely you should go to the dentist. There is no convincing evidence regarding the effectiveness of herbal medicines for treating toothache.
- If you prefer herbal remedies, stop using them if they are not effective. Do not continue using it just because you think that the drug will work if the dose is increased. Increasing the dose of medication may make your toothache worse.
- Immediately wash your mouth with water if you feel a stinging or burning sensation while using herbal remedies. Do not use mouthwash because the alcohol content in it can exacerbate irritation of the delicate tissues in your mouth.
- Remember that a toothache caused by an infection will not go away until the infection is removed.
Step 2. Go to the dentist
Go to the dentist immediately if your toothache does not go away in more than a day or two. While herbal remedies can help relieve pain in the short term, they cannot cure the underlying cause. Untreated toothache can lead to a tooth abscess (the appearance of pus due to a bacterial infection).
- Painkillers such as ibuprofen and paracetamol may be more effective at relieving toothaches than natural remedies.
- Do not directly apply painkillers to the gums because they can damage your gum tissue.
Step 3. Understand the cause of toothache
If you have a toothache, understand why you should take precautions after treatment. Toothache occurs when the center of the tooth, known as the pulp, becomes inflamed. The nerve endings of the teeth in the center are very sensitive to pain, which makes a toothache very uncomfortable. Inflammation of the teeth is usually caused by infection, cavities, or trauma.
- Maintaining dental hygiene is the main key so that you avoid toothache. Keep your teeth and gums clean and healthy by limiting the consumption of sugary foods and drinks, brushing your teeth twice a day, supplemented with additional treatments using dental floss and mouthwash.
- The next time you have a toothache, it's more likely that your tooth has cavities or has an infection. Keep in mind that while you can relieve pain with natural remedies, you still can't get rid of cavities on your own.
