Natural Remedies For Instant Toothache Relief
A toothache is the last thing you want to deal with in the middle of the night or during a holiday. Unfortunately, dental woes have a knack for hitting at the wrong time when you expect them the least. According to statistics, dental pain brings an estimated 2 million people to hospital emergency departments (EDs) in the US. 1
Imagine attending an important work meeting or embarking on a flight with severe aches in your teeth and gums. Experiencing a sudden bout when clinics are closed for a long weekend is even worse. How to stop a toothache that starts without a warning? Is there a magic solution for instant relief? Can you handle the worst without a dentist?
Help may not be available right away, and you cannot depend on back-to-back doses of over-the-counter painkillers. The good thing is that several natural home remedies can be your saviors. Surprisingly, these simple remedies offer instant toothache relief without any side effects.
Before sharing these magic potions with you, we will highlight the potential causes of a sudden toothache.
Understanding the Causes of Toothache
You surely want a natural remedy for tooth ache when it strikes, and it makes sense. However, the first step should be to uncover the reason for the pain because it determines whether you should try home remedies for tooth ache or visit a dentist right away. These remedies can offer quick relief if your dentist is not available until morning or the next appointment.
Most toothaches have a root cause, such as something being wrong with your teeth and gums. Studies associate abnormal pain with several factors. These include: 2, 3
Mouth or jaw injury
Dental caries
Periodontitis
Pulpitis
Sinus infection
Losing a filling
Food or debris wedged in your teeth
An abscessed or infected tooth
Eruption of wisdom teeth
Temporomandibular joint disorders
Sensitivity
You may require a diagnosis from an expert to understand the cause of most causes. But pain necessitates quick and effective toothache relief, even if you cannot get an immediate diagnosis. Look for additional red flags such as swelling and bleeding because they indicate a bigger concern that requires medical attention.
Actionable and Effective Home Remedies for Tooth Ache
Toothache can cause extreme discomfort and give you sleepless nights. Your top concern should be how to stop a tooth ache without a painkiller. Popping a pill can provide temporary relief, but it isn’t the right solution. Moreover, medication is hardly safe if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
You should look for a natural remedy for tooth ache to steer clear of side effects and unprecedented use of painkillers. Here are a few simple and effective ones worth trying.
Saltwater Rinse
The easiest home remedy you can try is a saltwater rinse. The simple concoction works as a natural disinfectant and loosens debris and food particles stuck between the teeth. According to research, salt water can alleviate inflammation and heal oral wounds. 4
All you need to do is dilute half a teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water and rinse your mouth with it. You can also hold the water inside your mouth for a while to soothe the pain.
Cold Compress
A cold compress is another easily accessible home remedy for instant toothache relief. It is recommended for pain induced by trauma and injury. A cold compress leads to the constriction of blood vessels in the affected area. It dulls the pain, reduces inflammation, and prevents swelling. 5
Wrap a towel around a bag of ice and hold it to the affected area for 15-20 minutes to experience quick relief. You can repeat it every couple of hours or whenever the pain gets severe.
Garlic
A clove of garlic does more than add flavor to your recipes. It is an effective natural remedy for tooth ache. Garlic has antibacterial properties and kills harmful plaque-inducing bacteria. Additionally, it can relieve toothache instantly and keep it at bay. 6, 7
Crush a garlic clove to form a paste and apply it directly to the inflamed area. Adding a pinch of salt to the paste makes it even more effective. You can also chew a fresh clove if you don’t mind the pungent odor of garlic.
Peppermint Tea Bags
A sudden toothache shouldn’t be a reason to stress if you have peppermint tea bags in your kitchen cabinet. Peppermint can soothe sensitive gums and numb pain within minutes.
Try applying a warm peppermint team bag to the affected area. Remember to cool it a little if it is warm. Alternatively, you can use it as a cold compress to cool the affected area. Chill a used tea bag in the freezer for a few minutes and apply it to your tooth.
Clove
Clove is an age-old remedy used for treating toothaches. Clove oil contains eugenol, a natural antiseptic, which makes it effective in relieving pain and inflammation. Not surprisingly, you may find several oral care products containing clove oil as a core ingredient. 8
The remedy is simple as you need to mix clove oil with a carrier oil to dilute it. Add 15 drops of it to an ounce of sunflower or jojoba oil to create an effective concoction. Dab it on a cotton ball and use it for direct application to the affected area. You can also create a mouthwash by adding a drop of clove oil to a cupful of water. 9
Thyme
If you are an avid herbal healing enthusiast, you have a quick-fix toothache relief formula in your medicine cabinet. Thyme oil, with its potent antioxidant and antibacterial properties, can soothe the pain sooner rather than later. It also fights bacterial tooth decay. 10, 11
The application is similar to the clove oil remedy. You can dilute it with carrier oil for direct application. Alternatively, mix it with water and use the solution to rinse your mouth like a mouthwash.
Hydrogen Peroxide Rinse
People susceptible to dental issues must keep hydrogen peroxide handy at home as it makes one of the most effective home remedies for tooth ache. You can use it as a mouth rinse to relieve pain and inflammation. Hydrogen peroxide kills bacteria, reduces plaque, and heals bleeding gums. 12
To use this home remedy, dilute the hydrogen peroxide by mixing 3% of it with equal parts water. Use it as a mouthwash, but remember not to swallow it.
Aloe Vera Gel
Aloe vera is a healing herb with natural antibacterial qualities. The gel found within its leaves can heal cuts and burns. Studies show that it can also kill germs that cause tooth decay. It also cleans and soothes swollen and inflamed gums. 13
Squeeze the leaves to extract aloe vera gel and apply it directly to the painful area for quick and effective toothache relief. You can get better results by massaging it gently.
Dealing with Invisalign-Induced Pain
Most of these home remedies work for toothache caused by dental decay or gum issues. But the answer to the question of how to stop a toothache may be different if you are dealing with Invisalign-induced pain.
Invisalign is a popular treatment for straightening misaligned teeth without traditional braces. While the corrective measure is aesthetically superior (it uses invisible aligners), patients do experience some pain, discomfort, or soreness.
Imagine living in a big city like Boston, where traveling to a clinic every time you experience pain sounds daunting. Instead of a challenging commute to a Boston Invisalign clinic, you can seek effective home remedies for tooth ache while going through the treatment. Natural remedies also limit the use of painkillers.
However, you should opt for measures considering that you have aligners over your teeth. Here are a few home remedies that offer relief:
Use an ice pack as a cold compress over the affected area
Try drinking a glass of cold water to numb the pain and soreness
Suck on ice cubes, but avoid chewing them as they may damage your aligners
Rinse your mouth with salt water frequently
Use a dentist-recommended topical gel to soothe your gums
Avoid biting and chewing hard and crunchy foods until your mouth is accustomed to the aligners
Ensure that your Invisalign is seated correctly
Avoid removing the aligners too often
Despite the Invisalign pain, it is far less uncomfortable than traditional braces. The discomfort is often mild for most people, and these simple remedies are good enough to resolve it. You can see your Invisalign specialist if home remedies do not work because your aligners may require some adjustment.
Toothache Prevention is Your Best Bet
You can rely on these actionable home remedies using easily available products for effective and instant toothache relief. But as the saying goes, prevention is your best bet. You can safeguard your teeth and gums from decay and disease to avoid pain in the first place. Optimal oral hygiene and care can keep most problems at bay.
Everyone knows the basics of good dental hygiene, but adherence is often a problem. Let us share a quick checklist you can follow to keep your teeth and gums as healthy as possible.
Brush your teeth twice with fluoride toothpaste cleaning all the nooks and crevasses of your mouth for at least 2 minutes
Use an interdental brush or floss regularly to ensure that the areas between your teeth and under the gum line are clean
Minimize consumption of sugar-laden food and drinks
Avoid smoking as it can aggravate dental problems
Stick with your regular dental checkups
Address dental issues like cavities and bleeding gums sooner rather than later
Conclusion
Toothache is something people encounter at some point. In fact, you may experience it even if you have the healthiest teeth and gums. Whatever the cause of the pain, it may worsen and become unbearable sooner than you imagine. Help may not be available right away if the pain hits at odd hours or your dentist is out of town.
Luckily, these simple home remedies for tooth ache can provide quick relief. You may not even need to visit a dentist in most cases because many of these methods offer more than a quick fix. For example, antibacterial products like clove oil, garlic, and thyme oil can curb inflammation.
However, you should still see a dentist if the problem persists. Likewise, people using Invisalign should check with a specialist to resolve the pain for good. Until then, try these home remedies for instant relief!
