When tooth pain hits, all we want to know in that moment is how to get rid of the toothache pain fast.
It can vary in intensity, from a dull throb to an overwhelming pain that may even wake you up at night. So, how to stop a toothache?
Toothache remedies usually involve an over-the-counter painkiller or one prescribed by a doctor or dentist, but natural alternatives are also available.
These can also be used in conjunction with painkillers as a remedy for severe toothaches.
Toothaches mainly occur as a result of tooth decay. Other times a filling falls out, which can cause excruciating pain and then needs to be redone by your dentist.
It’s important to have a proper oral examination to figure out the exact cause of your toothache, but in the meantime, natural home remedies can help ease the discomfort until your dental appointment. Other possible causes of a toothache include:
- Gum disease;
- Tooth infection;
- Teeth grinding;
- An abnormal bite;
- New teeth (this applies mostly to children); and
- Tooth trauma.
Some sources of pain may feel like a toothache, but in fact have nothing to do with your teeth, including temporomandibular joint disorder, sinus infections, and tension in the face muscles. These three conditions often have headaches associated with them that can range from mild to severe. This will be your indication that it’s probably not related to your teeth. Pain along the gums or teeth can also indicate heart disease such as angina. See a doctor if it persists.
Signs of a Toothache
A diagnosis based on the symptoms of a toothache can be difficult because other conditions can cause this pain. The only way to figure out the root cause is to have a complete oral evaluation done by a dentist. Some of the most common symptoms of a toothache are:
- Pain when biting;
- Fever;
- Difficulty breathing or swallowing; and
- Swelling around the tooth.
How to Stop a Toothache: Remedies
These home remedies may be difficult to handle (e.g., garlic and onion), but when tooth pain hits, most of us are ready to try anything until we can get ourselves to the dentist.
Natural Toothache Remedies
1. Clove and Clove Oil
Cloves have been used as a traditional remedy to numb nerves for centuries. The chemical compound responsible for this effect is a natural anesthetic called eugenol. The oil is an effective remedy for tooth pain relief, but a word of caution: it can worsen the pain if it gets on tender gums or onto your tongue, where it might cause a minor burning sensation.
If you want to know how to get rid of a toothache using clove oil, do the following: put a few drops on a cotton ball and hold it on the tooth until the pain backs off. If you don’t have clove oil on hand, you can use a whole clove instead, but it might take longer. Chew the clove on the good side of the mouth to release the oil, then keep it in place for half an hour.
2. Garlic
This might burn and make your mouth smell bad for a while, but this home remedy for how to stop tooth pain really works. Take three cloves of garlic and mash them up. Take this mash and place it against the sore tooth, leaving it there for about 20 minutes, or more if you can handle the taste. Do this a few times a day, but start with fresh cloves for each use.
3. Cayenne Pepper
This one is going to burn, but will be well worth it because it’s incredibly effective at healing infections and easing pain. Take some cayenne powder and add a few drops of water. Dab a cotton ball into this mixture and then swipe it along your gums and teeth that hurt. Ideally, it’s best to just leave it on, but it’s OK to rinse it out if you can’t handle the heat.
4. Peppermint or Black Tea
Peppermint tea and black tea both work well as remedies for how to cure a toothache. The tannins in the black tea are responsible for this and peppermint has many healing properties. The best way to use them is to steep the tea bags in hot water for a minute and then apply that bag to the tooth. If you prefer, you can use peppermint tea leaves by soaking them in hot water, then packing them down into a ball and pressing them against the affected tooth.
5. Ginger Powder
Want to know how to get rid of toothache when pregnant? Use ginger! Ginger is a well-known remedy against nausea, and if morning sickness has you feeling off, drinking some ginger tea can help both that and your toothache. You can make a paste of ginger powder and coconut oil to help get rid of a tooth infection and tooth pain because of the antibacterial properties found in the spice. Apply the paste to the tooth in question, leave it on for 15 minutes, then wipe it off with a cloth.
6. Baking Soda
Baking soda can help stop a toothache. Make a paste with baking soda and water, then rub it along the gums where the tooth hurts. Leave it on as long as you can, and then rinse.
7. Turmeric
A simple paste of turmeric powder and water applied to the affected gums and teeth is all that needs to be done for this remedy. It can stay on for as long as you like. Reapply a few times a day.
8. Myrrh
Myrrh is a gum resin that comes from trees. It’s fragrant and has incredible antibacterial properties, which can make it a go-to remedy for toothaches. You can buy it in most health food stores. Rinse your mouth with a tincture of myrrh made by simmering one teaspoon of powdered myrrh in two cups water for 30 minutes. Strain and allow it to cool down. Rinse your mouth with a teaspoon of the tincture that has been combined with half a cup of water. Do this five to six times a day.
9. Onion
This is… let’s say it’s an aromatic way for how to get rid of a toothache without a dentist. But pungent smells aside, onions really do work. Cut up a piece of onion and hold it against your tooth and gum.
10. Neem
Neem is a tree found in India, and its leaves are known to have healing capabilities. Neem oil can help a toothache, and it can be found in some health food stores. Rub a few drops of the oil along the gums and on the sore tooth for relief.
11. Salt
When you want to know how to get rid of a toothache fast, look no further than your own kitchen cupboards. Simply dissolve a teaspoon of salt in warm water, swish in your mouth for a minute, and then spit it out. Repeat as often as desired. The salt will help remove any pus that might exist in an abscess and will reduce some swelling and pain.
How to Get Rid of Toothache Fast at Home
Want to know how to get rid of toothache pain at home? Below is a simple recipe for a paste that can be applied to the tooth to get quick relief.
- Combine three drops of clove oil with one tablespoon of coconut oil.
- Apply to the aching tooth and leave on for 15 minutes.
- Wipe off with a cloth.
Using these natural remedies for how to stop a toothache can help in the short term (1), but remember that you need to see your dentist to get a permanent fix for the problem.
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