A painful tooth can come on suddenly and can often cause stress and anxiety. Your pain can range from mild discomfort to excruciating. Either way, it’s often a sign that there’s something more significant going on with your dental health.
You can schedule an appointment with your dentist for treatment, but how do you manage the pain until you get there? When you have a toothache, focusing on anything else is difficult. Having a few strategies for pain relief up your sleeve becomes essential while waiting for your dental appointment.
Understanding Tooth Pain
A painful tooth can manifest in different ways. Sometimes, it feels like a constant dull ache and other times, it is an intense, sharp pain. Toothaches often happen for a few reasons, including:
- Tooth decay
- Worn tooth enamel
- Receding gums
- Trauma
- Cracked tooth
- Infection
- Impacted tooth
- Broken teeth
- Periodontal disease
While these tips and at-home remedies don’t replace seeing a dentist, they can help soothe the pain until your appointment.
At-Home Treatment for Your Painful Tooth
Depending on the time of day you call, the dental office may not have an immediate opening. Fortunately, there are a few simple home remedies you can try to relieve your discomfort while you wait.
Warm Salt Water Rinse
A warm salt water rinse can provide immediate relief for a painful tooth. This rinse is especially effective if the pain stems from a bacterial infection. The salt fights germs and helps calm any swelling in the mouth.
Combine a teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water, allowing it to dissolve. Swish the solution around your mouth for 30 seconds and spit it out. Avoid swallowing the water because it can upset your stomach and trigger other health issues.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Like salt water, hydrogen peroxide is used as a cleansing agent. However, it’s like a super-powered salt water rinse. It targets and eliminates bad bacteria much better than salt water.
Combine equal amounts of water and 3% hydrogen peroxide and swirl it around your mouth for approximately 45 seconds. Repeat the rinse two or three times to help with temporary relief from a painful tooth.
Cold Compress or Ice
When your mouth hurts, you might also notice some inflammation. Try holding a bag of small ice cubes or crushed ice in a plastic bag on the outside of your face near the painful tooth. It can reduce swelling and provide relief. Leave it on for approximately 15 minutes and remove the pack for 15 minutes. Repeat these intervals as necessary.
If you continue having noticeable swelling, keep your head elevated. It will help prevent more fluid from gathering in that area.
Clove Oil
Clove oil has been used in dentistry for centuries to relieve pain. It contains eugenol, which has numbing properties but is not a chemical.
If you have some around your house, applying it to the painful tooth can provide temporary relief. Put a few drops on a cotton ball and rub it on the tooth. Use caution because too much of this oil could irritate your soft tissues and tongue.
Peppermint Tea Bags
Another natural remedy is using peppermint tea bags. Like cloves, peppermint tea bags have numbing properties that can calm an aching tooth. Additionally, peppermint has anti-inflammatory properties.
Boil some water and steep one peppermint tea bag for about two minutes. Let the bag cool and apply to the area causing discomfort. Leave it on for 15 minutes. Put the tea bag in the freezer for an extra calming effect, then apply it to the sore area near the tooth. Repeat the process as necessary to relieve your discomfort.
Garlic
Garlic is packed with antibacterial properties because allicin is one of its main components. Allicin is a natural disease fighter, acting like an antibiotic and slowing bacterial growth.
The best way to use garlic for tooth pain relief is to crush it into a paste, sprinkle a little salt in the paste, and apply it to your tooth. However, chewing on it works if you can tolerate chewing.
Find Relief for Your Painful Tooth
These are home remedies that offer temporary relief. Making and keeping an appointment with a qualified professional is vital to your health. Dental pain can worsen without treatment, and early intervention is the best way to prevent further problems.
If you have a toothache and need to schedule an appointment, call Dr. Brett Langston, DMD. Our team can provide the necessary treatment to relieve discomfort and recommend the next steps to enhance your dental health. Call us today to schedule your appointment.
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