Do you have a toothache that is disrupting your life? The pain of a tooth can sometimes be unbearable. Whether it’s a cavity, a loose filling or sinus infection affecting your tooth, they can keep you awake for long hours at night.
Equip yourself with some effective home remedies before you can make an appointment with a dentist. Sometimes, the home remedies work so well that you don’t need to see a dentist. Find out how!
Look for clove oil
Cloves have been used for ages to numb the nerves around your mouth. Clove oil contains a chemical compound knows as eugenol that acts as an anesthetic. You should handle clove oil with care so that you don’t pour it on the area that hurts. This could increase the pain of a sensitive gum.
Use a cotton ball to use the clove oil on the affected tooth until the pain reduces. You can also use powdered clove or a whole clove on your tooth. If you chew the clove, it releases its oil to minimize the pain.
Try ginger-cayenne paste
The two spices make a useful paste that works wonders on a toothache. Mix them up and add water to form a paste. Use cotton to saturate the mixture and place it on the affected tooth. Ensure that your tongue and gum does not come into contact with the paste to prevent irritation or burning.
Allow the paste to remain on your tooth till the pain starts disappearing. The two spices act as painkillers to your tooth. They prevent pain signals from getting to your brain. You can also use the spices separately.
Use salt water
Dissolve salt into water to form mouthwash that has painkilling effects. It also relieves soreness in your throat. It cleans the debris in your aching tooth and minimizes inflammation of the sensitive gum. Gaggle the water for 30 seconds then spit it out. Do not swallow it since it contains lots of bacteria. Saltwater eliminates the fluid responsible for the swelling. Gaggle regularly and reduce the pain.
Drink Peppermint tea
The flavor of this tea is irresistible. It also numbs the nerves around your aching tooth. The preparation process is easy. Use peppermint leaves to dissolve them in boiling water. Allow your tea to cool before you swish in your mouth. If you take it when it is hot, it may be too hot. It contains an oil that is known to be a headache remedy.
Alternatively, you can enjoy strong black tea. This contains astringent tannins that reduce inflammation of your gums. Use a warm teabag on your tooth and experience relief.
Rinse your mouth with hydrogen peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide not only reduces toothache discomfort but also kills bacteria. If you are getting a fever accompanied by a toothache, they are symptoms of sinus infection. Hydrogen peroxide minimizes these symptoms and gives you relief. Do not swallow the solution. You should spit then rinse your mouth with water. Repeat this procedure regularly.
Use ice cubes
You can also numb your nerves by using a plastic bag full of ice cubes. Place the ice cubes around your tooth for at least 5 minutes. If a toothache is intense such that it prevents the bag from finding room in your mouth, you can place the ice pack on the cheek above the painful tooth.
Massaging your hand using an ice cube can also minimize the pain in your tooth. Your finger nerves transmit cold signals up to your brain to override the signals from your tooth. Use your thumb as well as the forefinger to massage the fleshy part with ice cubes.
Wash your tooth with myrrh
Rinsing your tooth with myrrh gives you relief since it kills bacteria in your tooth. It also minimizes the inflammation around the gum due to its astringent effects. You can simmer powdered myrrh in water for 30 minutes then leave it to cool. Use a teaspoon of the solution at least five times every day.
Distract your toothache with vinegar
Soak brown paper in vinegar and sprinkle it with black pepper. Hold this paper on one side of your cheek. It creates a warming sensation on the cheek distracting you from the pain in your tooth.
Change your toothbrush and paste
The wrong bristles and a poor-quality toothpaste can make a toothache worse. Ensure that you toothpaste accommodates your sensitive teeth. Soft bristles on your toothbrush can help you protect your gum tissues from shrinking. Shrinking gums cause pain when you take anything cold or hot.
Use gum
If you have a cracked tooth, you should cover it with gum. The loss of a filling also needs soft chewing gum. It can also hold a loose filling in position until you can go to the dentist. Do not chew anything using the affected tooth.
Try acupressure
Acupressure is known to stop your tooth from aching. Apply pressure on the back area of the meeting point between your index finger and your thumb. This allows your brain to stimulate endorphins which are happy hormones.
Apply pain relieving gels
You can also use gels and liquids that act as painkillers on your sore tooth. Most of these gels contain benzocaine that numbs your nerves for a while. This, however, gives you temporary relief before you can get to your dentist.
Get Medication
You can get pain relievers from a pharmacy to minimize the pain if the home remedies are not sufficient for intense pain. Drugs such as ibuprofen, aspirin, and Xanax are prescribed for reducing toothache. Some of them are healthy, but Xanax can cause Xanax addiction. Consult a dentist for alternative medications that don’t have such effects. Sometimes, the best medicine is removing the tooth.
Final thoughts
A toothache can weigh you down and affect your speech, eating as well as concentration. That is why you need the above tips to help you recover fast. Most of the home remedies are effective and cheap to use. Try them before going to a pharmacy or hospital. Get well soon!
