Having a toothache can be a major pain. Literally.
Especially when you don’t always have the chance to get straight to the dentist to figure out what’s causing your tooth to hurt in the first place. That’s when some at-home emergency toothache relief tactics can come to the rescue.
What Causes Tooth Pain?
When you have a toothache, you will feel pain around your teeth and jaws. It can be caused by several things, including infection, tooth decay, receding gums, among other things.
If your pain is ongoing for more than a couple of days, you should go and get it treated as soon as possible. Until then though, follow these easy remedies for your emergency toothache relief.
Emergency Toothache Relief: 5 Tips
1. Cold Therapy
Cold therapy works especially well if the pain is due to swollen gums or an injury. You can use a cold compress or ice pack to help ease the pain. The person can hold the ice pack or cold object on the outside of their cheek by their painful tooth, rotating it on and off for a few minutes at a time.
So what exactly does cold therapy do? Glad you asked. When you use cold therapy treatment, your blood vessels constrict and slow down the flow of your blood to your affected area helping to reduce inflammation in the painful area.
2. Cloves
Using cloves for pain relief is a trick that has been around for years. All you do is take a clove, throw it in your mouth, and hold it on the area that is affected, and just like magic, the pain is reduced. Cloves work so well because they contain a chemical compound called eugenol which acts as a natural anesthetic and is very anti-inflammatory.
A person can use either the clove itself, or they can use clove oil. It is very strong and does not take much to feel the effects, so make sure you only use one or two drops. If you don’t have any clove oil laying around, you can just make your own. All you need to do is mix ground cloves, water, and a little olive oil and create a paste-type substance to use instead.
Dried cloves can also be used. You just need to chew on the cove so it can release the oil, and then hold it in place on the affected area for around 30 minutes.
3. Garlic
Garlic has a powerful compound called allicin, an antibacterial property. It is something that has been used for a long time for medicinal purposes. Sure, it might give you some funky breath, but it’ll come in handy to relieve your toothache.
The process of applying the garlic to the affected area should be crushed and mixed with salt, then applied to the affected area.
4. Saltwater Rinse
One of the best ways you can give yourself some relief from pain is to rinse your mouth out with warm, salty water. This will help to loosen up any particles that are stuck in cavities or in-between your teeth and possibly reduce inflammation and swelling.
A good mix for this is ½ teaspoon of salt per 8 ounces of water. Swish the mixture around for about 30 seconds, and be sure to spit it out and don’t swallow it. This process can be repeated as many times as you need.
5. Peppermint Tea
Peppermint can be a great way for you to find some relief from your toothache. It has a compound called menthol, which acts as an antibacterial, and also gives it the minty smell and flavor. To make the tea, you place one teaspoon of dried peppermint leaves into a pot of boiling water and let it steep for around 20 minutes.
Once you let it cool down, you can swish it around your mouth and spit it out. You can also use a peppermint tea bag that is warm and damp to hold against the affected area until you feel the pain lessen. A few drops of peppermint oil on a cotton ball placed against the affected tooth is another temporary remedy.
When You Should See a Dentist For Emergency Toothache Relief
These remedies are meant to provide you with quick, but temporary relief and are not a permanent fix for your toothache. Many times a toothache is a sign of a greater problem that needs professional assistance. If your toothache is lasting for more than a day or two, seek treatment from a dentist.
If your pain is not treated right away, it could lead to more serious problems like gum disease. The best way to avoid toothaches and other mouth infections are to have a good routine with your dental hygiene.
You can do this by taking the following steps:
- Brush your teeth twice a day for at least 2 minutes.
- Be sure to floss and clean between your teeth
- Have regular dental checkups
- Cut back on sugary foods and drinks
Hopefully, these emergency toothache relief steps will help you avoid any infections and toothaches, and give you a healthy and bright smile.
Schedule Your Checkup With Wayzata Dental!
If you are looking to schedule a checkup, feel free to contact Wayzata Dental. We would love to bring you in for an appointment.
Remember, if you have a toothache that is lasting for more than a couple of days, you should go and see a dentist for treatment and advice.