Toothaches are one of those pains which make a person very irritable, and the case becomes even worse if you develop a severe one out of a sudden. Find out some tips for emergency toothache relief ahead!

Emergency toothache relief:

Usually, people develop such a complaint when they have dental caries, abscesses, tooth injuries, and gum diseases. The good thing about them is most of these conditions are easily curable! However, you will need to visit your dentist for that.

Meanwhile, you can try some natural home remedies to provide instant temporary relief from toothache. It will buy you some time to make an appointment with your dentist.

Natural home remedies for toothache relief:

Although you can take over-the-counter painkillers, like aspirin, naproxen, ibuprofen, etc, for immediate relief of your toothache, they are not super effective on tooth pain.

Instead, here are several natural/alternative remedies which have been scientifically proven to be very effective, and you can use them for emergency toothache relief.

1. Clove oil

Cloves have been used as an instant remedy for toothache since ancient times. Today’s science also admits their efficacy. Research has found that clove oil contains an active ingredient, eugenol, which has remarkable numbing properties.

This natural analgesic, when applied topically over the sore tooth, blocks the receptors responsible for sensitivity and pain, and you get an immediate sense of relief. [1] Besides, it also reduces swelling and inflammation and promotes healing of the diseased tooth. [2]

How to use clove oil for teeth:

Clove oil is easily available at local grocery stores, pharmacies, or supermarkets. To apply;

  • Take 1 teaspoon of olive oil (carrier oil) in a small dish.
  • Add a few drops of clove oil to it.
  • Now soak a cotton swab into this mixture.
  • Place this cotton swab over the aching tooth for 5 to 10 minutes and allow the oil to settle.
  • Repeat after every 2 to 3 hours till the pain is relieved.

2. Ice packs

Applying cold compression using ice packs is another easy and quick way to alleviate toothache. The cold not only desensitizes the nerve endings and makes the area numb but also has a vasoconstricting effect.

In simple words, it constricts your blood vessels which, in turn, reduces the pain, swelling, and inflammation of gums and teeth.

How to use ice packs:

  • Take an ice pack or bag and wrap it in a cloth preferably a towel.
  • Keep it gently over your jaw or side of the face for 15 to 20 minutes.
  • Don’t chew ice or place it over the teeth directly as it may cause more harm than good.

3. Saltwater

A solution of common salt is an excellent natural antiseptic against oral bacteria. [3] Swishing it around in your mouth for a few seconds not only kills the bacteria but also brings them to the surface so when you spit out the water, the bacteria also get washed away.

A study has found that using a saltwater rinse heals oral sores and ulcers, and makes the gums healthy. [4] Besides, the salt also helps in soothing the inflammation.

How to use saltwater for tooth pain:

  • The American Dental Association recommends mixing 1 teaspoon of table salt in 8 ounces of water to make a saltwater rinse.
  • Swish this saltwater solution in your mouth for about 30 seconds.
  • Spit it out. Remember not to swallow it.

4. Garlic cloves

Freshly chopped or crushed garlic cloves contain a compound, allicin, which possesses many medicinal properties. Research studies have found it very effective in killing bacteria responsible for dental caries and toothaches. [5]

How to use garlic for toothache:

There are two ways of using garlic for immediate toothache relief;

  • Chew a peeled garlic clove
  • Crush garlic using a mortar or the back of the spoon to form a paste-like consistency, and then apply it over the painful tooth with your finger.

Remember allicin has a very short life, so you need freshly chopped garlic to treat the toothache.

5. Peppermint tea

Peppermint tea can alleviate toothache for a short time due to its mild numbing properties. Moreover, it also kills bacteria notorious for causing tooth decay. [6]

Using peppermint tea is, therefore, a good option to temporarily soothe your tooth pain before you see your dentist.

How to use tea for tooth pain:

  • Boil a cup of water.
  • Add a peppermint tea bag to it.
  • Now remove the teabag and allow the tea to cool down.
  • Use this cold tea to rinse your mouth and repeat if needed.

6. Guava leaves

Guava leaves are not usually present in homes but if you do have them, they are a very good solution for your toothache. They are known for their antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects and can be used to blunt tooth pain as well. [7, 8]

How to use guava leaves for toothache:

You can either chew them or make mouthwash out of them by boiling crushed guava leaves in water.

7. Aloe vera mouthwash

Don’t worry if you don’t have or find guava leaves. You can easily get an aloe vera mouthwash from the supermarket and keep it at home, not only for such toothache emergencies but also for regular use.

A study has proved that aloe vera mouthwash is as much effective for curing and preventing periodontal diseases, as commonly used germicidal mouthwashes containing chlorhexidine. [9] You can use it for relieving the symptoms like a toothache.

How to use aloe vera for teeth:

  • Take a sip of aloe vera mouthwash and swish it in your mouth for about 30 seconds.
  • Spit it out
  • Repeat it twice a day

8. Baking soda

Last but not the least; you can use baking soda for emergency tooth relief as well. It has bactericidal properties and can be applied over the sore tooth for temporary pain relief.

How to use baking soda for teeth:

  • Take a small amount of baking soda and add a few drops of water to make a paste-like consistency.
  • Apply it over the aching tooth with the help of your finger.

9. Elevate your head

Sometimes, pressure on the diseased tooth is the main culprit behind the exacerbation of pain symptoms. Elevating your head while sleeping or using a high pillow puts off this pressure, and reduces your toothache significantly.

black woman suffering from toothache

Common misconceptions about emergency toothache relief:

Here are some wrong but very common perceptions found among people regarding instant toothache remedies.

Does aspirin work for toothaches?

It is commonly believed that placing an aspirin tablet adjacent to the sore tooth will relieve the pain. However, there is no truth in that.

Aspirin and other pain-relievers work only when they enter the bloodstream via the stomach after they have been taken orally. Secondly, placing aspirin in the mouth may cause a chemical burn on the gums and cheek tissue.

Toothache gone means problem solved:

If the intensity of your toothache has reduced or even if the pain seems to be completely gone, it does not mean that the issue has been resolved.

You might be feeling no pain because the nerve responsible for pain sensation may have died due to the disease process, or sometimes, the root cause is tooth decay which is characterized by pain that comes and goes.

Keep in mind that the instant remedies we have discussed above have only a temporary effect. So, it is advised to always visit your dentist to have a thorough dental check-up.

Bottom line on emergency toothache relief:

Sudden toothaches are quite irritating and warrant a proper check-up from a dentist. In the meantime you reach the doctor, you can try some easy and natural home remedies for emergency toothache relief.

These include applying cold compressions, using clove oil and garlic, swishing your mouth with saltwater, peppermint tea, or aloe vera rinse, etc.

Other related articles:

  1. 11 Amazing Benefits Of Oatmeal
  2. Healthiest Leafy Greens To Consume
  3. Vegan Pantry Staples
  4. Health Benefits Of Intermittent Fasting
  5. What Is Sea Moss Gel?

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References

  1. Asl MK, Nazariborun A, Hosseini M. Analgesic effect of the aqueous and ethanolic extracts of clove. Avicenna journal of phytomedicine. 2013;3(2):186.
  2. Jesudasan JS, Wahab PA, Sekhar MM. Effectiveness of 0.2% chlorhexidine gel and a eugenol-based paste on postoperative alveolar osteitis in patients having third molars extracted: a randomised controlled clinical trial. British Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. 2015 Nov 1;53(9):826-30.
  3. Aravinth V, Narayanan MA, Kumar SR, Selvamary AL, Sujatha A. Comparative evaluation of salt water rinse with chlorhexidine against oral microbes: a school-based randomized controlled trial. Journal of Indian Society of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry. 2017 Oct 1;35(4):319.
  4. Huynh NC, Everts V, Leethanakul C, Pavasant P, Ampornaramveth RS. Rinsing with saline promotes human gingival fibroblast wound healing in vitro. PloS one. 2016 Jul 21;11(7):e0159843.
  5. Arreola R, Quintero-Fabián S, López-Roa RI, Flores-Gutiérrez EO, Reyes-Grajeda JP, Carrera-Quintanar L, Ortuño-Sahagún D. Immunomodulation and anti-inflammatory effects of garlic compounds. Journal of immunology research. 2015 Oct;2015.
  6. Thosar N, Basak S, Bahadure RN, Rajurkar M. Antimicrobial efficacy of five essential oils against oral pathogens: An in vitro study. European journal of dentistry. 2013 Sep;7(S 01):S071-7.
  7. Jose J, Krishnamma S, Peedikayil F, Aman S, Tomy N, Mariodan JP. Comparative evaluation of antimicrobial activity of QMiX, 2.5% Sodium Hypochlorite, 2% Chlorhexidine, Guava Leaf extract and Aloevera extract against Enterococcus faecalis and Candida albicans–An in-vitro Study. Journal of clinical and diagnostic research: JCDR. 2016 May;10(5):ZC20.
  8. Varghese J, Ramenzoni LL, Shenoy P, Nayak UY, Nayak N, Attin T, Schmidlin PR. In vitro evaluation of substantivity, staining potential, and biofilm reduction of guava leaf extract mouth rinse in combination with its anti-inflammatory effect on human gingival epithelial keratinocytes. Materials. 2019 Jan;12(23):3903.
  9. Vangipuram S, Jha A, Bhashyam M. Comparative efficacy of aloe vera mouthwash and chlorhexidine on periodontal health: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of clinical and experimental dentistry. 2016 Oct;8(4):e442.