The most common symptoms of a toothache include a sharp, throbbing or constant pain, swelling around the tooth, fever, and a headache.
In most cases, tooth pain is a result of cavities, but it might also be a result of other causes as well, such as:
- Tooth decay
- A damaged filling
- Abscessed tooth
- Infected gums/ Gum disease
- Tooth fracture
- Repetitive motions, such as chewing hard foods or grinding teeth
- Tooth eruption ( in small children)
- An abnormal bite
These days, we have numerous options to choose in order to soothe a toothache, but before modern dentistry, people used natural remedies only.
Yet, these natural alternatives are highly effective and can be of great help when you suffer from a toothache and would rather avoid visiting your dentist.
These are the twelve most effective ones:
Essential Oils
One 2014 study found that:- “Essential oil rinses are found to be equally effective in inhibiting plaque. A study carried out by Pizzo et al. on plaque inhibitory effect of amine fluoride/stannous fluoride and essential oils showed no significant difference in efficacy of both.
- As chlorhexidine causes staining of teeth on long-term use, essential oils can be used as an alternative to chlorhexidine rinse. Essential oils have shown to possess antimicrobial activity against subgingival periopathogens, too.”
- For best effects, use clove, tea tree oil, peppermint, myrrh, cinnamon, and spearmint.
- Peppermint Tea
- A 2013 study found that peppermint oil has potent antiseptic properties which are useful against oral pathogens.
- You should drink peppermint tea with a teaspoon of peppermint leaves steeped for 15-20 minutes, to treat bad breath and toothaches.
Clove Oil
- Clove oil is high in eugenol, which has powerful antiseptic and anesthetic properties that destroy germs and relieve gum pain.
- Studies have found that it is as effective as benzocaine in numbing pain.
- You should combine a few drops of this oil with a teaspoon of coconut oil, and use a cotton ball, apply the mixture to the painful area.
- When the place is numb, remove it, and wash the mouth.
- You can also chew a few cloves using the painful side of the mouth.
Vanilla Extract
- The scent of vanilla soothes the anxiety linked to a toothache, and its alcohol content numbs the pain.
- Therefore, dab vanilla extracts on the finger and rub it onto the painful tooth twice daily to relieve the pain.
Turmeric Paste
- Mix a teaspoon of turmeric powder, several drops of peppermint oil, and a tablespoon of coconut oil, and prepare a paste.
- Then, brush the teeth and leave it to act for a few minutes. And rinse.
- It has strong antiviral and antibacterial properties and will help you fight bad breath, irritations, gum redness, and tooth stains.
Ginger Cayenne Paste
- Mix cayenne and ginger in equal amounts, add some water and prepare a paste.
- Then, apply it on the painful place using a cotton ball, and leave it to act in order to soothe the pain and swelling, fight off infection, and control bleeding.
Salt Water Gargle
- Add a teaspoon of salt to a cup of boiling water, and as soon as it cools, gargle it for half a minute.
- This will alleviate pain and infections, remove debris, and ease the swelling.
Myrrh
- According to RDH, “myrrh’s astringent properties help with inflammation, and a rinse can offer the added benefit of reducing bacteria”.
- To prepare a homemade myrrh rinse, simmer a teaspoon of myrrh in 2 cups of water, leave it to cool, and use it several times during the day.
Raw Garlic
- Garlic effectively fights fungi, bacteria, and viruses. You should crush the clove, leave it for a couple of minutes to activate its compounds, add some salt, and apply it to the painful tooth.
- You can also chew clove several times daily using the affected tooth.
- Ice
- To soothe the swelling and pain before going to the dentist, apply an ice or a cold compress on the cheek.
Chewing Gum
- The area around a broken tooth, or around a tooth which lacks the filling is irritated and painful.
- To relieve this pain, chew a gum on the opposite side of the mouth and apply it onto the painful tooth.
Acupressure
- Press the hand on the affected side, on the place where the base of the index finger and the thumb meet, and hold for several minutes.
- This will stimulate the release of endorphins, which will relieve the pain.
