Remedies against toothache

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Everyone has suffered from toothache at least once in their lives. It is a very annoying, intense and often disabling pain. It usually involves the area of the teeth and gums and there can be multiple causes: a cavity, an infection, receding gums or much more.  While the best advice is always to consult a dentist as soon as possible, here are 9 quick and economic remedies you can use if you have a sudden toothache and want to lessen the pain. We will use a blogpost we read on medicalnewstoday.com as support.

1. Ice packs

An ice pack, whether instant or in gel form, can provide relief from toothache - especially if the pain you feel is due to impact, trauma or swollen and inflamed gums.  If you don’t have this type of medical device at home, you can remedy this with frozen food wrapped in a soft, dry cloth. Simply position the frozen pack gently for a few minutes and the pain will subside: cold, in fact, constricts blood vessels and slows the blood flow in the area that hurts.

1. Rinsing with water and salt

A natural mouthwash made of water and salt can help you when you are suffering not only from toothache, but also with swollen gums or a bad sore throat.  Salt dissolved in lukewarm water, in fact, acts to dissolve debris that can get caught between the teeth and cause pain and dangerous infections. Simply dissolve a tablespoon of salt in a glass of lukewarm water whenever needed, rinsing for 30 seconds.

1. Painkillers

Another fast and readily available remedy is to take over-the-counter drugs such as ibuprofen or paracetamol.  As painkillers, these drugs work quickly and effectively.

1. Garlic

Did you know that garlic is a powerful antibacterial?  Used widely throughout history for its healing properties, garlic contains allicin, a substance with antibacterial properties.  Crush a clove of fresh garlic, add salt and mix. Place the resulting mixture on the sore tooth and it will provide immediate relief.

1. Peppermint tea

Peppermint has soothing properties and can help reduce tooth pain.  Menthol is also a good antibacterial.  If you have tea at home, use a spoonful and steep it in boiling water; after letting the tea cool, rinse your mouth with it for 20 seconds. A lukewarm tea bag also works: it can be placed on the sore tooth for a few minutes.

An alternative to tea bags or dried leaves is peppermint oil: pour a few drops on a cotton ball and place it gently on the tooth that hurts.

1. Thyme

Like garlic, thyme has also been used for centuries for its antiseptic and antimycotic properties.  Thymol, the main component of thyme, is also a cure-all for health problems such as bronchitis.

Use thyme essential oil mixed with water for rinsing and to feel relief; as an alternative, put a few drops on a cotton ball and press it on the hurting tooth for some relief.

1. Aloe vera

Aloe vera gel is made from the leaves of the aloe plant.  This remedy has also long been used to treat burns and cuts; today, aloe vera is also used to relieve inflamed gums.  Scientific studies have shown that aloe vera gel is an effective antibacterial.

If you have it, you will be pleased to know that you can massage the gel onto the sore area in your mouth and feel immediate relief.

1. Hydrogen peroxide rinses

Rinsing your teeth with water and hydrogen peroxide is a good solution especially if the toothache is caused by an ongoing infection.  However, it bears stressing that this remedy should only be done carefully by adults. Under no circumstances should the solution of water and hydrogen peroxide be swallowed: you must only use it to rinse between the teeth for thirty seconds and then spit it out.

What’s more, hydrogen peroxide should always be diluted with water, and the mouth should be rinsed with water several times afterwards.

1. Cloves

Cloves are a spice native to Indonesia which contains eugenol, a chemical compound that is considered a natural anaesthetic.  Cloves also provide anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties.  In the event of toothaches, they can diminish pain as well as soothe a gum infection.

Cloves can be used in two ways to fight toothache:

• gently chew on a clove with the aching tooth for about 30 minutes, allowing the essential oil it contains to be released.
• Put a few drops of clove oil on a cotton ball and place it on the hurting tooth.

Did you know about these natural remedies for toothaches?  Let us know, contact the Dispotech team!