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At Home Remedies for a Painful Tooth

February 25, 2017
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There is nothing in the world quite like a toothache. The pain from a damaged or infected tooth can cause people to do just about anything to relieve the suffering. When a dentist is not readily available, there are home remedies that may help ease the discomfort until you can get to the dental office. Below are a few of the more common methods of soothing a painful tooth.

Saltwater Rinses

Great-great Grandmother always recommended saltwater rinses for mouth irritations. This is still one of the best things you can do for a painful tooth. Dissolve about a half teaspoon in a glass of warm water and swish it around for half a minute. Be sure not to swallow. The salt changes the pH balance of your mouth so that an alkaline environment is created. Bacteria have a difficult time surviving under these circumstances. Salt rinses have been used for millennia as a way of keeping infection under control. They also have anti-inflammatory effects.

Kitchen Remedies for a Painful Tooth

You may not be aware of all the help available in your kitchen cupboards. In addition to salt for rinses, there are other remedies for a painful tooth in the spice cabinet. Cloves have been used for centuries and oil of clove is used in some dental preparations because of its soothing qualities. Eugenol is the active ingredient in cloves providing anesthetic properties as well as antiseptic effects. Cloves can be used whole, or you can use them ground or their oil to provide relief.

Another kitchen remedy for a painful tooth is peppermint extract. Soak a cotton ball or cotton swab in the extract and place it beside the tooth in question. Almond and vanilla extracts can be used as well. You can also take some of the extract and dab it on the painful tooth throughout the day.

Garlic has allicin in it which is an oily liquid with disease-fighting attributes. While it may make your breath less desirable, chewing garlic may help the pain and keep the infection from getting worse. As an alternative to chewing the garlic, you can mash it into a paste and put it on your painful tooth.

Hydrogen Peroxide

This is another remedy that has been used for years. It’s been proven as a powerful germ fighter and for some people it can relieve the discomfort of a painful tooth. It is very important to mix it with water. A good ratio is a 50/50 mixture of 3% hydrogen peroxide and water. Rinse your mouth for about 30 seconds and spit out. It may provide relief for a short period of time.

Ice

Some people have had great success in relieving the irritation of a painful tooth by massaging the web between the thumb and forefinger with ice. Do this on the same side of the body as the toothache for about 7 minutes. When the area is numb your painful tooth should feel better. It is thought that the ice interferes with the pain signals to the brain. You can also massage the area with a very cold fingertip or place a cold pack on your cheek; but be aware that this could also make the situation worse if your tooth has an exposed nerve.

Though home remedies are often very effective in treating a painful tooth, it is very important to see the dentist as soon as possible. An infected tooth can have serious implications if neglected. Your oral health is a cornerstone of overall health so be sure to be seen as soon as possible. At Village Park Family Dental, we are available to help ease your pain and get you on the road to recovery fast. Give us a call and make your appointment today.

Disclaimer – Use At Your Own Risk: The information on this website is for general information purposes only. Nothing on this site should be taken as advice for any individual case or situation. We will not be liable for any losses or damages in connection with the use of the information from these blogs. All blogs are meant to be educational. We advise always consulting with a professional before attempting anything written in a blog. We can not guarantee all of the services that we write about in our blogs. Any attempt to perform anything written in a blog can result in serious injury or fatality without expert guidance and oversight.

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