Toothaches can be agonizing.
Trying to sleep with an aching tooth is a near impossible task, because the pain is simply unbearable. Ideally, you should contact your dentist the instant you start experiencing those sharp stabs of pain from your tooth or gum, but sometimes this is not possible. In such instances, knowing how to temporarily relieve the immense pain before a dentist can check your teeth and completely treat the ailing tooth is very important.
There are many reasons why people experience tooth pain, but the source of pain is one. Tooth aches occur when the pulp, which is the part of the tooth that has highly sensitive nerve endings, becomes inflamed or irritated. This pain is quickly transmitted to the brain and that is where the agony starts. Causes of pulp inflammation are varied; you can have the pulp inflamed by an infection, a broken tooth, gum disease, an exposed root, a loose filling, and the dreaded cavities among other things.
In order to ease the pain a little before you reach a dentist, you can try out one of these home remedies for tooth pain and have a bearable wait for the dentist. All of these remedies work to numb the nerves in the pulp or at least prevent them from sending pain impulses to the brain, but even if you do get temporary relief, you should still visit a dentist so that the real cause of pain can be cleared out.
1. Use Ice Cubes
Ice is widely known to have numbing properties; much like how cold causes numbness and insensitivity to pain. Being one of the most common substances in homes, you should consider using it to relieve your tooth of pain. Place an ice cube in a plastic bag, then wrap that bag with a light cloth. After that, place the wrapped ice cube on the painful tooth and the pain should subside. Alternatively, you can place the wrapped cube on your cheek over the painful tooth for a similar effect.
2. Clove Oil
In addition to being a favorite spice for many cooks due to its appealing flavor, clove does have important medial uses too. For one thing, one of the components of clove oil is eugenol, a natural aesthetic. This helps in numbing the nerves and consequentially easing pain. If you however choose to use clove oil, be careful not to pour it directly on the affected tooth as this can worsen the pain. The correct way of doing this is pouring two drops of clove oil on a cotton ball, and then rubbing this on the painful tooth. Alternatively, you can chew a whole clove or place it on the painful tooth, and the effect should be the same: reduction of pain.
3. Hydrogen Peroxide
Another way you an ease tooth pain temporarily is by rinsing your mouth with 3% hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide should kill the germs and bacteria that are causing you agony, as well as ease your pain. However, be careful not to swallow this solution, because it is intended to be used only as a rinsing solution. Alternatively, you might consider gaggling a mouthful of a solution of common salt for the same effect.
4. Ginger- Cayenne paste
If you want to fight fire with fire, then this is the remedy for you. Both these spices are fiery, but very effective painkillers. You should make a paste of them both, and then saturate a cotton ball with the paste. Place the ball on the tooth for as long as you can bear, but never let the paste come into contact with your tongue or gum. This should help the pain go down a great deal.
Conclusion
One cannot overemphasize the importance of visiting a dentist in the event of a toothache, but before you get the chance to, you can use these very effective home remedies for tooth pain to ease the pain a bit. And remember, the best way to avoid a toothache is to practice good oral hygiene and eat healthy foods. Prevention is always better than cure, isn’t it? For more information or to watch videos, go to our Garden Grove Dentist videos page.
