Home remedies for toothache

Home remedies for toothache

On 18 February 202025 June 2024In Preventive Dentistry

It comes on suddenly, doesn't let you sleep and can be agonising for days - a toothache. The best way to avoid it is to take good care of your oral hygiene and visit the dentist regularly, but what can you do if it suddenly appears and you have no chance of getting to the dentist? Here are some home remedies for a toothache that will get you through the time before your appointment.

Causes of toothache

There are many causes of toothache, but caries is most often responsible for sleepless nights because of it. Advanced decay causes the pulp to become exposed and the tooth to become inflamed. We wrote about how it manifests itself and how to deal with it in our article "Tooth inflammation - unbearable pain".

Other causes of toothache can be a fracture of the enamel, lowering of the gums or inflammation of the gums, revealing a sensitive tooth neck. The first sign, of later problems, is tooth sensitivity. You may feel it when eating and drinking hot and cold food and drinks, but also when there is a stronger wind or changes in the weather. If you are struggling with tooth sensitivity, we recommend our other article - How to treat tooth sensitivity and where does it come from?

Further causes of toothache can be lymph node or jaw problems.

In all cases, it is best to make an appointment right away to a visit to the dentist. We are well aware that this is not always possible, so we present home remedies for toothache.

The image shows a mixture of different coloured pills, capsules and pharmaceutical tablets that form an aesthetically pleasing pattern. Both round and capsule-like shapes can be seen with different shades of colour, including white, blue, red, yellow, green and brown. The photograph illustrates the variety of medicines and supplements available on the market.

Painkillers

Most often we reach for them, so before discussing home remedies for toothache, we will take a moment to look at pharmaceuticals.

Paracetamol - probably the most popular drug in the UK, has analgesic and antipyretic effects. It is primarily responsible for reducing the sensitivity of pain receptors and should last an average of 4 to 6 hours. The safe dose for an adult is 4g of paracetamol.

The second most popular drug is ibuprofen. It is mainly used for fever, relieving cold and flu symptoms, and also helps with minor to moderate pain.

In the event that the above-mentioned drugs do not help, the following may be resorted to ketoprofenwhich is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug that also has an analgesic effect. However, in this case you will need a prescription from your doctor.

On the market you will find not only tablets, but also many types of gels and liquids to help relieve your toothache. However, ask your pharmacist for advice before you decide on a particular product.

The painting depicts a small transparent bottle filled with a golden-coloured liquid, probably a vegetable oil or extract. At the top of the bottle is a corked cap. Scattered around the bottle are small dried spices - these are small sticks and seeds, which may be cloves or other spices.

Home remedies for toothache

It may happen that a toothache 'catches up' with you during the night and you have not replenished your first aid kit. What can you do then? In such a situation you are left with home remedies for a toothache.

The first of these is cloveswhich have an analgesic effect. You can chew them or, if you have clove oil at home, put a few drops on cotton wool and apply it to the painful tooth. You can do the same with valerian drops.

Other home remedies for toothache include rinses. Many of them have antibacterial and analgesic effects. To prepare them, you can use an infusion of sage, which you then rinse your mouth with. Sage is known for its analgesic and, above all, anti-inflammatory effects. Chamomile is also effective and equally popular, as it has an antiseptic effect and reduces pain. 

You can also make rinses with salt or baking soda, which should ease inflammation and reduce pain. Iodine has a disinfecting effect, just dissolve a few drops in water and rinse your mouth. 

Important!  Warm rinses can intensify the pain and swelling, this happens when the tooth is inflamed. Therefore, instead of a rinse, you can make ice cubes out of the infusion you prepared beforehand and suck on them in case of a toothache.

The photograph shows a cube of frozen ice with air bubbles embedded in it. The cube is placed on a bright surface covered with fine water droplets. The image has a cool blue and purple colour scheme, creating a wintry, frosty mood.

Home remedies for toothache - compresses

Poultices are another of the home remedies for toothache. You can also crush the already mentioned cloves and apply them to the aching tooth. You can do the same with garlic. It has antiseptic and antibacterial properties and also helps to relieve pain.

Ice packs can be indispensable. However, remember not to apply it directly to the skin, as you may end up with frostbite. Take a few ice cubes, wrap them in a towel or cloth and apply them to the painful area.

IMPORTANT!

Home remedies for toothache can temporarily relieve the pain, but they do not treat the cause and cannot be used for a long period of time. Therefore, make an appointment as soon as possible to visit At the dentist, even when the tooth has stopped hurting you. Only then are you guaranteed that the pain will not return with redoubled force.

The painting depicts a woman lying in a white dental chair. She has her eyes closed and her hands raised above her head. To the right a pot with a green plant can be seen, and behind the woman's back a white brick wall and a wooden ladder. The scene probably takes place in a dentist's office with a minimalist décor.

Delusional toothache

It may happen that you go to the dentist with pain but the dentist tells you that a particular tooth is healthy. Rest assured that you have not been misled. In such situations, it often turns out that the toothache is caused by sinusitis, problems with the temporomandibular joint, hemiplegia and even some heart diseases.

Whatever the cause, don't underestimate your toothache; make an appointment as soon as possible. This will not only save you sleepless nights, but also long and more expensive treatment.

And if financial issues are stopping you from visiting the dentist - give us a call. With our instalment scheme, you don't have to pay the whole amount of your treatment at once. Instead, you can spread it over 12 instalments with zero interest.

If you want to find out more read our article Teeth on credit: dental treatment on hire purchase or Call us. Importantly, our instalment system is 100% secure and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA number 619628).

The photograph shows a man with a beard, wearing glasses and a white T-shirt. The man's mouth is wide open in an expression of surprise or screaming. He is touching his hair with one hand and holding a toothbrush with the other, suggesting that the photo is related to the topic of oral hygiene or visiting the dentist.

Prevent instead of cure

The best way to deal with a toothache is to simply not let it happen. Therefore, take care of your oral hygiene on a daily basis, brush your teeth thoroughly after every meal, and if this is not possible at least rinse your mouth with water. Don't forget your mouthwash and floss.

And most importantly, make an appointment with your dentist at least once every six months. In addition to hygiene treatments, i.e. the removal of plaque and tartar, the dentist is able to pick up even the smallest changes and problems in the mouth. This allows him or her to start treatment right away and eliminate the later problem of toothache.

 

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