10 Treatments for a Toothache
Treatments for a Toothache
There’s nothing worse than an achy, throbbing tooth. If you’re experiencing this type of pain, start with a few at-home remedies designed to treat infections and reduce inflammation. These may be enough to solve the problem and alleviate your pain. Just remember—you should never use aspirin on an aching tooth, and if your symptoms last more than a day or two, call Dr. Evanson for advice. Here are the best at-home treatments for a toothache.
Rinse with Salt Water
The first and easiest treatment you should try is to make a salt water rinse. Dissolve 1/4 teaspoon salt in 1/2 cup warm water and use it as a mouthwash. Salt is a natural disinfectant able to reduce inflammation and heal oral wounds. Plus, swishing with water can help loosen food particles and debris stuck between your teeth.
Rinse with Hydrogen Peroxide
A 50/50 solution of 3 percent hydrogen peroxide and water makes an antibacterial mouthwash that reduces inflammation and relieves pain from a toothache. It can also reduce plaque buildup and heal sore, bleeding gums.
Apply a Cold Compress
When your skin becomes cold, the blood vessels constrict, numbing the pain and reducing swelling. This technique can quell toothaches of all sorts, but it’s especially effective for pain caused by trauma. Wrap a bag of ice or frozen peas with a towel and place it on your cheek for 20 minutes at a time. Repeat every few hours.
Numb the Pain with Peppermint Tea Bags
If your pain is caused by sensitive gums, steep a cup of peppermint tea and save the tea bag. Let it cool slightly before applying it to the achy area. You can also put a used peppermint tea bag in the freezer for a couple of minutes to chill it and enjoy an added numbing effect when you place it on your gums.
Chew on Garlic
The medicinal properties of garlic include the ability to kill bacteria and relieve pain. Crush a clove of garlic into a paste, add a dash of salt, and spread it on your achy tooth.
Apply Vanilla Extract
The antioxidant properties of vanilla extract make it an effective healing agent. It also contains alcohol, which numbs the pain. Moisten a cotton swab with vanilla extract and apply to the affected area a few times throughout the day.
Apply Clove or Thyme Oil
Clove essential oil contains eugenol, a natural antiseptic that numbs pain and reduces inflammation. Then, thyme is an antibacterial and antioxidant agent. Moisten a cotton swab with either oil followed by a drop or two of olive oil to dilute it slightly. Then, apply the oil to the affected area a few times throughout the day. Alternatively, you can make a mouthwash with 1/2 cup water and a drop of clove or thyme essential oil.
Chew on Guava Leaves
The anti-inflammatory properties of these tropical leaves can help wounds heal. Their antimicrobial activity makes them especially effective for oral care. Chew on guava leaves or crush the leaves and add them to boiling water to create a mouthwash.
Rinse with Wheatgrass Juice
Wheatgrass is celebrated for its ability to heal when taken internally. You can also use it as a mouthwash to relieve inflammation and prevent oral infections.
Dr. Evanson Offers Professional Treatments for a Toothache
If a serious problem such as an abscess or deeply rooted infection is the reason for your toothache, at-home remedies may not be sufficient. As already stated, you should call Dr. Evanson if your pain doesn’t subside after a day or two while implementing these treatments. We have several techniques for treating your toothache, including:
- Root planing and scaling to remove harmful bacteria and plaque trapped under the gum line.
- Root canals to clean out the nerve and hopefully save the tooth.
- Fillings and dental crowns to restore badly decayed teeth.
- Abscess draining and rinsing to clean out pus from a localized infection.
- Tooth extraction if an infection, abscess, or crack makes it impossible to save the tooth.
If you’re experiencing a toothache that can’t be remedied within a day or two of at-home treatments, please call Evanson DDS right away at (720) 409-0008 or contact us online to set an emergency appointment.
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