Toothache is a serious, and extremely painful condition. As soon as you start experiencing discomfort you need to set up an appointment with your dentist immediately. Not getting that pain checked could have disastrous consequences for your health such as abscesses, swelling, and even tooth loss.
There are many reasons why a patient can be experiencing a toothache, and sometimes it is not to worry. However, if patients cannot seem to find relief in homemade remedies, the best recommendation is to consult with a dentist immediately.
Obviously, sometimes you can’t just hop in your car and drive over to the dentist’s office right away (for example, when you start feeling the pain in the middle of the night). So, what do you do in the meantime to relieve pain?
There are a few tips and tricks that patients can follow to keep the discomfort to a minimum. Even though it is for temporary relief, it can help you to tolerate dental pain.
What are the common causes of toothache pain?
Tooth pain can be caused by different conditions. Gum disease and issues with the tooth pulp are the reasons for the pain since these are filled with many nerves, blood vessels, and soft tissue.
A sore tooth can be caused by tooth decay, a broken tooth, an infected tooth like an abscess, gum infection, a damaged filling, wisdom teeth eruption, inflammation, and other similar oral health conditions.
If you are suffering from some of these, the best recommendation is to make an appointment with your dentist immediately. It can be something as simple as plaque that can be treated with a deep cleaning, but it can also be something more serious that requires special treatment like a root canal.
At Dental Solutions Los Algodones we have prepared dentists that will help you to improve your oral health, give you the right diagnosis, and guide you through the entire treatment.
How to treat a sore tooth? Relieve pain at home
If you cannot see a dentist immediately, there are some homemade treatments that are helpful to cope with a painful tooth.
Pain medications are the first thing to keep in mind, but there are also natural remedies that are effective as pain relievers and reduce inflammation.
Pain medications to reduce pain
The obvious solution is to take pain relievers. Any over-the-counter drug such as ibuprofen, aspirin, naproxen, or acetaminophen will do the trick. Not only will help with the pain, but also will reduce inflammation in the affected area.
Salt water for infections
There are dozens of house remedies that help with toothaches, and a lot of the actually are quite effective. The simplest one is salt water. Mix about half a spoon of salt in a glass of water; it will reduce the swelling (if any) and help against the infection.
Even though room temperature water will help, warm water will reduce swelling and kill bacteria along with the salt.
Hydrogen peroxide rinse
Hydrogen peroxide (3% solution) is a great remedy against infection and inflammation. Mix the same parts of hydrogen peroxide and water, and rinse your mouth with it at least 3 times a day. Don’t swallow, hydrogen peroxide is just to clean and disinfect the mouth.
Cold compress for swelling
A cold compress can help with pain and swelling. It is recommended for a wisdom tooth, an aching tooth, or gum inflammation. You can put an ice pack around the painful area for 20 minutes. Repeat every few hours to reduce the pain.
Cold compress might not be efficient if you have more serious toothaches, so it is recommended to use complementary methods.
Clove oil
Rubbing clover oil also helps quite a bit since it has anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antioxidant, and anesthetic properties.
Clove oil is great to treat infection and swelling. It also helps to reduce the pain and numbs the painful area. Put a few drops of the oil in a glass of water and rinse your mouth with it. Another solution is to put a few drops on a cotton ball and apply it on the aching tooth.
Peppermint tea bag
Peppermint tea is great for toothache since it has soothing properties that can reduce pain. You can put a warm tea bag on top of an aching tooth and gum for a few minutes. You can also just drink peppermint tea, but try to maintain it in your mouth for a couple of seconds before swallowing it.
Vanilla extract
You can use a cotton ball to apply the vanilla extract on red gums and all around the affected area. Vanilla extract has alcohol and antioxidants that numb the pain and fight against any possible infection.
Garlic paste
Garlic can kill bacteria, so you can create a paste with it and apply it on the gums and aching tooth. It doesn’t taste the best, but it is an efficient method to treat infection until you can see your dentist.
As an alternative, you can also chew a piece of onion (which has much of the same properties). In order to lessen the pain, you can rub the area with garlic powder mixed with salt.
None of these are permanent solutions. You may relieve the pain for a little bit, but the only way to get rid of is to attack the cause, and for that, you need to get to the dentist as soon as possible.
How to prevent toothaches?
Nobody likes to experience uncomfortable tooth pain. There are ways to prevent going through this, and it is quite simple. Following the next tips, you can prevent toothache or, if you already have one, avoid making it worse.
Avoid hard and chewy foods
Hard foods can cause damage to your teeth. It can break your teeth or hurt your gums easily, which can lead to toothache. If you have to make a noticeable effort to bite, it is better not to eat it.
If you already have a toothache, any food that forces you to chew or exert pressure on the afflicted area is a sure way to make your life miserable. If you can crush it with a fork it’s probably soft enough to eat without causing you any severe pain. Soft foods like baked potato are perfect since it’s so soft you’ll barely have to chew at all, soup is also a great choice just like yogurt, spaghetti, and cottage cheese.
Keep a proper hygiene routine to prevent tooth decay
The best recommendation is to maintain a good dental cleaning routine. Brush with fluoride toothpaste, floss every single day and rinse with mouthwash. Not only you will remove all bacteria and food particles, but you can prevent swelling, infections, and gum diseases.
See a dentist at least twice a year
Regular dental work is needed, and you need to see a dentist at least twice a year. The doctor will help you to keep your oral health intact, offer any dental treatment that is needed, and prevent future problems.
At Dental Solutions we have a professional team prepared to help you with any dental problem. On your first visit, the doctor will give you a diagnosis and it will guide you through the best treatment for you. All of this with the best prices available, allowing you to save up to 50% compared with other countries. Contact us right now to make your first appointment!
