Are you in need of effective toothache relief?
Most people will say that there is nothing worse than waking up with tooth pain, and considering how common this problem is, we decided to mention a few ways you can treat your painful tooth at home and with the dentist.
While it’s essential to get your medical condition assessed by professionals, you can reduce toothache pain with a few simple home remedies and have a temporary relief. At the same time, you make an appointment with your dentist.
So, if you are experiencing tooth pain now, keep on reading and try out the different pain relief options we have listed.
What Causes Toothache Pain?
An aching tooth is not uncommon, and most people feel uncomfortable throbbing pain sometimes in their lives. But, what causes this painful area and sore tooth in the first place.
There are a few health conditions that cause toothache, such as:
Tooth Decay
Tooth decay or cavity is one of the most common reasons why you might be feeling tooth pain.
The decay is caused by bacteria build-up that damages the enamel and enters the inner part of the tooth called the pulp. This inner part has blood vessels, nerves, and pain receptors, so you will feel pain once it’s affected by bacteria and oxygen.
While most cavities can be fixed fast, you need to maintain proper oral hygiene and prevent food particles from getting stuck between your teeth and causing damage.
Gum Disease
Chronic periodontitis patients or people who have severe gum disease commonly have dental pain.
While pain relievers can help with the problem occasionally and for short periods of time, it’s crucial to have proper dental care and reduce inflammation of the gums.
Abscessed Tooth
An abscessed tooth is considered a dental emergency because there is a swelling and severe inflammation of the tooth. Even though you can relieve pain temporarily, you should contact your dentist immediately and get the affected tooth checked out.
If the pain you are experiencing is a throbbing pain that comes and goes, it may be a sign of an abscessed tooth. To learn more about this, read our article on throbbing tooth pain.
Sinus Infection
Some medical conditions, such as sinuses infections, can cause severe tooth pain in the entire affected area.
Temporary pain relief can help you on the spot, but you should make an appointment with your doctor and have the infection under control with antibiotics.
Tooth Fracture
The aching tooth might be sensitive because it’s chipped, damaged, or broken. The air and the bacteria coming in contact with the pulp can cause tooth pain and additional complications.
Teeth Grinding
Some patients have the habit of nervous teeth grinding, which can cause severe dental pain caused by constant tension.
While this problem can cause pain signals to flare up, it’s often a good idea to consult your wellness professionals and improve your relaxation skills.
How to Manage Dental Pain?
If you are experiencing oral discomfort, you can try one of the alternatives on the list to help with the pain until you make an appointment with your dentist.
Keep in mind that proper oral care is the best way to prevent most tooth pain, but to relieve pain immediately, you can try:
Home Remedies for Tooth Pain
Salt Water Rinse
Warm salt water has been used for many years as one of the fastest ways to relieve pain at home.
The saltwater has antibacterial properties and can help with food stuck between teeth, so if you are experiencing sharp and throbbin ache try to swish some warm water with salt for a few minutes.
Cold Compress
If you want to reduce swelling and discomfort you can keep your head elevated and apply an ice pack to the painful area.
This is especially helpful if your tooth is damaged or broken because the cold compress will restrict the blood vessels and reduce pain.
Hydrogen Peroxide Rinse
Hydrogen peroxide rinse is also considered a good treatment if you have inflamed gums, oral wounds, and dental pain. It’s one of the safest home remedies as it will reduce inflammation and help with the ache.
Just make sure you dilute the 3% hydrogen peroxide with an equal amount of water, and don’t swallow the rinse.
Fresh Garlic
You might think this is a folk remedy, but garlic actually has amazing anti-inflammatory properties and reduces pain naturally. You can crush the garlic into a sticky paste or simply chew on a clove.
Peppermint Tea Bags
Used tea bags that have been cooled down can help you with the inflammation and provide temporary relief for the discomfort. This treatment is excellent to target inflammation you might have on your gums, and you can even cool the used tea bag in the freezer before application.
Simply place the tea bag over the tooth or beside it if you have gum inflammation to manage the ache.
Vanilla Extract
Pure vanilla extract has medicinal properties because it contains alcohol, and a few drops can help you alleviate discomfort temporarily.
The antibacterial and antioxidant activities of vanilla are equally effective as peppermint tea bags.
Clove Oil
Clove oil that you can extract from ground cloves has exceptional numbing properties, and it’s a natural disinfectant because of the high eugenol content.
Because this is, like other essential oils, quite potent you must mix the clove oil with some olive oil and apply the diluted liquid to a cotton ball before placing it over the affected area.
Wheatgrass Juice
This treatment of alternative medicine is fantastic for reducing mouth pain, and inflammation and removing sticky foods from your teeth. You can drink the wheatgrass as you would peppermint tea or use it as an anti-inflammatory mouthwash.
So, if you are looking for a natural substitute for hydrogen peroxide, this might be the best solution.
Some people saturate a cotton ball and place it over the tooth as a local anesthetic to increase the efficiency.
If you are looking for more at-home toothache remedy ideas, check out our BEST home remedies for toothache.
Medication
If home remedies are not working well enough for your dental pain, you can try over-the-counter medication such as paracetamol and similar drugs.
Over-the-counter medications are easily accessible and entirely safe for use as long as you follow the instructions and get the tooth checked out by your dentist.
Dental Care
In severe cases of tooth decay and other medical emergencies, you should always visit your dentist.
Once your issue is medically reviewed, your doctor will decide on the best steps recommended by American Dental Association and advise you about the treatment.
Most of the time, you can expect:
- Removal of the cavities and filling of the tooth;
- Prescribed anti-inflammatory drugs such as antibiotics;
- If the problem is with the gums, you can expect cleaning and root planing;
- In some cases, your doctor can recommend a mouthguard that you can wear during the night;
Each of the mentioned treatments should be a pain reliever, and your aching tooth will feel better soon. In addition, peer-reviewed studies show that if you applied any of the toothache relief remedies, we recommended earlier, your healing process will be faster.
This is especially true if you used medically reviewed alternative medicine dealing with bacteria and inflammation.
FAQs
What is the best painkiller for a toothache?
The best medically reviewed and approved painkillers are Ibuprofen, Advil, Motrin, or Naproxen.
Most of the time, you can get those medicaments over the counter and safely manage pain relief. Make sure to follow the instructions and never take more than prescribed. In addition, even if the painful tooth gets better, you should always see your dentist.
Why is toothache worse at night?
Once you are lying in your bed, and your head is lower, blood easily circulates through your body, and thus the pain is increased. This is why you should try to raise your head on a bigger pillow for your aching tooth.
Why does toothache suddenly stop?
While the discomfort might be gone from the cold compress, hydrogen peroxide rinse, or other medication, it can also mean the nerve in the tooth has died.
On the other hand, this is not the end of the infection that can move on to other teeth and cause even more damage. So, even if you relieve pain, make sure to schedule a check-up with your dentist as soon as possible.
Will brushing teeth stop toothache?
Unfortunately, tooth brushing rarely helps with a sore tooth. While hygiene is crucial for your oral health, and it can help with plaque and food stuck between your teeth, it’s not going to alleviate discomfort.
Instead, you can try a few drops of clove oil or a cold compress until you get the medical care you need. Even fresh garlic and anti-inflammatory rinses will help more than just brushing with toothpaste.
How do I know if my toothache is severe?
While most dental discomfort is a reason to visit your dentist, in some cases, the situation requires immediate attention. If you have a toothache for a couple of days, fever, earache, and other symptoms, you need to schedule an appointment immediately.
These signs of severe infection, and your overall health might be jeopardized.
Final Thoughts
Experiencing any kind of discomfort is not easy, especially when you have a painful tooth. But, with our detailed guide you will know what might have caused the ache and the best remedies to alleviate discomfort for a while.
While you will feel temporary relief you need to contact your dentist and have the issue medically reviewed. Considering the painful feeling can be caused by serious conditions it’s always a good idea to consult a professional.
This way you can be sure you oral health is optimal and any occasional problems are resolved quickly. It’s the best way to preserve the beautiful smile you have.