Home Remedies for Toothache

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Home Remedies for ToothacheToothache refers to pain in the teeth and/or their supporting structures due to dental diseases or pain resulting from non-dental diseases. It is also known as dental pain, dentalgia, odontalgia, odontodynia, or odontogenic pain.

According to Web MD, the causes of toothache include abscessed tooth, a damaged filling, tooth decay, tooth fracture, infected gums, and repetitive movements like chewing gum or grinding teeth. The symptoms of a toothache may include swelling around the tooth, a tooth pain that may be sharp, excruciating, or constant. There are also instances in which pain is present and this happens when pressure is present.

Another home remedy is to bite on a cotton ball soaked in oil of cloves, according to emedicinehealth. Clove oil is known as a remedy for toothache for a long period of time. As per Best Health Mag, clove oil has the ability to destroy bacteria and the extract from the clove bud also has a substance called eugenol, which gives a numbing effect because of its local anesthetic properties. Oil of cloves can be easily accessed at most drugstores.

Ginger and red pepper may serve as substitute for cloves. In powdered form, the ginger and red pepper are poured in a cup. Then, water is added to until the mixture’s consistency is pasty. After that, a small cotton ball is rolled into the paste, just enough to saturate it. Soaked with the paste, the cotton ball is then placed on the affected tooth. According to Best Health Mag, the cotton should be kept on the tooth, as the mixture can irritate the gums. Also, the spices can be used separately.

While clove oil is available in pharmacies, whole cloves offer similar effect. According to Best Health Mag, they are just put inside the mouth and are allowed to moisten until soft. After that, they are crushed using the unaffected molars to release their oil. Then, the softened cloves should be held against the painful tooth for up to 30 minutes.

Peppermint tea is one of the effective remedies for toothache, as per Reader’s Digest. Aside from its pleasant flavor, peppermint tea also has some numbing power through its components called tannins, which reduce swelling. It is prepared by putting one teaspoon dried peppermint leaves in a cup of boiling water and leaving it for 20 minutes. Once the tea cools, it is swished around the mouth and then spit or swallowed. Interestingly, a warm wet tea bag can also be placed on the affected tooth for momentary pain relief.

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A homemade saline solution can also be a helpful relief for toothache. According to Reader’s Digest, a teaspoon of salt dissolved in a cup of boiled water can be used as a mouthwash, which helps eliminate pain by cleaning the debris around the tooth and reducing the inflammation within the tooth. The solution is swished for about half a minute before it is spit out. This can be repeated as necessary.

A tincture of myrrh can also help relieve toothache, as it can reduce inflammation as well as help kill harmful bacteria in the mouth, as per Best Health Mag . To prepare, one teaspoon of powdered myrrh is added to two cups of water for 30 minutes. Then, it is strained and allowed to cool. After that, one teaspoon of the solution is added to a half-cup water and is used to rinse the mouth. This can be done for five to six times a day.

After all non-pharmacological home remedies have been employed, over-the-counter pain medications may be considered. Examples of such medications are acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen (Advil). According to emedicinehealth, it is an important consideration to take the medications as directed on the package, along with right dose and right time.

While there a number of remedies for toothache, most toothaches can be prevented. Observing healthy oral hygiene routine will greatly help prevent tooth decay and toothaches, as most toothaches are caused by tooth decay. This routine includes brushing your teeth regularly, flossing once daily, and having a visit to the dentist two times a year of professional cleaning.

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