A lot of different kinds of pain that
the human body suffers can be almost unbearable, but nothing compares to
the pain you feel when you have a toothache.
Toothaches
can be very dangerous because the teeth are closest to the brain than
any other organ. There are easier and more natural procedures to get rid
of the discomfort than the severe treatments that the dentists perform
just to relieve the pain.
On the other hand, if any of these methods are unsuccessful, you should visit your dentist.
What is a toothache caused by?
Besides
painful cavities, which are the main reason for a toothache, there are
many other factors that can lead to an increase in pain.
Here are the other conditions that can cause a toothache:
- Unusual bites
- Inflamed gums
- Chewing aggressively and teeth grinding
- Tooth crack
- A damaged filling
- Tooth decay
- Abscessed tooth
- Tooth eruption
These conditions are recognizable by different symptoms, such as:
Sharp
sudden toothache, unusual discomfort or severe tooth pain. In some of
the situations, the pain appears with every pressure applied on the
tooth. It can also be triggered by a tooth swelling, migraine or a
fever.
Pain
in the tooth that lasts longer than a couple of days needs to be
addressed immediately. If the pain is followed by a fever, earache or
cavity pain which disables swallowing and chewing, you need to take
additional action to treat it.
For less severe tooth pain, follow this list of 11 home treatments that could help cure it:
1. Salt water gargle
Mix together one teaspoon of salt with one cup of boiled
water. This will help heal your throat and keep your oral cavity
healthy. Just be careful not to burn yourself with the water. Gargle the
mix for half a minute then spit it out, you can repeat if it is
required.
2. Ginger Cayenne paste
This treatment will increase your oral health while keeping
you safe from pain, infection, bleeding, and swelling. Mix parts of
cayenne and ginger and form a paste. Use a cotton ball to soak into the
paste and then apply on the tooth. Try to avoid putting the paste on the
gums and tongue. Leave it on the tooth until the pain is gone and make
sure not to swallow it.
3. Peppermint Tea
Peppermint oil helps reduce inflammation and as confirmed in
many studies, it is the right choice when it comes to dealing with pain.
You can make a peppermint tea from one teaspoon of peppermint leaves
minimum and soak it in water for 20 minutes. Also, you can apply the
peppermint oil directly to the painful area.
4. Clove oil
Clove oil can help reduce gum pain and kill off bacteria
because it contains a lot of eugenols, which is an antiseptic and
anesthetic substance. Make a mix of one tablespoon coconut oil and 2-3
drops of clove oil. Place the mixture on the hurting area and hold it
for several minutes. Remove the cotton ball when the area starts to
stiffen and be careful not to swallow the clove oil. Also, you can chew a
few cloves when the pain is strong. Afterward, you should remove all
cloves and rinse well.
5. Raw Garlic
Garlic is of a great help for different health problems,
including a toothache. It is rich with allicin, which helps with
destroying any kind of bacteria or infection in the mouth. Make sure to
always use raw garlic, because the heat changes its properties. Crush a
clove of garlic and leave it 15 minutes so it can release its beneficial
properties. After that, you can mix it with salt and apply it on the
painful spot, or chew it at the affected area.
Proceed with one of the treatments 2-3 times during the day
6. Myrrh
Experts say myrrh’s properties help with inflammation, and
used as a rinse It can reduce bacteria. Make a mix of one teaspoon of
powdered myrrh with two cups of hot water. Leave it to cool off, after
that use it as a rinse up to six times per day. Always do the rinse
after eating. You can also mix a myrrh tincture with water and use a
cotton ball to soak it in and apply it on the aching tooth. This
treatment is only for a short-term use, do not use it for longer periods
because it can result in kidney damage.
7. Vanilla extract
As confirmed by Arizona Family Dental, the vanilla extract can
be mixed with alcohol, to help release its beneficial properties
immediately. To treat a toothache, apply vanilla extract on your finger
and massage both the tooth and gums. Do this two to three times a day.
8. Turmeric Paste
This paste provides a lot of antiviral and antibacterial. You
can also use it to decrease irritation, gum redness, bad breath, and
tooth stains.
Here’s how to make it:
Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil
- 1 tablespoon turmeric powder
- A few drops of peppermint oil
First,
mix all the ingredients in a blender until they form a thick paste. Use
a wet toothbrush to collect the paste. Then brush your teeth with the
paste and let the paste act for 3-5 minutes. At the end, spit everything
out and rinse well. You can repeat this on a daily basis.
9. Acupressure
Use the thumb and press to apply pressure on the affected
area. Keep the pressure on for two minutes. After this, you should feel
some relief.
10. Ice
It may sound old fashioned, but ice does a very good job in
helping an aching tooth. Just apply ice cubes on the affected area. Use
external compresses on the cheek. This is not a long term treatment, so
you will still have to visit the dentist’s office.
11. Essential Oils
In 2014, a study was conducted on the topic of essential oils
and was published in the Journal of International Oral Health. According
to the study:
‘’It
has been found that essential oil rinses are equally effective in
inhibiting plaque. A study was carried out on the plaque inhibitory
effects of amine fluoride and essential oils and it showed that there is
no significant difference in the effectiveness of both. The long term
use of chlorhexidine can cause staining of the teeth, in this situation
essential oils can be used as an alternative to chlorhexidine rinses.
Essential oils have been proven to possess antimicrobial action against
subgingival peri pathogens.
These essential oils are the best choice to relieve toothache:
- Tea tree oil
- Clove
- Peppermint
- Myrrh
- Spearmint
- Cinnamon
Avoid Toothache
Apart
from the uses mentioned above, you should be careful to keep perfect
oral hygiene and remember to brush your teeth after every meal. When it
comes to flossing, this is an option you can discuss with your dentist.
If your teeth are more prone to decay than others’, you can rinse with salt and water after your meals.