05 Oct

4 Home Remedies to Relieve Tooth Pain

Whether tooth pain is dull or unbearable, all you want is fast relief. Luckily, home remedies for tooth pain go back centuries. So while the best way to treat tooth pain is to visit the dentist, there are plenty of ways to find some relief in the meantime. The team at Lifetime Family Dental put together this list of home remedies for tooth pain to help you find relief before your appointment. 

How to Relieve Tooth Pain at Home

1: Apply an Ice Pack or a Cold Compress

One easy way to relieve tooth pain is to apply an ice pack or cold compress to your face. The cold temperature helps relieve pain by constricting your blood vessels, which slows the blood flow to the affected area. Cold treatments also help reduce swelling and inflammation. 

To avoid frostbite and skin damage, keep these tips in mind when applying a cold treatment:

• Never apply ice or ice packs directly to your face—wrap the ice or ice pack in a thin cloth first.
• Gently move the ice or ice pack around on your face in a circular motion.
• Ice the area for 10 to 20 minutes at a time, then wait at least 30 minutes for your skin to warm back up before icing again.
• Moisturize your face after icing to prevent drying out your skin.

2: Take OTC Pain Medication

Over-the-counter (OTC) pain medications like aspirin, acetaminophen, and ibuprofen all reduce inflammation, which helps relieve your toothache. There are also certain OTC oral gels that can help relieve tooth pain.

Always follow the proper dosing instructions for taking OTC medication and avoid taking it for more than 10 days. If you currently take any prescription medication, it’s important to speak with your doctor before taking OTC medication to find out about potential drug interactions. 

If your child has a toothache, make sure to only give them OTC medication designed for their age range. Children under 18 years old should never be given aspirin. 

3: Rinse with Warm Saltwater

A saltwater rinse helps rid your mouth of the bacteria that cause cavities and toothaches. Although you will still need to get the cavity filled to prevent further damage to the tooth, a saltwater rinse will help reduce the pain it causes. Prepare a saltwater rinse by dissolving half a teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water. Gargle and swish the solution around in your mouth for 30 seconds, then spit it out. 

4: Drink Peppermint Tea

Peppermint contains menthol, which can help numb your tooth and gum pain. Peppermint can also help eliminate cavity-causing bacteria from your mouth with its antibacterial properties. To soothe a toothache, apply a cold or warm used tea bag to the affected tooth. If you plan on using a warm tea bag after making hot tea, make sure the bag has cooled down completely, so it won’t burn your sensitive gums. 

Toothache Treatment in Gilbert, Arizona

Keep in mind that the home remedies above will only provide temporary relief from tooth pain. Without treating the cause of your toothache, your pain will only worsen, and you may develop even more severe dental complications. 

The compassionate team at Lifetime Family Dental in Gilbert can quickly identify and treat the cause of your tooth pain so you can find long term relief. Give us a call at 480-558-4331 today to schedule an appointment.

Images used under creative commons license – commercial use (10/5/2022). Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels