8 Things You Can Do Right Now for a Toothache

Home remedies for a toothache

Tips & Tricks to Relieve Emergency Tooth Pain

The pain of a dental emergency is never pleasant. What can you do at home to manage your discomfort before you go in to see the dentist? Here are 8 tips and tricks to help temporarily relieve the pain of a toothache. 

1. Do a visual check. 

Before you dive straight into treating the pain, you must first understand why you’re experiencing the discomfort in the first place. Not only will this determine the type of home treatment you’ll use, but identifying the cause can also make it easier for your dental team to provide some pain management tips tailored to your situation. First, examine your mouth for any signs of trapped leftovers. If you find a tooth that’s discolored, loose, or broken, you’ve likely found the cause of the toothache. You should also remember that it’s easy to misinterpret gum pain for a toothache, especially with kids, so make sure to look for any swelling and gum redness as well.

2. Brush and floss.

Significant food particle buildup can put pressure on the teeth and gums, which can be uncomfortable. Try gently brushing and flossing your teeth to see if anything dislodges. Be very careful when brushing around the painful area because your gums might be a little sensitive. If a wedged object between the teeth was the cause of your pain, once it’s removed, the pain may alleviate quickly after.

3. Rinse with warm salt water.

Plain, warm water or warm salty water can temporarily relieve a toothache. To make a salt rinse, simply mix a teaspoon of table salt into a small cup of warm water. Swish the solution around in your mouth for about 30 seconds and spit. This kills the bacteria in and around the painful area and helps soothe swollen gums.

4. Take an over-the-counter pain reliever. 

Taking painkillers may seem a little obvious, but it’s one of the things you can do at home that offers the fastest results. Acetaminophen, Benadryl, and ibuprofen are some of the most common over-the-counter painkillers that temporarily relieve a toothache and reduce swelling. Make sure to take the right dosage as instructed on the packaging. Under no circumstances should you rub aspirin around the affected tooth; it’s a very acidic painkiller that can cause chemical burns on the soft tissues of the mouth.

5. Use a cold compress.

Put an ice pack on the outside of your cheek near the affected area. The cold will restrict blood circulation, which reduces any facial swelling and alleviates the pain. Try applying the cold compress in intervals of 20 minutes so the low temperatures don’t become uncomfortably cold or cause any skin damage.

6. Apply garlic paste.

No one wants garlic breath, but if it helps reduce the pain of a toothache, then why not try it? Smash a clove of this natural antibiotic and mix it with water. Apply the paste to the painful area in your mouth, wait for a few minutes, and then rinse your mouth with water. The allicin compound found in garlic helps soothe a toothache. You may also want to consider adding a pinch of salt to the paste to minimize any gum irritation an infection can cause. 

7. Try clove oil.

Most dental health professionals recommend using clove oil home remedies as a natural analgesic for adults and children alike. Take a swab of cotton and soak it with a few drops of clove oil. Place the cotton ball on the affected tooth and hold it in place with your tongue or cheek. The numbing effect of the oil will provide temporary relief from the pain of a toothache. Be careful not to use too much clove oil, though; the spice is naturally hot and can be hard to tolerate, especially for kids.

8. Massage with aloe vera gel.

Aloe vera isn’t just for sunburns anymore; it’s for tooth pain too. Apply a bit of aloe vera gel to the painful area in the mouth and massage it gently into the gums to soothe any inflammation and fight the bacteria causing infection. You can extract the gel directly from an aloe plant, but if you don’t have one, most grocery stores stock pure aloe vera.

Get relief from a toothache with emergency dental care in Omaha.

It’s important to remember that all the home remedies in this article will only help to temporarily relieve your tooth pain. For a more permanent solution, you’ll need to schedule an appointment with a dentist to determine the reason for your toothache and get started on a treatment plan (if necessary). The sooner you can see your dentist, the sooner they can put your pain at ease and help you enjoy a healthy smile once again.