You have a toothache or you have a nerve that has been exposed due to a missing filling. The pain can be unbearable and you need relief right now. Is there anything you can do at home with what you have to take away the pain?
Natural pain relief has been around for centuries. The rise and ready abundance of pain medication had temporarily steered pain suffering dental patients away from the natural, at-home remedies. A new trend has emerged over the last few years where the pendulum is swinging back to the DIY, natural, at-home pain relief remedies.
Do these at home pain remedies work?
The answer is a mixed yes and no. Some remedies don't work while others are effective at reducing the pain. The following remedies are effective in temporarily reducing dental pain.
If you do have dental pain, it is still best to get treatment and care from a dental professional. Only a dentist can diagnose the cause and source of your dental pain, whereby doing away with it for good.
When temporary pain relief is needed ASAP, the following home remedies are your best bet in fighting the pain until you get to the dentist.
Clove Oil
Cloves have a natural, built-in anesthetic chemical. Placing a few drops of clove oil onto a cotton ball, gently crush and place a whole clove onto the tooth or sprinkle powdered clove onto the tooth. The anesthetic in the clove is very potent and can make the pain worse if not applied carefully.
Ginger-Cayenne Paste
Mix together ginger and cayenne with some water to make a paste that you rub onto the tooth. These two spices have long been used as effective painkillers. Be sure to avoid contact with your gums and tongue as it will cause irritation.
Salt Water
The simplest dental pain remedy is still one of the most effective and highest recommended by dentists. Swishing salt water around in your mouth will dislodge germs and plaque and the salt will provide a natural antiseptic.
Peppermint Tea
Peppermint has a property that opens blood vessels that in turn reduces inflammation and pain. Peppermint tea not only helps relieve the pain of a toothache, but it can also reduce headaches.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Chances are, you have this sitting around your home somewhere. Hydrogen peroxide works great at cleaning away germs and lessening pain and inflammation. Hydrogen peroxide is strong and can cause discomfort as well as potential irritation if not diluted with water.
Ice
Generally, ice is a big "no-no" in the dental world because of its tendency to chip and crack teeth. Setting an ice pack or an ice cube directly on the tooth or on the outside of the mouth where the tooth is located in an easy, natural way to numb the nerves and dull the pain of a toothache.
Brush With a Soft Brush and Sensitive Teeth Toothpaste
Besides trying an at-home remedy, how you brush your teeth can make a difference in how severe the pain is. Using a soft-bristled toothbrush (preferably the softest you can find) and a specialized toothpaste, such as one for sensitive teeth will provide many benefits such as gentlest cleaning and tooth strengthening.
These home remedies can be effective at relieving dental pain temporarily. Only a dentist who can diagnose the cause of the pain, however, can best address the pain and eliminate it.