Toothache Remedies to Relieve Pain

A cool compress to ease toothache

Of all the toothache remedies that are available, apart from a visit to the dentist, the best one seems to be to apply a cold compress to the jaw. Crushed ice, wrapped in a towel can be applied and held against the swollen facial area to relieve the pain. A throbbing tooth will feel hot and if you can bear it an ice cube placed against the gum, near the troublesome tooth, will greatly ease the suffering. If you have a gum infection or an abscess then touching the tooth may not be possible at all and you should revert to Tylenol or other medication. Tooth sensitivity is not quite the same thing as a toothache and ice may not be a good option for sensitive teeth.

A toothache can arrive unannounced but once it does you are in real trouble. A toothache is said to worse than the pain of childbirth (of which I have no experience) and more severe than chronic sciatic pain from a ruptured disc (about which I know all too well due to my sore back). People will use any toothache remedy to ease the nerve pain and it is shocking what they will put into their mouth to ease the suffering of this, sometimes very severe, pain. Be careful that you do not make matters worse!

Severe tooth pain

I don’t recommend any of these but individuals in agony with tooth pain have tried Peroxide, Pepper or Lime directly on the tooth and some even chewed fluoride toothpaste in an effort to get toothache relief. Most of these cures are tried in desperation when the Dentist is too far away or unavailable during the night or at weekends. A natural toothache remedy may, or may not, work and it is very much a matter of trial and error.

Old wives remedies that might work i.e. raw potato cure

Rubbing a piece of potato on the affected tooth might ease the pain. It may be something to do with the starch in a potato? An onion or garlic put against the affected tooth can often help to cure the pain. Garlic may keep away a vampire (who usually has good teeth) but I am not sure it will be any good for toothache pain relief.

Lemon and lime, which have high vitamin C can also be rubbed on the affected teeth but I am dubious of the benefits regarding the direct application of vitamin C to tooth pain relief. Gargling with whiskey, bourbon or other liquor is often a cure but there is tendency to swallow copious amounts in an effort to relieve the toothache. But it does work! Unfortunately, the next day your toothache will be back as will be a headache to compete with it. Far better is to try a herbal tea remedy as the warmth of the drink can soothe away pain and allow the herbal benefits to take effect.

Other more sensible home toothache remedies

Depending on the severity of the pain you might be able to subdue the ache by concentrating on something else, like watching a movie or reading a good book. It seems that if your mind is concentrated on something other than the pain, then the pain fades. This might be ineffectual if the pain overrides everything else, but if this is the scenario then you must seek medical help at the earliest opportunity.

Severe toothache pain

If the pain is too severe then these tricks will not work and you may need to up the ante. It is now time to start taking Tylenol or Aspirin but you have to be careful in repeating these doses because they will become ineffective over time. Try and spread the use of these painkillers until your dental appointment materializes.

Prevention is better than cure

Nobody with a toothache really wants to read this but it is very true all the same. If you have healthy gums and you always look after your teeth and mouth then you will never have to suffer the intense, unbearable nerve pain associated with bad teeth. Encourage children to have good dental hygiene from an early age to prevent problems for them in later life. A lot of good work is now done in schools and dental care is often a subject for discussion with the school goers. It is better by far to avoid the need for toothache remedies altogether by looking after your teeth while you still have them firmly in your mouth.