How to get Rid of Toothache? – 10 Quick and Easy Ways

How to get Rid of Toothache? – 10 Quick and Easy Ways

29th January 2022

Early in the morning, late at night, in the middle of the day. There is absolutely no time that’s immune to the possibility of you getting a sharp, nerve-wracking toothache. The solution? Get in touch with a dentist. But what if the unfortunate situation arises in the middle of the night or during the wee hours of the morning?

How to get rid of toothache at home?

How to get tooth pain relief while you are on your way to the dentist? You need instant pain relief, right? So, here are 10 quick and easy ways that you can try to get rid of your toothache.

No need to try and find the reason for your misery. Our dentists will do that once you are in for your emergency appointment. And no need to wonder where you can get the exotic Asian herbs that you cannot even pronounce right. This list has items that you’ll definitely have available close by.

Let’s get into it and beat the pain:

1. Saltwater gargle

Salt is a natural disinfectant. And you’ll find it pretty much anywhere. Just add a bit of salt to a glass of water (better if you can get warm water) and gargle. The anti-inflammatory gargle helps get rid of such a pain by removing any food particles that may have been stuck in your teeth. It also heals oral wounds.

2. Cold compress

Have a refrigerator? Grab some ice, put it in a handkerchief, and place it over your cheek near the aching teeth and gum for a couple of minutes. This works especially well if the pain is because of tooth injuries or swollen gums.

Cold ice reduces the swelling and inflammation to offer immediate relief. Don’t have ice in the freezer? What about a packet of peas? Or frozen meat? Grab anything chilled and it will do. Cannot find anything cold?

Look for something hot instead, because another toothache home or natural remedy works is a…

3. Hot pack

If you have a heating pad you can press it over your cheek on the side where you have pain. The warmth will increase blood flow and prevent any fluid buildup in the tissue.

If you don’t have a heating pad handy, try arranging for hot water and a washcloth. Dip the cloth in the water and then fold the warm, wet cloth and place it over the area that’s hurting.

4. Over-the-counter pills

If you aren’t the type to give home remedies some time to work on your pain, over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medicines should be your pick.

The best part? They are available everywhere. Chances are you might have them in your emergency medical kits at the home, office, or even in your car. Ibuprofen (Neurofen) and Aspirin are the two most commonly available toothache painkiller tablets that you will find at any medical store across the country.

Cannot find anti-inflammatory pain medicines? Well, paracetamol would work fine too. Though it is definitely a less effective method compared to anti-inflammatory pills, it still has antipyretic and analgesic effects. So if you have a mild fever caused by severe tooth pain the antipyretic (anti-feverish) effect of the paracetamol will be good for you.

For those who want to know how these pain medicines work to give you superfast pain relief:

Anti-inflammatory elements block the enzymes that cause swelling, redness and gum disease.
And paracetamols just send signals to the brain to stop the feeling of pain.

5. Peppermint tea bags

Are you a fan of calorie- and caffeine-free peppermint tea? Do you have some peppermint tea bags around? Other than satiating your thirst for tea, those tea bags can also offer tooth nerve pain relief.

Just dip the bag in a cup of hot water, take out the bag after a couple of minutes when it is warm, and press it over the affected part of your mouth. Peppermint soothes the sensitive gums and has an immediate pain-numbing effect.

6. Garlic

If you are pregnant or allergic to garlic, skip this one and use another remedy on this list.

Garlic is a common kitchen ingredient that is loved for the many health benefits it offers. If you are wondering how to use garlic to ease toothache, here are 2 ways that you can try:

• Take a peeled clove of garlic and use the affected tooth to chew on it. Let the chewed garlic rest there for a while.
• If the taste of raw garlic is too unappetizing for you, crush some garlic with a mortar or use the back of the spoon. Add a bit of salt (which is also anti-inflammatory) and apply the paste to the affected area using your fingers or a cotton swab.

Why does this work: While chewing or cutting garlic a compound called allicin is released. It has antibacterial and antimicrobial properties, which kill bacteria in your mouth, which may have been the majority of the cause behind your toothache.

As allicin is the primary reason why garlic relieves tooth pain, garlic powder, which does not have allicin won’t work. Also, remember to not use too much garlic as it may cause heartburn.

7. Clove oil

Clove has been used for relieving toothache for centuries. Clove contains a natural antiseptic, eugenol, as its active ingredient, which helps numb the area it touches.

Here’s you can use clove oil:

• Take a few drops of clove oil and mix with a teaspoon of coconut/olive/almond oil.
• Soak a cotton ball or swab in this mix gently apply it over the affected area and keep the cotton ball over the tooth for some time.
• Let the oil sit for 5-10 minutes.
• Repeat every 2-3 hours until you are able to visit a dentist.

Swirl clove oil mixed with coconut oil in your mouth, focusing on the affected area to numb the pain.

Don’t have clove oil? Grab fresh cloves, grind them, and mix with oil. Apply it to the affected tooth/teeth as mentioned above. However, note that this won’t be as effective as using concentrated clove oil.

8. Hydrogen peroxide

Mixing equal parts of 3% hydrogen peroxide and warm water creates an effective, antibacterial mouthwash. Use this mixture as a regular mouthwash – swish, swirl, and spit. And you’ll get almost immediate relief from the toothache.

9. Positioning

When you are half asleep and your tooth suddenly starts paining, it is tough to look around for natural or medical remedies.

So how to get rid of toothache at night?

Change your position. Elevating your head over a pile of pillows reduces blood flow to the mouth, thereby alleviating pain, improving circulation, and reducing swelling.

This might not give you complete relief but if the pain reduces enough, you can at least fall asleep and then schedule your emergency appointment with any cosmetic dentist in the morning.

10. OTC anaesthetics

OTC anaesthetic ointments and gels can be used to numb the hurting tooth and the area around it so you can focus on important things at hand and wait for your turn to be in the dentist’s chair.

Gels and ointments containing benzocaine can be easily found at any pharmacy. However, these should not be used for young children, especially those below 2 years of age. With that, we hope you now know how to stop tooth pain fast.

However, even if you get instant relief, you should visit a dentist to find out what’s the root cause of your one-off or intermittent tooth pain. Schedule a hassle-free same-day emergency appointment with our dental experts at Natural Smiles here.