Toothaches are a common occurrence in many people. It usually manifests as a sharp pain in the gums or teeth and is a result of cavities and gum infections. Consistent toothaches can cause a lack of sleep, headaches, and even prevent you from eating properly. We at Iqaluit Dental Clinic suggest that if the pain lasts more than 2-3 days, you see a dentist immediately.

How to treat toothaches at home?

Most home remedies usually focus on treating inflammation, irritations, killing off bacteria, and numbing the area of the pain. Almost all teeth problems can be remedied by regular brushing and flossing. Nonetheless, here are a few ways you can treat chronic toothaches at home.

1. Apple ice pack or cold compress – An ice pack or cold compress to the painful area can numb the pain quite effectively. Minor injuries and swollen gums are common causes of toothaches, which are often caused by food particles stuck in between your teeth. A brief application of ice constricts the blood vessels, thereby reducing the blood flow to the affected area.

There are several ways to go about this, such as ice wrapped in cloth or a frozen bag of peas. Apply it for 15-20 minutes at a time and repeat the process when it aches. Do not overdo it, as you can catch a cold due to the excessive cold.

Avoid biting into the ice. It may seem effective, but contrarily, the act can damage your teeth even further.

2. Do saltwater gargles – Saltwater is the go-to remedy for most household toothaches. They are natural disinfectants and are capable of dislodging stuck food particles more effectively than regular water. Saltwater gargles are also quite effective at treating inflamed gums, oral wounds, chronic tooth pain, and even sore throats.

To prepare the solution, heat a bowl of water. Do not overheat it, as it will be too hot to put in your mouth. After heating, pour the water into a cup and add half a teaspoon of salt to it. Mix the solution thoroughly until the salt dissolves. Rinse your mouth with the solution for 10-15 seconds and spit it out. Repeat until there isn’t any water left in the cup.

3. Apply some garlic – There are anti-inflammatory and antibiotic properties in garlic that assist in treating chronic teeth pain and soreness. Garlic contains allicin, which is released in your mouth when it is crushed. It’s quite effective in killing harmful bacteria that are responsible for causing plaque.

Take a small bowl and put 3-4 pods of garlic into it, alongside some salt and pepper. Crush the contents completely and apply the mixture to the painful area until the feeling subsides. You can repeat this 2-3 times per day for the best results.

4. Chew a small piece of ginger – When combined with cayenne pepper, ginger is very effective at reducing toothaches. Moreover, consuming ginger also offers several advantages, such as the prevention of oral diseases, inflammation, and sore throat. It can even whiten your teeth with prolonged usage.

Peel some ginger, about an inch in size, and gradually start chewing it. Push it towards the affected area with your tongue and bathe the teeth and gums with the ginger juice. Keep the ginger compressed in the affected area for up to an hour to reduce pain and swelling.

6. Cloves can cure bad breath and toothache – Cloves have been an age-old remedy for toothaches. It contains a mild analgesic, a compound known as Eugenol, which numbs the nerves of the painful tooth. You can also extract the clove oil from the stem and buds and use it for treating toothaches.

There are two ways you can use cloves. The simplest way is to place it in your mouth and chew it to release the oil. You can also create a solution and apply it to the affected area.

To create such a solution, you will need some clove oil and a carrier oil ( such as apricot, olive, coconut, jojoba, black seed, grape, rosehip, argan, sweet almond, avocado, and sunflower oil). Mix fifteen drops of clove oil into one ounce of carrier oil.

Then take a small cloth dabbed in the oil solution and apply it to the affected area 3-5 times per day. You can also put a drop into a glass of water and use it as a mouthwash.

7. Drink some peppermint tea and use the warm tea bag to relieve pain – Peppermint tea, like cloves, also has similar numbing properties that help prevent toothaches. The menthol contained in the peppermint tea also has antibacterial properties that can help treat plaque build-up in your mouth.

Boil some water and pour it into a cup. Add a tablespoon of dried peppermint leaves. After the solution has cooled, put it in your mouth and swish it around a bit. You can spit it out or swallow it. It is up to you.

If you are using a tea bag, you can even hold it against the tooth for a few minutes. The warm feeling caressing the aching tooth will knock the pain down by quite some degrees.

8. Use thyme as a mouthwash – Thyme is widely known for its medicinal properties. The compound within thyme, also known as Thymol, has antifungal and antiseptic properties. It is used to treat chest infections such as whooping cough and bronchitis.

Simply add a drop of thymol to a glass of water and rinse your mouth with the mixture. You can also use a cotton ball and put a few drops of thyme oil and water on it. Pressing the softball against the gums will alleviate some of the toothaches.

Conclusion

There are other solutions such as a hydrogen peroxide rinse, aloe vera, onion, turmeric, asafoetida, guava leaf, and wheatgrass. Most of these are readily available at home or can be bought in the mall. You can also consider buying anaesthetics and over-the-counter medicine, but we at Iqaluit Dental Clinic suggest you try out home remedies first. If you think you need medication, consult your dentist before buying any.