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Toothache

Toothache

A toothache is usually an early sign of a cavity. But it also can be caused by inflammation of the gums, an abscess (an infection that develops in the tooth root or between the tooth and gum), a cracked tooth, or a dislodged filling. Each of these problems can cause different types of toothache, says Flora Parsa Stay, D.D.S., dentist in Oxnard, California, and author of The Complete Book of Dental Remedies. Your dentist will probably suspect that you have a cracked tooth, for instance, if you have pressure and pain while chewing. Severe pain accompanied by sensitivity to hot and cold could be a sign that a cavity has reached the nerve of the tooth.

The following remedies can help soothe your tooth pain while you’re waiting for an appointment with your dentist.

Try This First

String it up. Sometimes, a toothache is caused by something as simple as trapped food between the teeth. These food particles actually irritate the gums, but the pain can radiate into the surrounding teeth, Dr. Stay says. So try rinsing your mouth with warm water to loosen any food particles. Then floss or use a water-irrigating device to clean between your teeth. But even if this technique relieves your pain, you should still consult a dentist to make sure other more complex dental problems aren’t contributing to your toothache, she says.

Other Wise Ways

Gnaw a knot of Cloves. Take a couple of Cloves from a spice rack and place them between your aching tooth and your cheek—much like you’d use chewing tobacco. They can help soothe the pain, says Richard D. Fischer, D.D.S., dentist in Annandale, Virginia, and past president of the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology. Let the hard seedlike Cloves soak in your mouth’s saliva for several minutes to soften them up. Then gently chew on them—like you would on a toothpick—so the soothing oils within the Cloves are released into the area surrounding your aching tooth. Leave the Cloves in place for about 30 minutes or until the pain subsides. Continue this treatment as needed until you can see a dentist, he suggests.

Lay on the ointment. If gnashing on Cloves is unappetizing, then consider using an over-the-counter tooth-pain ointment such as Anbesol or Orajel, Dr. Fischer suggests. Be sure to follow the directions on the label.

Make some waves. Swishing warm salt water around in your mouth can help reduce gum swelling, disinfect abscesses, and relieve tooth pain. Mix a teaspoon of salt into an eight-ounce glass of warm water and use as needed for discomfort, Dr. Fischer says. Swish each mouthful for 10 to 30 seconds, focusing the salt water on the painful area as much as possible. Repeat until the glass is empty. Do this as needed thoroughout the day, he suggests.

If you have high blood pressure and are on a sodium-restricted diet, use epsom salt instead of table salt, he says. Epsom salts are made with magnesium and, unlike table salt, shouldn’t adversely affect your blood pressure.

Pop a pain reliever. Simply taking a 325-milligram aspirin tablet every four to six hours can dampen a lot of tooth pain and gum inflammation, says Robert Henry, D.M.D., dentist in Lexington, Kentucky, and past president of the American Society for Geriatric Dentistry. If you can’t tolerate aspirin, then try taking 200 milligrams of ibuprofen every four hours, Dr. Henry suggests. Ibuprofen is a potent anti-inflammatory that is gentler on the stomach than aspirin.

If you do use aspirin, never put it directly on the tooth or gums, Dr. Henry urges. Remember, aspirin is an acid. Keeping it in your mouth for more than a few seconds can cause a painful burn that will only complicate the treatment of your toothache.

Chill out. Wrap an ice pack in a towel and apply it to the outside of your mouth for 15 to 20 minutes every hour until your pain subsides, Dr. Fischer suggests. The ice will reduce swelling and calm agitated nerve endings in your aching tooth.

Load up on minerals. Increasing your intake of calcium and magnesium can help soothe nerves and temporarily ease tooth pain, Dr. Fischer says. He suggests taking 500 milligrams of calcium and 200 to 300 milligrams of magnesium at the first sign of a toothache.

Note: People with heart or kidney problems should check with their doctors before taking supplemental magnesium.

Invite your teeth to tea. Herbal teas made with chamomile or echinacea of ten can quell mild toothache pain, Dr. Stay says.

To prepare a chamomile tea, add two tablespoons of dried chamomile flowers to two cups of boiling water and steep for 10 minutes. As for echinacea, add four tablespoons of the dried herb to eight cups of boiling water and steep for 10 minutes. After they have been strained, you can drink either of these teas as needed for pain, Dr. Stay says. You can also buy these teas premade in the tea section at your health food store. They may not be as strong as the do-it-yourself versions, but they’re a little more convenient.

Note: Very rarely, chamomile can cause an allergic reaction when ingested. People allergic to closely related plants such as ragweed, asters, and chrysanthemums should drink the tea with caution. Don’t use echinacea if you have autoimmune conditions such as lupus, tuberculosis, or multiple sclerosis. Don’t use it if you’re allergic to plants in the daisy family, such as chamomile and marigold.

Picture yourself pain-free. Your imagination is a powerful healer that can help you dampen tooth pain, Dr. Fischer says.

To try it, imagine swimming in ice-cold water or playing in the snow. Feel the chill of the water or snow penetrating your hands and feet so that they are almost numb. Now imagine that feeling of numbness enveloping your aching tooth, soothing it as if you were rubbing it with snow until all of the pain is gone, says Deena Margetis, certified clinical hypnotherapist specializing in dental care in Annandale, Virginia. Doing this imagery for one to two minutes as needed may relieve much of your pain, she says.