Home Remedies for a Toothache

There are few experiences in life that can present as many problems as a painful toothache, and if a Dentist is not immediately available the problem magnifies quickly. The ability to eat, sleep, speak or interact with others is severely limited due to excruciating pain, and the affected individual will attempt anything to make it stop. Before applying any home remedy to a toothache, stop and think, a little common sense can help eliminate the pain much faster than hasty, desperate actions.

There are dozens of over the counter toothache remedies commercially made, and to varying degrees, most work. However, you need to assess the cause of the toothache prior to taking action,the wrong move could make the pain worse. First, examine the problem tooth or have someone do it for you - the pain may be due to a small piece of food crammed into a cavity. If this is the case, simply rinsing the mouth with some warm water may dislodge the food particle, and relief is almost instant.

An abscessed tooth requires a little different approach, because the pain may be due to a swelling pressing on nerves that result in pain. If this is the case, try taking a well-cleaned finger and rubbing the lump at the base of the tooth. This helps by dissipating the puss, thereby relieving pressure on the tooth. While this is only a temporary measure, it may provide enough relief to eat or sleep until a dentist becomes available. If an abscess is present it is important to use an anti-bacterial mouthwash frequently, like maybe 6 or more times daily.

Some of the old fashioned home remedies for a toothache work best if they are all that you have to work with. A shot of strong Whiskey held in the mouth and swished around for a few minutes can not only kill bacteria, but have an anesthetic effect. Cloves, either the clove themselves or clove oils have been a standard of home pain relief in dentistry for centuries, and if you can get past the taste, they work well. A fine powder of crushed clove placed directly on the tooth and gum affected can often provide quick pain relief.

A single clove of garlic crushed and placed on an aching tooth has been a favorite home remedy, and the use of onion in the same manner has been known to provide relief as well. Perhaps the best home remedies for a toothache incorporate several of the aforementioned ideas in combination until the right one is found.