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7 Toothache Relief Methods to Help Until Your Rock Hill, SC Dentist Appointment
In terms of popular home remedies, you might be surprised to know that we've come a long way in the past few decades. After all, as recently as the 1920s, we thought that alcohol was the best "toothache medicine" for both quick pain relief and even teething infants!
Today, if you're experiencing tooth pain, you may be wondering what really helps a toothache.
Though the only way to get permanent relief is to have a professional check out the affected area, it's worth knowing that there are several reliable and modern home remedies to choose from as you seek short-term toothache relief. Below, we've put together a quick list of a few easy remedies that use items and ingredients you might have lying around your home. Check them out for quick pain relief!
1. Over-the-Counter Pain Relievers
For most people, OTC pain relievers are the go-to resource for tooth pain, regardless of their toothache causes. Options like ibuprofen, aspirin, and acetaminophen can work wonders for a pained or swollen tooth in most cases, providing short-term pain relief until you can seek professional treatment.
However, there's one important caveat here: when searching for home remedies, you might have heard that placing aspirin or other pain relievers directly on the site of your toothache can help. Don't do this! Aspirin can damage the soft tissues around your teeth, so be sure to swallow it rather than holding it on your tooth.
2. Saltwater Rinse
If you're looking for emergency toothache relief with household supplies you already have on hand, you can't go wrong with a saltwater rinse. Because table salt is also a natural antiseptic, it can help reduce the swelling and pain around your tooth.
To do a saltwater rinse, all you'll need to do is mix about half a teaspoon of salt with a glass of lukewarm to warm water. Gargle and rinse with this solution and then spit.
You can repeat this up to three times per day, and some patients find it easier to remember to do it after each meal.
3. Cold Therapy
If you've ever used ice therapy after a bad muscle sprain, you know how soothing the effects can be. Luckily, the same treatment can be one of the best home remedies for a toothache as well!
If you have a cold compress, you'll want to cool it down as specified in the instructions. If you don't have one, you can make your own ice pack by filling a resealable bag with ice. No matter which option you use, it's always best to wrap the pack in a towel rather than letting the cold pack come in direct contact with your skin.
Apply this treatment for no longer than 15-20 minutes at a time. You can use this option as often as needed.
4. Clove Oil
Though you might be familiar with using cloves in your favorite recipes and desserts, you might be surprised to know that they also have natural painkilling properties! Cloves have long been used in both Indian and Chinese folk medicine for this reason.
If you happen to have clove oil on hand, you can use it to help numb the pain from your toothache. All you'll need to do is apply a few drops to a cotton swab, and then use gentle motions to apply the oil to the area of your toothache.
Don't have clove oil in your medicine cabinet? No problem! If you have dried cloves, you can either grind them or chew them to release their natural oils.
5. Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar is often highlighted as something of a cure-all, as it offers a range of health benefits for home use.
Due to its high acidity, apple cider vinegar also has great antibacterial properties, and it also works as a mild antiseptic. This allows it to help soothe the affected area of your mouth.
To use it, pour a little vinegar onto a cotton ball, and press it to the site of your toothache. As always, make sure to be gentle!
6. Tea Bags
If you've ever had your wisdom teeth removed, you may have heard of this popular home remedy, as tea bags can sometimes help soothe tooth pain.
This works on two fronts. First, you can use the tea bag as a mini cold compress if you've let it cool off, or you can use it as a warm compress if you prefer-though you should never use it hot or just after steeping.
Second, certain types of tea bags offer additional pain relief properties. Black tea, for example, includes astringent tannins that can help relieve swollen gums and reduce pain. Peppermint has bacteria-fighting properties, which can make it great for toothaches.
7. Hydrogen Peroxide
Because hydrogen peroxide is great at attacking both bacteria and inflammation, it's a good option for a mouth rinse. To create the solution you need, grab a bottle of 3% concentration hydrogen peroxide. Mix one part hydrogen peroxide with three parts water, gargle it for a minute, and rinse.
Get Professional Toothache Relief With Our Team
Though the tips above can help you learn how to help a toothache in the short term, it's important to remember that all of these options are stopgap solutions. Though they may minimize your pain and swelling for a time, you'll need to come in for an appointment to get long-term toothache relief.
If you have a dental emergency like a toothache, be sure to contact us today, or schedule an appointment online. Our team is proud to provide high-quality dental services to patients throughout the Rock Hill, SC area, and we're happy to fit you in as soon as possible to get you the pain relief you need.
