Everyone has experienced having a toothache at least once in their lives. And truthfully, it’s a painful sensation to ignore. Toothaches, when not addressed immediately, can cause extreme discomfort and pain.
There are several causes for toothaches, such as tooth decay, gum disease, wisdom tooth development, among others. Ideally, you should be setting an appointment with your dentist or oral surgeon upon feeling the discomfort. But to help you endure the pain in the meantime, here are some easy relief tips.
Take anti-inflammatory medicine
Toothache is often caused by inflammation. You want to dial this down by taking anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen. This will provide you with quick relief and comfort. Make sure you take another one after the period prescribed so that the pain does not return.
Apply a cold compress
If you’re hesitant to take any sort of medicine, you can resort to another method to stop a toothache. The reason you’re feeling discomfort is the tooth is emitting pain signals to your brain. To stop the pain, you can interrupt the transmission of signals by applying a cold compress directly where you feel the discomfort. Keep the cold compress in place for 20 minutes at a time and then let your cheek rest, so you don’t cause damage or irritation to your skin.
Gargle saltwater
Saltwater is an effective natural pain remedy, especially for toothaches. That’s because it helps clean the painful area and get rid of infections that may be causing the discomfort. It also helps heal oral wounds and reduce inflammation. Simply create a solution of table salt and water then gargle it for a few minutes. That’s enough to provide you temporary relief.
Apply garlic
Garlic has been used for many years for medicinal purposes. Its components allow it to become an effective bacteria killer and pain reliever. Take a garlic clove and crush it until it becomes a sticky paste. Apply it directly to the affected area. If you’re fine with the taste of raw garlic, you can also choose to chew a garlic clove.
Create a thyme mouthwash
Thyme is rich in anti-inflammation and anti-bacterial properties. Thus, it’s a good and powerful ingredient for pain relief. There are two ways you can use it. You can either put a few drops of thyme essential oil and water on a cotton ball and apply it directly to the tooth. Or you can drop some oil in water and gargle the solution like a mouthwash.
Use peppermint tea bags
Peppermint tea has a lot of health benefits. It’s known to help with digestion, migraine relief, and improve sleep, among others. If you’re a fan of peppermint tea, then you know it’s a good pain reliever.
Before throwing away a used tea bag, allow it to cool down a bit until it is at a comfortable temperature. Apply it to the affected area for a while. You can also opt to pop a peppermint tea bag in the freeer and allow it to cool for a couple of minutes before applying it to the painful area.
The best solution is still to go to your dentist when you experience a toothache. They can help spot the root cause of the issue and address it right away. But if you can’t bear the pain and need instant relief while waiting for your appointment, these remedies can help.
