Few of us are lucky enough not to experience mouth discomfort caused by gum or tooth pain during our lives. The likelihood is that it will develop at an inopportune time, when you cannot get to the dentist immediately, or must wait for an appointment. In such circumstances, these tips could help to alleviate your pain and ensure your discomfort is kept to a minimum.
It is worth acknowledging that these tips are purely for your convenience and intended to provide temporary relief, until you can see a dental health professional. If you are experiencing any oral pain, it is an indication that something is wrong – and postponing expert advice is likely to exacerbate the problem. Leaving it too long will inevitably lead to bigger dental health issues. Consequently, you may then need a root canal or even a tooth extraction rather than a simple filling.
1. Over-the-counter medication
Over-the-counter medications, including anti-inflammatories and oral analgesics, can be effective in reducing pain—although you will need to choose the right medication for your problem.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs):
The most common are aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen. NSAIDs reduce pain, fever, and inflammation by lowering prostaglandins. These are compounds in the body that deal with illness and injury, controlling processes such as blood flow and inflammation, but cause pain by irritating the nerve endings. By reducing them, you’ll experience less pain and feel better. NSAIDs can be effective for a variety of dental-related problems, including toothache and TMJ pain.
Acetaminophen:
Commonly known as paracetamol, this medication can ease pain and lower a fever. It works on the part of the brain that receives pain messages and controls body temperature. However, it won’t reduce swelling or inflammation so it may not be effective for toothache – unless used in conjunction with either an NSAID, such as aspirin or ibuprofen.
2. Rinse with Salt Water
Saltwater mouth rinses can help to alleviate pain from a toothache. The saltwater rinse (sometimes called oral irrigation) has been used throughout the world for hundreds of years.
A saltwater mouth rinse is a simple treatment that involves pouring a cup of salt into lukewarm or cold water, then swishing it around in your mouth for about thirty seconds. The mixture acts as an antiseptic agent to help combat infections, and reduces swelling and inflammation. Salt also neutralizes the acids in the mouth to return a healthy pH level that reduces bacteria.
3. Clove Oil
Clove oil, also known as eugenol, is a chemical compound extracted from the clove plant. The oil has been used for centuries in traditional Indian and Chinese medicine to treat tooth pain and gum inflammation. Cloves have also been used for other minor ailments such as indigestion, colds, and flu symptoms. Oil from cloves is a popular home remedy for many conditions. It can help with tooth pain as well as gum problems.
Eugenol is known to kill bacteria and has some anesthetic effects. Eugenol also stimulates the immune system and can activate healing, as well as create a warming effect on the skin, which relaxes muscles and may help relieve the pain of toothache.
4. Hydrogen Peroxide
We often think of hydrogen peroxide for bleaching hair, but it has other surprising uses. It can be used as an effective mouthwash and teeth whitener, and as a treatment for mouth ulcers, gum disease and even mouth infections. Studies have found that hydrogen peroxide is effective for a range of oral health issues, including reducing the formation of dental plaque and the bacteria responsible for tooth decay.
Hydrogen peroxide has long been used by dentists to clean and sanitize their patients’ teeth. But you can also use it to prevent and treat toothaches, thanks to its powerful anti-bacterial properties that can help to reduce the number of bacteria in the mouth and clear infection. By releasing oxygen, hydrogen peroxide alters the environment in the mouth and inhibits bacterial growth.
5. Apply a cold compress
When you have a toothache, most people immediately reach for the painkillers – but a cold compress is a great way to relieve tooth pain if you don’t have any at hand. This easy remedy has been used for thousands of years, and was even used by the ancient Chinese! According to studies, an application of cold can reduce inflammation in the jaw, which can help alleviate pain.
The idea is simple – when you have a toothache, blood vessels around your mouth dilate and swell. When they do, the skin around them becomes red and feels hot to the touch. A cold compress applied to your face will reduce the swelling and give instant relief from those bothersome aches. The best part is that it doesn’t cost anything and takes only seconds to implement!
6. Exercise
Exercise not only makes you feel better, but it can also make you look better. What is the reason for this? Why do we feel so good after a workout?
The answer lies in our brain’s natural morphine supply. Derived from endorphins, it’s one of the body’s natural painkillers that are released during exercise. Endorphins are responsible for that “runner’s high” or “post-workout bliss,” that many people have experienced.
Exercise may be the last thing you feel like doing if you have a throbbing tooth, but it is a key factor in providing pain relief: studies have shown that exercise can help reduce pain. That’s because movement increases the circulation of blood and oxygen throughout your body, which delivers nutrients to cells and helps remove waste products. The more fit you are, the better your circulation is. And the greater your circulation is, the quicker you can recover from injuries or surgery.
The Takeaway
If you find that you are experiencing tooth pain or discomfort, it’s important that you contact a dentist as soon as possible to discover the cause of your symptoms. Your tooth pain is unlikely to go away on its own; by dealing with the problem early, you will hopefully save yourself from an issue that could be a long-term problem for your dental health.
