Tooth pain is one of the most common complaints that dentists hear in their offices. Before modern dentistry, tooth pain was just as common, but people had to rely on toothache remedies to rid their pain naturally. Although modern medicine has its own solutions, with proper use, these natural toothache remedies can help you avoid the dentist altogether.
Tooth Pain Causes
The first thing most people think of when they experience tooth pain is cavities, but there are plenty of other causes of toothache.
In fact, tooth pain can be caused by (1,2):
- Tooth decay
- Abscessed tooth
- Tooth fracture
- A damaged filling
- Repetitive motions, such as chewing hard foods or grinding teeth
- Infected gums/ Gum disease
- An abnormal bite
- Tooth eruption (in young children)
Symptoms of a toothache may include:
- Tooth pain that may be sharp, throbbing, or constant. In some people, pain results only when pressure is applied to the tooth.
- Swelling around the tooth
- Fever or headache
Some toothaches go away on their own, but others indicate a more serious problem. If you experience a severe toothache that lasts longer than 1 or 2 days; fever, earache, or pain when you open your mouth; difficulty breathing or swallowing; or foul-tasting drainage from the infected tooth, visit your dentist immediately.
12 At Home Toothache Remedies
You’ll even find some toothache remedies that you can use anywhere, even in the car!
1. Clove Oil
Clove oil contains high levels of eugenol, an anesthetic and antiseptic compound. It’s even used in modern dentistry to relieve gum pain and kill germs during extractions, fillings, and root canals. One study even found that it’s as effective in numbing pain as the synthetic local anesthetic benzocaine (3).
To use, mix 1 tsp of coconut oil with 2-3 drops of clove oil. Apply directly to the area of pain using a cotton ball and leave on for a few minutes. Once the area is numb, remove the ball and rinse your mouth to avoid swallowing the clove oil.
Alternatively, chew a few cloves using the teeth closest to the site of your pain. Once your gums and tongue feel tingly, discard the cloves and rinse out your mouth. Repeat as needed.
2. Ginger Cayenne Paste
This antibiotic paste helps control bleeding, reduce swelling, relieve pain, and fight infection (4,5). To make, mix equal parts of ginger and cayenne with a little bit of water to make a paste. Saturate a cotton ball in the formula and apply to your tooth, away from your gums and tongue. Leave it on as long as possible and avoid swallowing if possible.