Many people accept toothache as a part of life. It doesn’t have to be if you maintain good oral hygiene and take proper care of your teeth. If you have persistent toothache, it might signal a more serious underlying condition. A dentist’s appointment then becomes imperative. Here are 3 easy fixes for toothache while you wait for your scheduled appointment. They will also help if you have no access to professional dental services for whatever reason. First, a few words about common causes.
Causes of Toothache
Common causes of toothache include excessive teeth grinding, cracked teeth, cavities, gum disease, a root infection, abnormal bite, damaged fillings, and gum infections. Usually, we have tooth pain because the soft part at the center of the tooth is inflamed.
Our teeth have four layers. The innermost, softest one is pulp, the living tissue at the center. Pulp is home to a vast network of nerves and blood vessels. It is extremely sensitive if exposed. Above that is cementum, a substance not unlike bone, which covers the root. The periodontal ligaments, which connect the teeth to the jawbone, attach to it for stability. The next layer is dentin, a supportive, flexible tissue. The hardest, outermost layer is enamel. It is the hardest substance in the body. Damage to any layer can cause toothache, but that to pulp causes the acutest pain.
1. Dab on Essential Clove Oil
Essential clove oil contains eugenol, which is a strong natural antiseptic and an extremely effective painkiller. People used cloves long before modern dentistry existed. Dentists today use an extracted purified form of eugenol. It is the main ingredient of the compound a dentist swabs to numb gums before a dental procedure.
For this remedy, you need cotton balls and half a teaspoon of olive oil. Before making a compress, rinse your mouth with warm salt water so the oil will be maximally effective as possible. This is to keep something from obstruct the passage of the clove oil to the sore tooth.
Mix the olive oil with a few drops of clove essential oil, dip a cotton ball in the mix, and hold it firmly against the painful gum or tooth. Do not apply strong pressure.
2. Apply Salt Water for Immediate Relief
This home remedy offers quick and lasting relief both after dental procedures and while you wait for your appointment. The bacteria in your mouth produce lactic acid when they break down the foods you consume. They produce the most when they break down sugars and starches. Salt water is highly effective because it neutralizes the lactic acid. You can use salt water even if you don’t have tooth pain as it decelerates the process of decay. Warm salt water also draws excess fluid out of inflamed tissues and soothes them.
You need a cup of lukewarm water and half a teaspoon of sea salt. This is sold in all drugstores and most grocery stores. Dissolve the salt in the water, take a small sip, and swish it for about a minute in your mouth. Then, spit it out. Do this until the glass is empty and as often as you want until you experience relief.
3. Stop the Pain with Alcohol
All jokes aside, alcohol would actually help. It numbs the sore spot, providing immediate pain relief. Get some gin, whiskey, vodka or another hard liquor, soak a cotton ball in it, and press it to the painful tooth. Leave it on and repeat as often as needed. Alternatively, you can soak a cotton swab and smear it on the gum around the problematic tooth.
Beyond 3 Easy Fixes for Toothache
Fairview Dental Group offers general and specialized dental services to children and adults. If you want to know what to expect during an appointment, click here. For more info, call us today at (630) 852-5353.