Home Remedies for Toothaches That Actually Work

When you have a toothache, you probably want to do whatever you can to feel more comfortable. While calling your dentist for an emergency appointment is an important first step, that may still leave you with a few hours where you’re left to fend for yourself.

Thankfully, there are some home remedies that may be able to help you feel a little bit better. Here are a few examples.

Clove Oil

One of the oldest and most famous pain relievers, clove oil can make a toothache more comfortable to deal with. You can purchase clove oil itself online and dab it onto a small cotton wad, which you can bite down on gently with the pained tooth. In a pinch, you can even use a whole clove by grinding it up gently with the aching tooth.

Saltwater

Saltwater rinses are extremely common for all kinds of oral health problems, and that’s for good reason. Saltwater is a great disinfectant, so patients who are suffering from a toothache as a result of infection might get a little bit of relief from it.

If you’d like, you can mix around ½ tsp of salt into a glass of warm water and swish it around for a few moments. Then gently brush away any salt residue.

Cold Compress

You may be familiar with this from muscle pain, but a cold compress can just as effectively reduce swelling in the mouth. Wrap ice, or an ice pack, in a clean towel and hold it against the cheek on the side of the mouth where you feel the discomfort.

You can hold the compress there until the pain subsides, as long as 20 minutes at a time.

Peppermint Tea Bags

Peppermint tea has a little bit of a numbing effect, and using the tea bags is a great way to concentrate those effects onto a tooth. Make the tea then take out the bag. Wait for the bag to cool until it’s pleasantly warm, then place it onto the aching tooth.

If you’d prefer the added benefit of a cold compress, you can try placing the peppermint tea bags in the freezer for a few minutes and do the same thing.

About the Author

Dr. Jeramiah Paylor grew up here in Colorado, so there’s nothing he loves more than being able to help members of his community smile more beautifully than they could before. He loves seeing friendly faces in his dental chair, so he works hard to get to know every patient personally. Dr. Paylor received his degree from the University of Colorado, and he has since studied with SPEAR Education and the Scottsdale Center.

If you have any questions about toothaches, he can be reached at his website or by phone at (720) 776-4900.