You finally booked your emergency dental appointment. Congrats! The agonizing and distracting pain will soon be in your reminiscence. But if your appointment is not scheduled for today or for the next couple of days, your pain becomes annoying and starts interfering with your day-to-day activities. You may now feel hopeless and anxious and wonder how your pain can be managed.
Tooth pain can range from mildly distracting to throbbing agonizing pain and can be caused by infected gums, tooth decay, or tooth fractures! If you live in Oshawa or Durham region, getting an emergency appointment with a dentist isn’t always possible. Most dentists are fully booked and have a few open slots for emergencies. Fortunately, we came up with some DIY home remedies to help you manage pain until your appointment.
Saltwater Rinse
A warm saltwater swish promotes a soothing and anti-bacterial effect. Contrary to popular belief, saltwater doesn’t burn open wounds, in fact, it heals the affected area. Mix ½ a teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water. Swish a mouthful of the mixture gently in your mouth and try holding it above the affected area for a few seconds. Spit it out and repeat.
Water too hot or cold can cause a reverse effect and intensify the pain. Be sure to use warm water for dissolving the salt. Avoid any cold or hot beverages as any exposed nerves may come into direct contact causing an intense freeze.
Temperature Therapy
A cold compress or ice pack is the most popular and well-known remedy used to deal with toothache. Simply take the ice in a piece of thin cloth and hold it on side of the cheek against the affected area for a few minutes. The chill from the ice will temporarily cause a numbing effect and reduce any swelling or inflammation lowering pain or bleeding. Applying the cold compress 4 – 5 times a day helps in keeping pain under control.
In addition, heat packs or warm cloth applied in the same manner promotes blood flow reducing any discomfort. Alternate between cold and warm therapy for better pain management.
Over-the-Counter Pain Relief Medication
Painkillers like acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or other NSAIDs temporarily relieve dental pain by reducing inflammation in the affected areas of the mouth. Consuming these medications with food under recommend doses helps control pain. NSAIDs are inexpensive non-narcotic medicines that have no risk of addiction and are tolerated by most consumers, although it’s not recommended if you have gastric problems.
Herbs and Spices
People have traditionally used herbs and spices for treating toothache. Ginger, garlic, turmeric, cayenne pepper, and cloves are used for toothaches for as long as humans have been around. These herbs and spices contain antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties and have notably less adverse reactions compared to conventional medicine.
Simply grind them into a paste and apply it to the gums and teeth of the affected areas. Any natural sweetener such as honey can be added to aid with the taste. Alternatively, position a whole clove against the aching tooth and bite down for its anti-inflammatory properties to start working on the infected tooth.
Clove Oil
Clove oil contains eugenol that is used in many over-the-counter toothache gels. Its natural antiseptic and anesthetic effects numb pain. Gently dab a Q-tip into clove oil and hold it against the hurting tooth. Try to avoid applying clove oil to sensitive gums.
Peppermint Tea
Peppermint also has numbing and antibacterial properties that can alleviate toothache. Just add a teaspoon of dried peppermint leaves into a cup of boiling water and steep for 30 minutes. Take a mouthful and swish gently around the mouth. Repeat this several times and consume the rest. You can also use a slightly warm teabag against an aching tooth for several minutes.
Although these remedies can help you in the short term, it is important to eliminate the root of the problem. We strongly recommend you see a dental professional to start the proper treatment. This will ensure the pain doesn’t come back.
If you have any questions on tooth pain management or if you need to book an emergency dental appointment, please schedule your visit with Dr. Anupreet Samra in Oshawa at 905-240-1919.
Note: These remedies are not meant to cure the problem. They are temporary remedies you could use until your visit to the dentist.
