Sometimes we find effective remedies in the pantry.
Dental conditions such as toothaches can be debilitating problems that prevent people from carrying out their daily tasks, resulting in some social and economic impact.
These types of diseases and disorders more frequently affect people of low socioeconomic status , probably due to the lack of regular visits with dental health specialists.
Although our oral hygiene is perfect, if dental pain appears that does not stop, the most appropriate thing is always to visit a specialized professional who can guide us correctly in terms of the correct treatment of the disease.
In this article we will talk about what you can do to combat toothache before visiting the dentist and what you should avoid. We will illustrate it to you through different home remedies, of which we will explain their functions and possible contraindications .
What causes tooth pain?
The average adult human mouth has 32 permanent teeth, not counting wisdom teeth. Far from being simple pieces of bone, our teeth are complex structures with several differentiated parts that fulfill different functions:
- Enamel, the very hard coating of high purity hydroxyapatite that surrounds the teeth
- Dentin, the layer of hard material under the enamel, filled with microscopic tubes.
- Dental pulp, where the nerves and blood vessels of the tooth are located
- Dental cement, which joins the dental roots with the gums and the jaw.
- Periodontal ligament, which helps keep the tooth attached to the jaw.
The damage that can occur to the enamel , either from dental diseases such as cavities or trauma that has exposed the interior of the tooth, can cause discomfort . This is because without the protective enamel, our teeth are more sensitive to changes in pressure and/or temperature.
Maintaining oral health prevents tooth and gum problems, which will be the main cause of dental discomfort. To do this, we must follow correct hygienic practices that include annual check-ups by a dentist .
- It might interest you: “Toothache: what are the causes and how to relieve the symptoms?”
home remedies for toothache
Among the home remedies we find some that effectively work, but others that you should not try, either because of their ineffectiveness or their danger.
In this article we will discuss which ones work and which ones are better to avoid.
1. Salt water rinses
Rinsing with a sodium chloride solution (NaCl, typical table salt) helps improve gum health and also speeds up the natural healing process of canker sores. Recent scientific studies corroborated these positive effects of this type of practice on oral health , which have their origin as a traditional remedy for toothache.
To do it, we must mix approximately 10 grams of salt in 1L of warm water and rinse with the mixture. If we exceed the amount of salt, the positive effects of the rinse will be reduced.
2. Rinses with hydrogen peroxide
The use of hydrogen peroxide for maintaining oral health is controversial. Its high oxidizing capacity can cause us problems if we consume it by mistake. Even so, its effectiveness in reducing minor oral infections is proven by science.
It is especially recommended for gum pain that may be caused by their inflammation , since rinsing with hydrogen peroxide is capable of visibly reducing the effects of gingival inflammation.
3. Anti-inflammatory medication
In case of pain and inflammation, we can always turn to over-the-counter anti-inflammatory drugs, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen. This medication should be taken according to the directions in the package insert and be careful about its contraindications.
4. Anesthetic medication
There are certain types of medication in “spray” that serve as analgesics, to calm oral pain. This type of medication is designed for occasional use and not as a way to cure a dental disorder, only to alleviate it.
We can use them for extra quick relief, but we can’t rely on them to treat toothache.
5. Ice application
Whenever there is pain and inflammation, it is recommended to use cold (for example, applying ice wrapped in a clean cloth directly on the affected area). If we use it regularly, we can control inflammation while reducing our toothache.
6. Cold massage of the hands
Another technique that seems to work, especially when it comes to sore gums, is the use of cold massage. In this technique, after cooling the area with ice, a massage is applied to the membranous area between the index finger and the thumb of the hand that is on the same side as the oral pain.
Certain parallel investigations also link this type of massage with reduction of other types of pain, such as those suffered during childbirth.
7. Chew garlic
Chewing garlic is bad for our breath, but not for our oral health. Chewing garlic works as an antiseptic, which decreases our levels of oral bacteria , including those bacteria that cause dental plaque.
8. Clove Oil
The essential oil extracted from cloves also has antiseptic properties, just like garlic. But it also has anesthetic properties similar to those of classic anesthetics such as benzocaine, which can greatly help us overcome toothache.
To use it, we must wet a swab or cotton with this essential oil, and then apply it gently on our gums.
9. Alcohol rinses
Mouthwashes with high-alcohol beverages can be used to kill oral bacteria and also to anesthetize sore parts of our mouth. Even so, the habitual use of this type of rinse causes damage to the mouth , since it makes it easier for the gums to dry out.
This can lead to other oral problems, so regular use is not recommended.
10. Keep an aspirin in your mouth
Keeping an aspirin in your mouth is a home remedy that doesn’t work. The best effect against toothache that we can obtain from aspirin is its analgesic and anti-inflammatory capacities, from which we can benefit by consuming aspirin directly.
Keeping aspirin on the tongue or next to the area of the mouth that hurts can cause injuries to our oral epithelium , so this remedy is not recommended, both because of its ineffectiveness and its danger.
Prevention
In addition to these remedies, it is recommended not to put pressure on the side of the mouth that hurts, to avoid eating foods that are too hot or too cold, and to avoid smoking. All these practices can be painful and, especially the habit of smoking, alter our oral health.
In case we experience symptoms such as fever, pus, generalized pain that lasts more than two days, headache, or serious difficulties in eating or breathing due to pain, we should go to the nearest dental specialist as soon as possible.
Bibliographic references
- Kakoei, S., Parirokh, M., Nakhaee, N., Jamshidshirazi, F., Rad, M., & Kakooei, S. (2013). Prevalence of toothache and associated factors: a population-based study in southeast iran. Iranian endodontic journal, 8(3), 123–128.
- Bayan, L., Koulivand, P.H., & Gorji, A. (2014). Garlic: a review of potential therapeutic effects. Avicenna journal of phytomedicine, 4(1), 1–14.
- Rashed HT (2016). Evaluation of the effect of hydrogen peroxide as a mouthwash in comparison with chlorhexidine in chronic periodontitis patients: A clinical study. Journal of International Society of Preventive & Community Dentistry, 6(3), 206–212. doi:10.4103/2231-0762.183114.
To the classic question “what do you do?” I always answer “basically I am a psychologist”. In fact, my academic training has revolved around the psychology of development, education and community, a field of study influenced my volunteer activities, as well as my first work experiences in personal services.