Natural Remedies for Tooth Pain Relief
Toothaches don’t keep regular business hours. Unfortunately, it seems that oral discomfort often strikes at the most inconvenient times. However, you can take matters into your own hands when it comes to dealing with the pain. In fact, you may have solutions right in your own pantry or at your local health food store.
Clove
As discussed in a previous post, Wisdom Tooth Pain Remedies, one of the most effective natural remedies for tooth pain is clove. Not only is it an anti-inflammatory and antiseptic agent but it also serves as an anesthetic. While you can use whole cloves by placing them in your mouth near the pain until they soften and then gently grinding them with your teeth to release the clove oils in your mouth; you can also prepare a paste of ground cloves and olive oil or even purchase clove oil to apply to the affected area.
Garlic
Whether you love garlic or don’t care for it, this aromatic plant is renowned for its health benefits. It has been used to treat everything from high blood pressure to coronary heart disease. If you’re suffering from tooth pain, garlic also can help kill harmful bacteria and dull the ache. Try crushing a garlic clove into a paste and apply to the affected tooth and gum or gently chew a fresh clove of garlic.
Tea
Tea is not only a soothing drink; it can also help ease the pain of sensitive gums. A used tea bag applied to an aching gum may provide relief. You can use a still-warm tea bag, or put a used one in the freezer.
Whiskey or Vanilla Extract
Neat or on the rocks, whiskey is a guilty pleasure for many. However, whiskey is good for more than an old-fashioned. There’s a good reason for why generations of grandparents have suggested this unlikely cure for teething babies. When swished around a painful tooth, whiskey may help kill bacteria and numb the ache. Vanilla extract also contains alcohol and has similar healing and numbing properties. Dab a bit on a cotton ball or your fingers and apply to the painful area.
Yarrow
Yarrow is an herb that has been used medicinally for centuries. It is an anti-inflammatory and has been used to treat high blood pressure and improve circulation. It also contains the same pain-relieving properties found in aspirin. Rub yarrow oil on your tooth and gum to soothe a toothache.
Capsaicin / Cayenne Oil
Not for the faint of heart, capsaicin, which gives chili peppers their heat, can help numb nerve pain in your teeth. Add a few drops of cayenne oil to a cotton ball and rub it around the affected tooth. Just be sure to not get any of the burning oil on your tongue.
Activated Charcoal
For a less spicy cure, try mixing activated carbon, or charcoal, into a paste and apply to gauze and bite down on it.
If you have a toothache, there’s a good chance there’s a problem that needs to be treated professionally. While these natural remedies can provide relief at home, it’s still important to schedule an appointment with your dentist when pain strikes.