Home remedies for toothache
7 great helpers
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If we have a toothache, we cannot always go to the dentist immediately. These home remedies for toothache can temporarily alleviate the symptoms in a gentle way!
Toothache Home Remedies That Really Help
Most of the time, toothache always comes when we are unable to visit the dentist – for example at the weekend or in the middle of the night. And not everyone wants to take medication for tooth pain right away. So what to do Home remedies for toothache can be a gentle alternative, to bridge the time until the dentist visit.
Home remedies for toothache: 7 helpers at a glance
If you don't want to treat your toothache directly with painkillers, but in a gentle way, can try the following home remedies:
- Ice pack or cold cloth: Cold reduces blood flow to the inflamed area, thereby reducing toothache. To do this, simply place a cold cloth or an ice pack also wrapped in a cloth on the cheek on the affected area for ten to twenty minutes. Cooling is allowed every two to four hours.
- Oil pulling: There is no scientific evidence that oil pulling has any effect, but supporters attribute many health effects to the method. If you have a toothache, simply put a tablespoon of high-quality vegetable oil in your mouth and carefully pull it through your teeth for about two minutes, then spit the oil out into a cloth and dispose of it in the household waste. The oil is supposed to bind bacteria and thus transport them out of the body.
- Saline solution: Rinsing your mouth with salt water has various health effects, including toothache relief. To do this, simply dissolve enough salt in warm water and rinse your mouth with it for two minutes. This can be repeated any number of times until the pain on the tooth subsides.
- Tea: Teas with anti-inflammatory properties such as sage, chamomile and peppermint are also tried and tested home remedies for toothache. Simply prepare the tea as usual – but with twice as much tea as usual – and rinse through your mouth at regular intervals. The sore tooth can also be dabbed with a little tea with a cotton swab.
- Clove: The clove contains the active ingredient eugenol, which is released when you bite the dried clove. Eugenol has an analgesic effect and is also used in dentistry to treat various diseases. Alternatively, you can use clove oil for direct application in the oral cavity.
- Onions: Onions have proven themselves not only for earache, but also for sore teeth. Their essential oils help reduce inflammation. To do this, an onion is cut into small pieces, wrapped in a paper towel and lightly pressed onto the sore cheek.
- Tea tree oil: Although tea tree oil smells and tastes relatively unconventional, it works against many germs on teeth and gums. If you have a toothache, you can either rub it on your cheek or put a drop in a glass of warm water and use it as a mouthwash.
Where does my toothache come from anyway?
There can be many different causes of toothache. The most common are:
- Caries: The most common cause of toothache is tooth decay. On our teeth there is the so-called plaque, on which bacteria in turn settle. These break down the sugar molecules from food residues until an acid is formed that attacks the tooth enamel. If the plaque is not removed regularly with good dental hygiene, the acid will eventually create a hole in the tooth. The bacteria can then penetrate the tooth – causing pain. Home remedies for toothache are only a short-term solution in order to bridge the time until the necessary visit to the dentist.
- Inflammation of the gums: Gum inflammation is caused by bacteria and can be either acute or chronic. It is noticeable through bleeding, swelling and pain in the gums.
- Root inflammation: If tooth decay is not treated in time, the bacteria can penetrate to the tooth nerve and damage it – this leads to strong, pulsating toothache. In the worst case, the nerve can die. As a result, the symptoms subside for a short time, but the inflammation can migrate and, for example, affect the jawbone – which causes new toothaches when chewing.
- Broken out fillings or crowns: Fillings, crowns and the like don't last forever. For example, they can break out while eating. The tooth is then exposed and reacts sensitively to stimuli such as cold, heat or pressure.
- Periodontitis: If the so-called tooth-supporting apparatus (including root cement, root skin, jawbone and gums) become inflamed, this is called periodontal disease. It can lead to dull pain, swelling and redness, and bleeding gums. In addition, the gums can retract – this exposes the sensitive tooth necks and reacts sensitively to stimuli. If left untreated, periodontal disease can destroy the jawbone in the long run.
This is why you shouldn't ignore toothache
If the home remedies for toothache work and you get an upset stomach at the thought of going to the dentist, you may think of putting it off for a long time. But that's a very bad idea! If there is no adequate treatment for toothache – regardless of whether tooth decay is the cause or something else – other health problems can arise.
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For example, the bacteria that have entered through the hole can migrate through the bloodstream and cause heart valve inflammation. Therefore, home remedies for toothache are only a temporary solution – you should have your pain treated by a professional as soon as possible.
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sources
S3 guideline "Odontogenic Infections" of Dt. Ges. For oral and maxillofacial surgery and the Dt. Ges. For dentistry, oral and maxillofacial medicine (status: 2016)
Jänicke, C. & Grünwald, J .: Alternative healing, Graefe and Unzer Verlag, 2006
German Society for Dental, Oral and Maxillofacial Medicine (DGZMK): www.dgzmk.de
Reitemeier B .: Introduction to dentistry. Thieme publishing house. 1st edition 2006
German Society for Periodontology e.V .: www.dgparo.de