Home Remedies for Emergency Toothaches Relief That Actually Work

Toothaches are just about the most common oral problems in dentistry. From children to adults, there is no telling just how mild or severe a toothache can be. Unfortunately, several people have had to lose their natural teeth after toothaches. It can happen to you too, if you delay treatment that helps identify the underlying cause of the problem.

What Causes a Toothache?

Ideally, a toothache indicates nerve damage within a tooth. Therefore, it can result due to damage or infection of a tooth, affecting the different layers. The risk factors that result in toothaches are:

1. Dental trauma – an injury or accident on your mouth can lead to tooth pain. The stakes are higher when you have a fractured tooth.
2. Tooth decay – a deep dental cavity signifies progressed decay that has damaged the inner layers of teeth.
3. Broken or cracked dental filling – a dental filling is supposed to protect your tooth. If it gets damaged, you may experience a toothache.
4. Jaw pain – if your jawbone is hurting, it can feel like your teeth are also in pain.
5. Gum disease – although the infection is usually in the gum tissue, it can cause discomfort to your jaw and teeth.
6. A dental abscess – when bacteria build up at tooth roots, they form an abscess that features a pocket at the gum line, filled with pus and other fluids.

​How Do You Know You Have a Toothache?

A comprehensive dental exam by a dentist in Oakland, CA, is the surest way to know whether you have a toothache. Otherwise, your dental pain can be unrelated to a tooth. Still, consider the following signs of a toothache:

1. Heightened tooth sensitivity
2. Swollen and tender gums around the aching tooth
3. Reduced oral function due to severe pain
4. Throbbing pain that spreads to your entire mouth
5. Migraine headaches
6. Bad breath and a foul taste in your mouth – particularly in the case of dental decay and cavities.

Fastest Way to Stop a Toothache

Technically, the fastest way to stop a toothache is by extracting the problematic tooth. The procedure is often an urgent treatment protocol for severe tooth pain. The severity of your toothache will often determine whether you visit an emergency dentist near you immediately or seek natural remedies to alleviate the pain.

Usually, at-home remedies work when the pain is bearable. As soon as the pain advances, you need emergency dentistry in Oakland, CA, for a solution to treat the pain, not just suppress it for a few hours.

Still, you can employ the following tips to manage your toothache at home:

1. Cold compressing – apply an ice pack over your cheek for a few minutes repeatedly during the day. It constructs the blood vessels in the area, reducing pain and swelling.
2. Keep your head elevated when you lie down – it prevents blood from pooling in your head, which can aggravate swelling and pain.
3. Take over-the-counter medication – some oral antibiotics and painkillers can help handle the pain. However, tread cautiously when taking medicine, lest you become overly dependent on them, creating an addiction menace.

​What Drink Helps a Toothache?

1. Saltwater – get a glass of salt water to rinse your mouth. It dislodges debris between teeth while destroying bacteria that often worsen the pain.
2. Hydrogen peroxide rinse – is a solution that can kill bacteria and counter inflammation. Lower the consecration of the hydrogen peroxide by adding 2 parts of water to 1 part of hydrogen peroxide.
3. Peppermint tea – can be good for fighting bacteria. Besides, peppermint has numbing effects that can help soothe your ailing tooth.
4. Guava leaves juice – offers temporary relief for toothaches by alleviating pain.

​When Is a Toothache Considered Severe?

At Franklin Dental Care, we advise you to visit our offices as soon as you encounter mild or moderate pain. However, many patients wait until the pain is excruciatingly severe before they seek the intervention of a dentist. Instead, if a toothache continues for over 48 hours, call a dentist for treatment.