Dealing with a tooth cavity can be a distressing experience, often accompanied by discomfort and sensitivity. The pain from a cavity can be persistent, whether it is a dull throb or a sharp, stabbing sensation. While seeking professional dental care is essential for treating cavities, several home remedies can provide temporary pain relief.
Read on to explore a variety of home remedies that may help you alleviate the pain. Alongside the home remedies for tooth cavity, you can also gain insights into what dental cavities are, why they hurt, and the toothpastes available to fight against cavities.
What Are Cavities?
Cavities, also known by the name dental caries, develop as a result of tooth decay. This decay is initiated by certain types of bacteria that produce acid, which destroys the tooth’s enamel and its underlying layer, the dentin. It starts with the formation of a small hole, or opening, in the enamel.
If left untreated, this decay continues to advance, reaching deeper layers of the tooth where the pulp and nerves are located. Consequently, the affected tooth becomes sensitive to various stimuli, and gum issues such as inflammation and swelling may arise, leading to discomfort and, ultimately, potential tooth loss. Sometimes, options like root canal treatment may be necessary to address underlying issues to repair and save a tooth that has badly decayed.
Why Do Cavities Hurt?
Initially, cavities often show no symptoms. However, a toothache typically serves as the first indication of a cavity. Cavities typically hurt when tooth decay exposes sensitive dentin and nerve pulp in teeth, leading to an ache or pain, especially when eating cold or sugary foods.
Additional indicators of a cavity may include food becoming trapped in your teeth or detecting a rough surface on a tooth when using your tongue. You might also be able to see the actual decay in your tooth with a normal examination.
Home Remedies For Tooth Cavity
If you are thinking of how to cure tooth decay naturally, there are some home remedies that you can try. While home remedies for cavities can temporarily relieve cavity pain and discomfort, they are not a substitute for professional dental care.
Severe or persistent toothaches could be a signal of a dental emergency, requiring immediate attention from a dentist rather than relying solely on home remedies. Below are some of the commonly used home remedies for tooth cavity.
Salt Water Rinse
If you are experiencing tooth pain due to a cavity, rinsing the mouth with warm, salt water may provide relief. Warm salt water acts as a natural disinfectant, helping in the loosening of trapped food particles and debris between your teeth. Typically, this involves mixing a teaspoon of salt with warm water to create a mouthwash, to swish around the mouth before spitting it out.
While extremes of hot and cold water might evoke discomfort during a toothache, warm water tends to be soothing. The warmth assists in easing the pain, while the salt helps in reducing gum tissue swelling. While cavity treatment at home using saltwater rinse may provide temporary relief, its efficiency may vary among individuals.
Cold Compress
Applying a cold compress or ice pack against the outside of your cheek at regular intervals may offer pain relief. The cold compress works by constricting blood vessels in the affected area, which helps numb the pain and reduce swelling and inflammation.
While cold compresses may temporarily alleviate the discomfort and pain, they do not address the underlying cause of the toothache. Applying a cold compress is not a long-term solution or a substitute for professional dental care. If your toothache persists due to a cavity, it is necessary to seek proper oral care from a dental professional for a long-term solution.
Clove Oil
Clove oil is one of the home remedies for tooth cavity pain relief. This essential oil can offer a temporary solution for reducing the dental pain associated with a tooth cavity. This home remedy for tooth cavity involves soaking a few drops of clove oil in a cotton ball and gently applying it to the affected area of the tooth.
Its active ingredient, eugenol, acts as a natural anaesthetic with antibacterial properties, reducing inflammation and pain. However, while clove oil provides relief, it does not address the root cause of the issue. Additionally, its unpleasant taste may make this remedy less appealing to some individuals.
Instant Relief from Toothache Due to Cavity
Cavity pain is sharp, throbbing, and constant. It occurs when the tooth cavity destroys the enamel and progresses through the dentin layer, sending pain signals to the brain. Applying home remedies like cloves to the affected area or taking painkillers may have side effects like chemical burns.
Colgate PainOut Dental Gel is an ayurvedic gel that provides express relief from dental cavity pain. Pain Out has Eugenol, Camphor, and Menthol in a unique Anti-Eugenia formulation which provides symptomatic relief from Toothpain. The active ingredient in Pain Out plugs transmission of pain to the brain, thus providing express relief. Camphor provides relief from swelling and menthol provides a cooling and soothing effect. These are natural ingredients, and Pain Out is an easy, one-finger application. Thus Colgate Pain Out provides relief from cavity pain within 3 minutes.
