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Toothache Home Remedies

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Medically Reviewed By Colgate Global Scientific Communications

If a toothache strikes when you cannot see your dentist, like in the middle of the night, you may feel desperate to relieve the pain. A toothache can be moderate to severe pain felt in or around your teeth and jaws. Such pain often indicates that you have an underlying tooth or gum issue.

For temporary relief, one can explore toothache home remedies or opt for express solutions like Colgate Pain Out, which provides instant relief from toothache with just one drop at any time of the day. If your symptoms persist for more than a day or two, you should see your dentist for guidance on how to relieve your symptoms and prevent future discomfort.

What is a Toothache? 

A toothache refers to pain in or around your tooth. It can range from mild discomfort, like temporary gum irritation, which you can handle with home remedies for toothache, to severe pain caused by cavities, infections, or other underlying dental problems requiring professional care. 

Toothaches are present in various forms and exhibit diverse symptoms, including persistent dull aches, sharp stabbing pains, throbbing sensations, teeth sensitivity, swollen gums, headaches, fever, chills, and an unpleasant taste or breath. It's crucial to recognise that if you experience intense tooth pain accompanied by fever and chills, it's a dental emergency that needs immediate attention from a dentist. 

What Causes Toothache?

Tooth pain may arise for various reasons, but tooth decay is the most common cause requiring more than just a toothache home remedy. Possible toothache causes include:

Physical damage to the tooth:

  • Cracked tooth

  • Tooth trauma, such as wear, injury, or fracture

  • Bacterial/Germ Infection

  • Wisdom teeth eruption through the gums causes pain, swelling, and discomfort

Tooth decay

  • Gum disease

  • Abscess 

Home Remedies for Toothache

Toothaches are a common problem encountered by many, often occurring at inconvenient moments. While there is no scientific evidence backing the efficacy of natural remedies for pain relief, here are some toothache home remedies that you can explore. These remedies may offer temporary relief, but if the pain persists, immediately seek advice from a dental professional.

Cold Compresses

If your toothache is associated with swelling, holding a cold compress or ice pack against the outside of your cheek (20 minutes on, then 20 minutes off) may provide some toothache relief. Applying a cold compress constricts blood vessels in the affected area. Cold helps numb the area, which can relieve tooth pain; it also helps reduce swelling and inflammation.

Cold compresses may offer temporary relief and help you fall back asleep, but they will not address the root cause of your toothache. It is important to note that they are not a long-term solution and only provide temporary relief. If you have a cavity or another dental problem, it won't get better until you see your dentist and get proper oral care.

Clove Oil

Clove oil can temporarily reduce dental pain and swelling that come with toothaches. This homemade toothache remedy involves dipping a cotton ball in clove oil, soaking a few drops, and gently applying it to the affected area of the tooth and gums.

Clove oil contains eugenol, a natural anaesthetic, which is why clove oil helps reduce the intensity of toothache. However, using clove oil as a toothache home remedy will not cure the underlying problem. Clove oil also tastes bad, so this remedy may be an unpleasant one to try.

Salt Water Rinses

If your tooth hurts and your gums are swollen, rinsing your mouth with warm, salt water may offer relief. Saltwater is a natural disinfectant that helps loosen food particles and debris trapped between your teeth. Typically, it involves mixing a teaspoon of salt with a cup of warm water to create a mouthwash to swish around the mouth before spitting it out.

While hot and cold water can be uncomfortable when you have a toothache, warm water is soothing. The warm water helps ease the pain, and the salt helps reduce the swelling in your gum tissue. Again, these are only temporary methods, and their effectiveness may vary from person to person.

Tooth Pain Medications

Along with home remedies for toothache, people often take an over-the-counter pain medication to cope with toothache pain. It is important that you do not hold the medication against your sore tooth since this can cause inflammation (a reddish patch-like reaction) of the nearby gum tissue and lead to further discomfort.

For instance, you can try using Colgate Pain Out, an indigenously developed dental gel that provides express relief from tooth pain in three minutes with just one drop. It is a proprietary Ayurvedic Medicine available over the counter and contains scientifically trusted ingredients such as Eugenol, Camphor, and Menthol. You may use it for symptomatic relief from toothache until you consult a dentist to cure the underlying cause of the pain.

Try our best oral care range and say goodbye to dental problems!

It is recommended to consult your dentist for a long-term solution. Medications only help relieve the pain; treatment is necessary to cure it and be free from the medicine-dependent toothache problem.

Toothache Prevention

While several dental conditions can cause toothaches, cavities are one of the top reasons. Fortunately, in addition to trying a toothache home remedy, there are many things you can do at home to protect your teeth from cavities. For instance, brushing your teeth twice daily with Colgate Total Advanced Health toothpaste can help keep your whole mouth healthy. Colgate Total Advanced Health is an antibacterial toothpaste that fights germs for 12 hours on teeth, tongue, cheeks, and gums. Unlike ordinary toothpaste, it has Dual Zinc and Arginine technology, actively seeking out bacteria and forming a protective, anti-germ barrier.

Pick our best toothpaste for complete care of your oral health!

Visiting your dentist regularly for check-ups is also important. If you develop a cavity, it can be detected and treated before it gives you a painful toothache. Homemade toothache remedies can keep you comfortable while you wait for your dentist appointment, but they do not get to the root of the problem.

When to See A Dental Professional?

The Indian Dental Association recommends scheduling an appointment with a dentist immediately if you have a toothache. Dentists often leave time slots available for emergency patients, so you may be able to get a same-day appointment. If you have any symptoms of a tooth abscess (infection around or inside the tooth pulp, often from untreated tooth decay) like a fever, facial swelling, or incessant pain in your affected tooth, and can't be seen by your dentist, visit the nearest dental clinic and seek advice.

If you have a severe toothache or a more serious medical condition that causes it, you must see your dentist for proper treatment, even if you have tried toothache home remedies. Many toothaches require medical attention. 

In conclusion, while toothache home remedies like cold compresses, clove oil, salt water rinses, and over-the-counter medications can provide temporary relief, they do not treat the underlying dental issue causing the toothache. Good oral hygiene practices and regular dental visits are essential for preventing and properly treating toothaches. If experiencing severe, persistent tooth pain or symptoms like fever and swelling, it is crucial to seek professional dental care promptly, as home remedies alone are insufficient.

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. What is the best home remedy for tooth pain?

    2. Home remedies like cold compresses, clove oil, saltwater rinses, and over-the-counter pain relievers can help ease the discomfort of a painful tooth. However, these tooth pain home remedies offer only temporary relief and do not solve the root cause of your toothaches. It is always best to seek advice from your dentist for personalised dental care treatment options.

  2. Can toothpaste reduce toothache?

    3. Toothpaste may provide temporary relief for minor toothaches, particularly those caused by sensitivity or minor irritation. Some toothpaste varieties contain ingredients like fluoride, which can help strengthen enamel and alleviate sensitivity. But toothpaste or any toothache home remedy is not a substitute for professional dental treatment and does not address the underlying cause of severe toothaches, such as cavities or infections.

  3. How do you get rid of a toothache at night?

    4. To alleviate a toothache at night, you can rinse your mouth with warm saltwater, apply a cold compress to the outside of your cheek, or take over-the-counter pain medications if needed. Additionally, consider using clove oil directly on the affected tooth for temporary relief. Remember, these are temporary solutions, and seeing a dentist for proper diagnosis and treatment is crucial.

  4. Can toothache be cured at home?

    5. Toothache can be temporarily relieved at home using various remedies, such as rinsing with warm salt water, applying cold compresses, taking over-the-counter pain medications, and using clove oil. However, these remedies only provide temporary relief and do not cure the underlying cause of the toothache. Consulting a dentist is crucial.

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