![A toothache is a dental emergency, which requires a visit to the dentist. In the meantime, you can relieve your toothache pain with home remedies such as cold compresses, heat packs, over-the-counter (OTC) pain medicine, pain-relieving oral gel, certain rinses, cautious eating/chewing, and others.](https://images.medicinenet.com/images/slideshow/xl-sq-promos/mouth-pain-sore-tooth-gums-dental-oral-care.jpg?output-quality=75)
If you have a toothache, see your dentist as soon as possible. There are so many reasons for toothaches so it is important to have a proper diagnosis of the cause because treatment for a toothache depends on the reason for the pain.
You may be able to relieve the pain of a toothache, but the only way to make a toothache go away is to determine the cause and receive the proper treatment. Home remedies can help ease the pain of a toothache while you wait for your scheduled dentist appointment, such as those listed in the table below.
Remedy | Instructions |
---|---|
Cold compresses or ice packs/cold gel packs wrapped in a towel | Apply for 20 minutes at a time |
A hot pack | Apply to the cheek over the painful area |
Over-the-counter (OTC) medicines |
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) for pain and inflammation
Acetaminophen (Tylenol) for pain |
Pain-relieving oral gel |
Apply to the painful tooth or area |
Eating soft foods | Avoid any foods that could irritate or break the tooth |
Eating with caution | Avoid chewing on the side with the sore tooth |
Rinse with saltwater | Swish with a warm saltwater rinse to help prevent infection and soothe your pain |
Rinse with a guava mouthwash |
|
Rinse with homemade thyme mouthwash |
|
Peppermint tea bags |
|
Garlic |
|
Clove oil |
|
Pressing on acupressure points |
|
Dental Treatments for Toothache
Once you see the dentist, treatment for a toothache depends on the cause.
Treatment for enamel damage caused by cavities, chips, or cracks may include:
- Dental fillings
- Crowns
- Topical varnish, applied as a liquid that hardens to protect the exposed tooth roots
Treatment for an infection may include:
- Antibiotics
- Removing the infected tissue (for example, with a root canal)
If toothaches are caused by braces or dentures, they may need to be adjusted.
Impacted wisdom teeth may need to be removed.
What Are Symptoms of a Toothache?
Symptoms of a toothache may include:
- Sharp pain
- Shooting pain when you eat or drink something hot or cold or sweet or sour
- May also occur due to pressure, such as from toothbrushing or biting
- Dull, throbbing pain
- Pain may involve an area in or around the mouth and jaw
- May be a steady ache that continues for days
- Bad breath, if the toothache is caused by infection or decay
What Causes a Toothache?
Toothaches may be caused by:
- Cavities
- Cracked teeth
- Exposed tooth root
- Infection
- Impacted wisdom teeth
- Braces
- Dentures
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