Home and Natural Remedies for Dental Pain

When we experience tooth discomfort, it is hard to focus on anything else. Dental pain can be caused by infection or trauma to the gums and/or jawbone; it can often be accompanied by swelling and tenderness around the affected area. If you are experiencing dental pain, you should seek professional help from a dentist immediately! The following remedies should only be used to relieve post-operative pain or while waiting to be seen by a dentist.

Dental Pain Remedies

Here are some homemade remedies to relieve the symptoms:

1. Saltwater Rinses – One of the most common treatments for dental pain is warm salt water. Salt is a natural antiseptic. Fill a glass with warm water, add a teaspoon of salt, stir well, rinse your mouth, and spit it out. Rinsing your mouth with salt water flushes out harmful bacteria and food particles, which reduces the chance of infection and mouth pain.
2. Hydrogen Peroxide Rinses – As an alternative to salt water rinses, you could use a solution of equal parts hydrogen peroxide and water to ease oral pain. DO NOT swallow – just rinse and spit it out.
3. Sugarless Gum – This gum contains xylitol, a natural sweetener that reduces inflammation and can help reduce tooth decay. Chewing gum also works to decrease oral discomfort because it stimulates saliva production – which flushes debris out of your system. If you don’t want to chew gum, try sucking on ice chips or ice water.
4. Cold Compress – Hold a towel-wrapped cold pack or frozen vegetables to the affected area for about 20 minutes, and repeat several times throughout the day. This will constrict the blood vessels in the surrounding tissue, thus reducing the amount of fluid around the nerve endings and interrupting the pain signals to the brain.
5. Over-The-Counter Pain Medication – Anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen, acetaminophen, pain relieving gels, or numbing gels can help keep pain at bay. Be sure to take the medication as directed on the packaging.

When to See the Dentist

While the above remedies may provide temporary pain relief, dental pain is not normal and requires a visit to your dentist. If any of the following symptoms accompany your dental pain, you should consult your dentist or doctor immediately:

• • fever

  • earache

  • sore throat

  • pain when opening your mouth wide

  • signs of infection such as a bad taste in your mouth or swelling around your lips, tongue, or gums

The dental team at Ultimate Smile Design is dedicated to helping our patients achieve optimal oral health. Contact us today to book an appointment!