Having tooth pain is never fun and often becomes disruptive to your everyday life. Whenever you experience stubborn tooth pain, make visiting your dentist a priority. While you are awaiting your appointment, here are some tips for temporary tooth pain relief.
Tooth Pain Relief
Gargling Saltwater
Before your visit to the dentist, you can get some relief through gargling salty, lukewarm water in your mouth. Avoid swallowing it. Consequently, complement it by softly flossing the tooth that is causing the pain.
Over-the-Counter Pain Medicines
If your children have tooth pain, a good, dentist-approved option is acetaminophen. However, adults with tooth pain may use most pain relievers, such as ibuprofen. If you opt for aspirin, do not place it on the painful tooth but simply take it orally.
Cold Therapy
If there is swelling in your face, place a cold compress on the affected area externally. This is an effective way to numb and relieve the pain, particularly if the pain is due to a physical trauma like chipping or dislodging your tooth.
Tooth swelling can also be a sign of an abscess; an abscess is when there is an infection in the root of a tooth. A tooth abscess is typically accompanied by inflamed gums and a fever.
Non-prescription Anesthetics
There are topical pain medicines that are specifically designed with the active ingredient benzocaine, which eases teeth and gum soreness. These topical therapies are only recommended for temporary relief.
Garlic Clove
When crushed, garlic cloves secrete a substance known as allicin that is thought to fight off diseases naturally. It may also relieve pain. You can simply chew bits of garlic or put some on the affected tooth.
Clove Oil
Clove oil is a natural numbing agent. You can dab it right on the affected area to find some relief. In most cases, clove oil is just as efficacious in numbing and easing pain as the medications that contain benzocaine.
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