Toothache can be the result of various mouth issue like infection, cavities, cracked tooth, exposed tooth root, gum disease, a loose filling, or jaw joint disorder. The pain can be varied from a mild soreness to an excruciating throbbing pain.
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Since you cannot determined the cause of your toothache by yourself, it will be better for you to go to the dentist to get further examination and proper treatment. However, sometimes we are too busy to immediately go to the dentist while the pain remain and disrupt our activities.
Looking for over the counter medicine to relieve the pain of your toothache may not be the best option since as we already know, almost all drugs in the market contain harmful chemical substances.
You may have heard some kind of advices like using bourbon or hydrogen peroxide to ease pain in the tooth. However, though it may has the ability to soothe the pain, those two are definitely not safe to use for your children.
Fortunately, there are a few natural home remedies that can help you relieve your toothache and of course, can be used safely.
1.Salt water
Swishing salt water may be the most popular method to ease tooth pain. This method is effective to get rid of nasty bacteria in your mouth and reduce swelling. This remedy is very easy to do. You just need to dissolve a teaspoon of salt in a cup of hot water and swish it for around 30 seconds.
2.Garlic
Garlic is known for its antibiotic properties which makes it a great remedy for any kind of infection. Garlic can inhibit the growth of bacteria that are attacking your mouth. There are two ways of using garlic to relieve toothache. The first one, mash a garlic clove and add a pinch of salt then apply the paste to the affected area. The second way is by chewing a clove or two of garlic. Researchers also said that garlic oil has been use to treat toothache in children. So there is no doubt that garlic is fully safe, though you might not want to do this remedy prior going to the party since the smell of your breath would be unpleasant.
3.Peppermint Tea
This might be the most preferred remedy for tea lover. Peppermint tea can be used to soothe toothache because of its numbing power. Prepare the peppermint tea the way you usually prepare your tea. Add a teaspoon of peppermint leaves into a cup of boiling water and let it soak for 20 minutes. After than you can swish it in your mouth then spit it or swallow it.
Other than gargling the tea, you can also use the tea bag to relieve your pain. Tea bags are often used to soothe sensitive skin. There are two ways to use the tea bag. First apply it directly on the throbbing area. And secondly, cool the tea bag in the freezer for a few minutes before apply it on the tooth. Whatever way you use, leave the tea bag for at least 20 minutes.
4.Ice Cube
There are also two ways to use ice cube to relieve your toothache, by apply it on the affected area or rub it between your fingers. Sounds weird? Let see how both method work. In the first method, you need to wrap an ice cube in a think cloth then hold it on your cheek around the aching tooth for several minutes. This will help alleviate tooth pain. While the second method, rub the ice cube in the space between your thumbs and index finger. In this method, the ice cube used to “sabotage” the pain signal sent to your tooth and replace it by the cold signal send from your fingers.
All the above natural remedies are very effective to give temporary relieve for your tooth pain. If the toothache caused by infection, garlic may even be able to heal it due to its antibiotic properties. However, please remember that they are just provide temporary relief to replace painkiller not dentist treatment. You still need to go to the dentist to get proper treatment and prevent a more serious problem from happening.
References:
http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/guide/toothaches
http://www.top10homeremedies.com/home-remedies/home-remedies-for-toothache.html/3
http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/home-remedies-toothache
http://www.arizonafamilydental.com/blog/toothache-home-remedies-really-work/