A wide variety of complications may cause a toothache, or odontalgia, from sinus issues to cavities. Eating, chewing or simply inhaling cold air may cause further pain and irritation. Because a toothache happens unexpectedly, and visiting a dentist at night or on the weekends is sometimes impossible, home remedies that relieve pain and discomfort until medical attention is available are quite useful. Seek immediate attention if pain lasts longer than two days or if fever or ear pain accompany the toothache.
Floss and Rinse
Remove any pieces of food lodged between teeth by flossing. The space between the teeth and the gums is often inaccessible with a toothbrush, but using dental floss removes lodged food in the area. Wedged food between teeth may be the source of the tooth pain. Be gentle while flossing as the gums around the tooth may be tender. Rinse with water at room temperature. According to MotherNature.com, for additional relief, add 1 tsp. salt to an 8-oz. glass of water. Swish and then spit.
Charcoal Compress
Another remedy involves mixing activated charcoal powder with water to form a paste, states MotherNature.com. Put the paste on a strip of gauze and place inside the mouth on the infected tooth. Bite down on the gauze so the charcoal paste spreads around the tooth. This mixture will temporarily alleviate the throbbing pain.
Natural Antiseptics
Calendula, an herb from the sunflower family, and clove oil are two natural antiseptics which can be used to numb the gums and surrounding tooth area until medical treatment is available. Clove oil or the whole clove itself is a home remedy for treating toothaches. The clove acts like a local anesthetic, slowly relieving pain. Place a few drops of the calendula oil or clove oil on a cotton swab and hold next to the infected tooth. Alternatively, chewing directly on pieces of clove will diminish tooth pain. The book "The Green Witch Herbal" recommends using no more than two pieces of a clove at one time.
Vitamins and Minerals
Taking certain vitamins and minerals at the first sign of a toothache will aid in pain relief. "One way to soothe the pain of a toothache is to increase your intake of calcium and magnesium," according to Dr. Richard D. Fischer, DDS. A person should take 500 mg of calcium and between 200 and 300 mg of magnesium to sooth nerves in the tooth.
