If your tooth starts hurting in the middle of the night or on the weekend when your dentist's office is closed, you might need to rely on home remedies and over-the-counter medication to reduce your pain until you can make a dental appointment.
Numbing the Pain
Keeping the area around the tooth numb will help dull nerve sensations causing toothache pain. Applying ice packs or a bag of frozen vegetables to the tooth, your face or jaw can temporarily deaden nerve endings and relieve some of your pain. Over-the-counter numbing gels and liquids containing benzocaine can also help numb the pain of a toothache. These medications are available for sale at drug, discount and grocery stores.
Using a Saltwater Rinse
Warm saltwater rinses often help reduce toothache pain. The Merck website suggests mixing 1 tbsp. of salt with a glass of water no hotter than the temperature of tea or coffee. Holding the saltwater mixture against the affected tooth until it cools can help control pain and inflammation. The mixture is not swallowed, but is spit out after it cools. Repeating the rinse immediately after spitting out one mouthful of saltwater can aid in reduction of pain.
Trying Home Remedies
Applying clove oil to the area around your tooth can help relieve toothache pain. Put some oil on a cotton swab and place it next to the tooth. The Granny Med website cautions that large doses of clove oil are toxic and can cause liver failure, respiratory distress or depression of the central nervous system.
Applying garlic or onion directly to the tooth might also help relieve pain. Onions have antibacterial properties that kill the germs in the mouth, according to the Grandma's Home Remedies website. Other home remedies include applying bay berry paste to the tooth or using a mouthwash made of wheatgrass. These remedies can be found in health food stores.
Using Pain Relievers
Over-the-counter pain relievers, including aspirin, ibuprofen and acetaminophen, might help reduce toothache pain. The Consumer Guide to Dentistry Cautions against applying aspirin directly to the tooth or gums because it can burn the gums or cheeks. If over-the-counter medication doesn't help and the pain is severe, accompanied by fever or difficulty breathing or swallowing, or if there is a discharge or foul taste in your mouth, call your dentist immediately. These symptoms can indicate the presence of an infection.
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