A painful toothache can make your child feel miserable. While visiting the dentist is the best course of action if your child has a toothache, a visit might not be possible if pain starts during the night or at another time when the dentist’s office is closed. Trying a few home remedies can temporarily relieve toothache pain and help your child feel a little better until you can take him to the dentist.
Step 1
Floss on both sides of the tooth causing the pain. Cut a 6-inch length of dental floss and firmly hold each end. Gently move the floss between the teeth in a back-and-forth motion. If a piece of stuck food is causing pain, flossing might dislodge it.
Step 2
Place an icepack against your child’s jaw. Put ice cubes in a resealable plastic bag or use a bag of frozen peas if you don’t have a commercially made icepack. Keep the ice on the painful area for 15 to 20 minutes, repeating as needed throughout the day. Ice will help temporarily relieve pain.
Step 3
Give your child over-the-counter pain medication. Both ibuprofen and acetaminophen can be helpful in relieving pain from a toothache.
Step 4
Serve your child beverages that are cool or warm. Avoid serving cold or hot beverages, as exposure to extreme temperatures can worsen toothaches. Don’t give your child sweet foods either. The sugar in these foods can irritate a toothache.
Step 5
Use an over-the-counter topical medication to reduce pain. Look for products that contain benzocaine, an ingredient that can temporarily numb the tooth and surrounding area. Apply a small amount of the medication to a clean finger and gently rub on the gums near the problem tooth.
Tips and Warnings
- When using a topical medication, avoid giving your child food until the numbness wears off. If you give your child food while she is still numb, she may accidentally bite her lip or tongue while chewing. Alan Carr, D.M.D., of the Mayo Clinic, reports that a toothache caused by sinusitis is especially common in the upper rear teeth, which are close to the sinuses. If your child has a toothache and also has a runny nose, congestion, sore throat, cough, fever or headache, she might have sinusitis.
- Don’t place an aspirin against the gums in an attempt to control pain, advises the Academy of General Dentistry. Aspirin can burn sensitive gum tissue and should not be used to treat pain in children due to the threat of Reye’s Syndrome, a potentially life-threatening condition that can affect the body’s organs.
Things You'll Need
- Dental floss
- Icepack
- Ice
- Plastic bag
- Frozen peas
- Over-the-counter pain medication
- Topical medication
