If you find yourself with a toothache, there are several things you can do to help alleviate the pain. Knowing your alternatives can help you make the best decision on treatment.
Locate the Source of the Problem
The first step is to figure out why your teeth hurt. This can usually be answered with a trip to your Brooklyn dentist. Your dentist may determine you have cracked a filling or need a root canal in which case taking care of the injured tooth should relieve the pain. If the pain is just tooth sensitivity or perhaps the side effect of a previous treatment, your dentist may suggest some more natural remedies rather than prescribing medication.
Treat Your Mouth
A quick go-to for dental pain is to rinse your mouth with warm salt water. This common practice keeps bacteria cleaned out of any open wounds such as after a dental procedure like wisdom teeth removal. It doesn’t taste great, but it’s effective. Holding a warm or cold wet peppermint tea bag is a folk remedy that brings soothing comfort to the sore spot in your mouth. The mild numbing effects of peppermint make this a good non-medical choice. Garlic, while giving you terrible breath, is another gentle alternative. You can chew it on the achy side of your mouth or create a paste that you apply directly to the sore tooth.
Change the Temperature
The same common sense that might lead you to put a bag of frozen vegetables over a black eye will tell you that holding that cold bag against a sore mouth works as well. If cold doesn’t seem comforting, try a heated compress. Be careful not to put the frozen or hot material directly on your skin and always test the temperature first on your arm or leg before applying to your face.
Toothaches are annoying, but there are several ways to deal with them that do not involve prescription medication. Many alternative therapies involve items you already have at hand.
