A toothache can be excruciating, so much so that the person which can be you having this ache instantly want tooth pain relief. Despite the fact that the source of the pain is usually very small, it can cause numbing migraines, jaw pain, and sleeplessness. Usually the pain occurs when you cannot immediately go to the dentist and you are incapacitated by the intensity so that you will do anything for tooth relief.
Locate the source
Not all toothaches are created equally and not all tooth pain even comes from a tooth. Usually the tooth pain comes from a cavity, which forms when you do not brush your teeth properly. There are residual bacteria in the mouth that turns simple sugars into acid with the help of the saliva and these breakdown the enamel of the teeth. Some tooth pain comes from swollen gums, but there are instances when it comes from a totally different source altogether like TMJ, or the way the jaw is constructed.
Home Remedies
There are some simple things you can do for tooth pain relief so that you can function again. First, make sure your teeth and mouth are clean so brush your teeth gently and floss. If the cause of the pain is just food stuck in your teeth, this will solve it. The use of over-the-counter mouthwashes can also numb the pain or gargle with saline solution which is a mixture of warm water and salt. This helps address pain from swollen gums.
The use of clove oil or cloves themselves also works for tooth pain relief because cloves have antiseptic qualities. Just put a few drops of clove oil in a cotton ball and place it where it comes in contact with the cavity. You can also make clove oil by allowing fresh crushed cloves to steep in olive oil but may not be ready in time to help you because it has to steep for a week. So if you don’t have clove oil at home, just stick a clove in your mouth where the tooth pain is and allow the cloves to do their work
A warm compress also helps achieve tooth pain relief. A warm compress relaxes the nerve vessels in the area addressed and may even put you to sleep. If all these do not help you, then take 2 to 3 Ibruprofen or Analgesic tablets. The Ibruprofen is also anti-inflammatory so this may work better. If the tooth pain is really intense, take the pills in conjunction with the home remedies and go to your dentist as soon as you can.
It is but common sense that a soft diet has to be adapted for tooth pain relief. Biting and chewing tough food can worsen the pain so stick to soft food that do not need to be masticated too much like macaroni soup, soft boiled eggs, gelatine. Spicy food should also be avoided as the spices can aggravate the cavity especially if the nerve is already exposed. Also, make sure the temperature of any food and drink you take is neither very cold nor very hot. A soft diet and a combination of the gargle, warm compress, clove oil and Ibruprofen will work wonders for tooth pain relief.