When To Try Home Remedies For Toothache And When To Seek Dental Care

Most of us will experience a toothache at some point. While toothache home remedies can sometimes relieve mild tooth pain, severe or persistent toothaches often require professional dental care. In the section below, we'll discuss when it’s appropriate to manage toothache pain at home versus seeking help from your dentist.

When to Rely on Home Remedies For Toothache

Here are the situations when it's reasonable to try using toothache home remedies to treat a toothache:

● You wake up with minor tooth sensitivity or dull, achy pain. Trying a saltwater rinse or cold compress can provide temporary relief. You can also use a tartarend toothpaste, like Dabur Red Paste.

● Hot or cold foods suddenly irritate a tooth with a small crack. Putting dental wax over the crack might help ease the sensitivity.

● You have mild, off-and-on tooth pain triggered by certain foods. Numbing the area with clove oil before meals may help get you through.

● If it lasts more than two days.

● You have occasional slight throbbing from inflammation around a tooth. Gently rinsing with salt water and taking an over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medication could calm inflammation.

Seeking Dental Care for Toothaches

While home treatments can temporarily soothe a mild toothache, visiting your dentist is essential if you experience any of the following:

● Severe, throbbing tooth pain

● Tooth sensitivity or pain that lasts longer than 1-2 days

● Swelling in the face, jaw, or gums

● Bleeding from the gums around the painful tooth

● Difficulty breathing or swallowing

● Fever and chills, along with tooth pain These signs and symptoms may indicate an oral health problem that requires professional care, like an infection, damaged tooth structure, or injured pulp. Trying to self-treat severe toothaches can allow the condition to progress and become more serious.

Reasons You May Need Emergency Dental Care

Here are some specific situations when you should seek emergency dental treatment right away for toothache relief:

● Tooth fracture: Cracked or broken teeth need to be repaired as soon as possible. The exposed inner tooth tissue can become infected.

● Lost fillings: Replacing a lost filling quickly prevents decay or infection in the uncovered section of the tooth.

● Facial swelling: Significant jaw, cheek, or gum swelling may signal a dental abscess, requiring antibiotics and drainage. 

● Knocked-out tooth: See your dentist immediately if you lose a tooth completely. When appropriately preserved, it can sometimes be put back in the socket.

● Pulp inflammation: Irreversible pulpitis from severe tooth decay requires root canal therapy to remove inflamed or infected pulp.

Most dental offices offer emergency or walk-in visits for urgent dental issues, even outside regular office hours. You can also visit an emergency room or urgent care clinic for pain relief before following up with a dentist.

Home Remedies for Mild Toothache

Home remedies and over-the-counter medications can be appropriate for treating mild, temporary toothache pain. Consider trying these options first when experiencing minor tooth sensitivity or pain that comes and goes:

1. Salt water rinse - Rinsing with a saltwater solution can help reduce inflammation and clean out food particles. Dissolve a teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water and swish around the mouth for 30 seconds. Moreover, it would be best to use plaque removal toothpaste regularly. 

2. Cold compress- Gently holding a cold compress or ice pack against the affected side of the face can numb nerve endings and relieve pain. Don’t place ice directly on the skin.

3. Over-the-counter pain medication- Non-prescription medications like acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or naproxen sodium can temporarily alleviate toothache discomfort. Follow all dosage instructions.

4. Dental wax- Applying wax over a cracked tooth can protect it from temperature changes and food particles that cause sensitivity. When you check how to get rid of tartar on teeth, dental wax will always be there on the list.

5. Clove oil- Clove oil contains eugenol, an anesthetic that can numb tooth pain. Soak a cotton ball and gently apply it to the affected area.

Home remedies shouldn’t be used for more than 1-2 days for severe pain relief. You can also check online how to remove plaque from teeth.

Preventing Future Toothaches

While dealing with a bothersome toothache, it’s understandable just to want the pain gone. However, you can take proactive steps after recovering to avoid recurring toothaches down the road:

● Brush twice a day

● Floss daily

● Use tartar toothpaste

● Limit sugary and acidic foods/drinks

● See your dentist for checkups every 6 months Catching minor cavities early allows them to be filled before becoming major decay and infection. Getting teeth professionally cleaned also removes harmful plaque that causes gum disease, cracking, and sensitivity.

Conclusion

Toothaches should always be addressed or masked with toothache home remedies with an endpoint. While DIY pain relief methods can temporarily alleviate mild discomfort, persistent or severe tooth pain warrants a prompt dental examination. Seeking emergency dental care at the first sign of swelling, bleeding, or intense pain can prevent more invasive treatment later on and preserve your smile for life!

Disclaimer: The contents of this article are for informational purposes only and not a substitute for medical advice.

References

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/toothache/
https://www.tompkinsdental.com/blog/when-to-call-your-dentist-about-a-toothache-and-when-to-
wait-it-out
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/11368--dental-emergencies-what-to-do
https://www.healthline.com/health/dental-and-oral-health/home-remedies-for-
toothache#prevention-tips