Holistic Cure for Toothache

A painful toothache can compromise your ability to eat, work and have a positive mood. Instead of popping a quick pain pill or an antibiotic, try a few of these natural remedies first. Not all have been approved by the medical community, however, so consult your dentist before trying anything too drastic or if the toothache persists or worsens.

Foods that Help

• Onions have properties that help reduce the bacteria within the mouth. By placing a piece of raw onion near the problem area, you can start to fight the bacteria that may be causing your pain. A clove of garlic or a bit of wheat grass will have a similar effect. For a less pungent cure, apply some vanilla extract to the area. You can also cut a cold, refrigerated cucumber into slices and place a slice as needed against the affected area. This helps numb the tooth and stimulates enzyme-rich saliva near the toothache. Some people also swear by a topical mixture of pepper and salt or mustard oil and turmeric powder to soothe toothaches.

Herbs, Vitamins, and Minerals

• As a preventive measure against dental problems, it is a good idea to augment your diet with vitamin C, vitamin A and probiotics like lactobacillus acidophilus. Also consider adding silica, calcium, magnesium and zinc supplements to your daily regimen. These nutrients help maintain healthy gums and teeth, prevent cavities and fight infections. Lemon-balm extract can be used topically to help the toothache, as it has properties that curb oral bacteria. For pain relief, tea made from sage can be gargled several times a day. To reduce inflammation and attack bacteria, use a tincture made from goldenseal and one glass of water. Follow that with 2 tsp. of dandelion juice to prevent recurrence of the symptoms by cleaning the blood and preventing aches. Lastly, a tincture of echinacea can be take once an hour until pain symptoms have ceased.

Homeopathic and Other Tips

• In the early stages of a toothache, the homeopathic agent belladonna can be used for pain relief. Symptoms that respond well to belladonna include reddening, hotness and swelling in the area of the toothache, accompanied by dryness and violent throbbing. You can also try mercurius in cases where there is frequent gum bleeding accompanied by pain, pus, bad breath, excessive salivation and thirst. Hephar sulph is used when the toothache pain gets worse and the area is sensitive to cold and there is pus present. Silica can also be used for slow-healing mouth problems that occur with discolored teeth and sepsis. A few other treatments involve flossing, a saline rinse, a gargle with whisky and oil of cloves applied topically.