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How to Get Rid of Toothache Pain

Bacteria that live in your mouth, feeding on the sugars and starches from the food that you eat, can create plaque on your teeth. Eventually, this plaque can eat through the enamel coating of your teeth, making them more sensitive and susceptible to damage. Toothache pain from a damaged tooth can vary from mild to severe, and it may be present only when you eat or drink. If you have a severe toothache, you should call your dentist to make an emergency appointment. In the meantime, there are some things that you can do on your own to help get rid of toothache pain.

  1. Brush and Floss

    • Brushing and flossing your teeth after each meal or snack is especially important if you have a toothache. Food can get lodged in the spaces between your teeth, which can make tooth pain worse. Food stuck between your teeth can also cause bacteria to form that can make tooth decay worse. Rinsing your mouth with warm water periodically throughout the day may help relieve tooth pain as well.

    Painkillers

    • Over-the-counter pain medication like ibuprofen and aspirin can help relieve the pain caused by a toothache until you get to your dentist’s office for treatment. Follow dosage instructions as prescribed by the manufacturer. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about taking over-the-counter pain medication if you’re already taking prescription medication. Never put over-the-counter painkillers directly against the tooth or gum or chew over-the-counter painkillers. This could cause irritation or burn the tissue around your gums.

    Topical Treatment

    • Topical antiseptics that contain benzocaine can help treat tooth pain in the short-term when applied directly to the affected tooth and gum. Always follow the manufacturer’s directions, and don’t use topical treatments more than prescribed by the manufacturer. Natural clove oil may also help relieve toothache pain, according to Mayo Clinic.

    Talk to Your Dentist

    • You should call your dentist when you first notice a toothache to set an appointment to have it checked out. Tooth pain is the first sign of a cavity, and if you get to your dentist in time, he may be able to prevent further damage to the tooth. Mayo Clinic recommends seeing your dentist immediately if you have signs of infection such as swelling, pain when you bite down, red gums or foul-tasting discharge coming from your tooth or surrounding gum tissue. Pain that persists for more than a day or two or is accompanied with a fever, trouble swallowing or breathing should be dealt with immediately as well.

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