You have probably seen an image of a person with a bandage wrapped under their chin and tied at the top of their head to represent a toothache. In China they used to place arsenic pills between the teeth to ease pain. And in Siberia you could have been told to gargle with a garlic-vodka mixture several times a day. And let's not forget the cocaine toothache drops. Luckily science has given us better methods to take care of tooth pain, and none of them require arsenic, vodka or cocaine. Here are a few home remedies for tooth pain.

Start by avoiding the painful area.

It sounds elementary but if you avoid chewing in the area it may give your tooth a chance to settle down. Some aches are soothed by ice, but it is best to avoid extreme hot or cold around the area to prevent any damage to your tooth.

Massage your hand with ice to decrease tooth pain.

Massaging pressure points throughout your body can stop pain signals from reaching your brain. Try massaging the webbed part of your hand, between your thumb and forefinger, on the same side of your body as the toothache, with ice for 5-7 minutes. Massaging this area with ice can cause cold signals to the brain that interfere with the pain signals effectively tricking your brain to stop register dental pain.

Clove Oil has helped tooth pain since 1910.

Oil derived from clove buds has natural analgesic properties. If your pharmacy doesn't carry it, you're likely to find it at your local health and nutrition store. Soak a cotton ball with the oil, place the cotton in the sore area of your mouth and gently bite down. Clove oil is safe to ingest, but it may burn your gums a little.

This pain-relieving substance has other benefits, too. You might find that it also helps prevent future cavities and reduces bad breath.

Swishing with salt water may help tooth pain.

Make a simple solution of 2-3 teaspoons of salt per cup of warm water and then swish it around in your mouth 2 or 3 times. Gargling can make your throat sore so make sure you swish like you do with mouthwash.

Over-the-counter pain relievers can decrease tooth pain.

Ibuprofin or Acetaminophen can help with inflamation which is sometimes the cause of tooth pain. Also, applying an antiseptic ointment with the ingredient benzocaine can help. Make sure you follow the directions and use only as directed.

If your toothache isn't responding to home remedies or it lasts longer than a couple of days, you should visit your dentist as soon as possible. Indicators that you need an immediate dental appointment include fever, swelling of the face, discharge from the gums, red gums, severe pain after a tooth has been removed, or trouble breathing or swallowing. You should also note that pain in the jaw or mouth that's accompanied by chest pain can mean you're having a heart attack. If you're experiencing this combination of symptoms, contact your medical doctor right away.

If you have tooth pain and would like to speak with us please feel free to contact us at our office 435-257-5678 or by using the form on our contact page.