Toothache is one of the most excruciating types of pain. It can come on suddenly at the most unexpected and inappropriate times, such as the middle of the night, or on a holiday weekend, when dental care is difficult to find. If you have safe analgesics on hand or are able to get to a doctor or a pharmacist for analgesia, this is obviously the best option until you can see a dentist. If not, some of these natural remedies may provide some relief from pain until proper dental care can be accessed.
Some ideas that may be helpful for toothache
- Crush a piece of fresh garlic and place it against the affected tooth.
- Rinse mouth with warm salted water. Do not swallow. Repeat as necessary. Salt water gargle also helps.
- Chew a clove and then leave it between tooth and gum till pain eases, or hold clove directly onto painful area. This can give a sustained effect.
- A dab of clove oil onto affected tooth or pressed against tooth – acts quickly. Do not swallow.
- Chew a clove of allspice.
- Chew ice on the side of mouth that is hurting.
- Apply ice pack to affected side of cheek
- Apply heat to affected side of cheek. May alternate heat and cold.
- Place chamomile tea bag against tooth or rinse mouth with chamomile tea.
- Bite down on piece of fresh ginger with painful tooth, or place piece fresh ginger on tooth. Replace often.
- Dip cotton bud into pure vanilla extract and dab onto sore area in tooth (or can pack small vanilla soaked cotton wool into cavity itself).
- Dip cotton bud in pure peppermint extract and hold against tooth.
- Small piece of raw onion placed against tooth may help.
- There are some classic homeopathic remedies for toothache but it’s wise to seek special homeopathic advice before using these.
Acupressure
Acupressure can be useful for all types of pain, including toothache.
Apply firm pressure with fingers
- At narrow end of V formed in webbing when spread index finger apart from thumb.
- Half thumb width behind webbing between second and third toes.
- At the jawbone immediately below the earlobe
- In alignment with the nose just before the opening of the ear
- All tender spots on thumbs and/or index fingers - both joints and tips
- Any sore areas on feet.
- Any other tender area in region of face/neck
Massage to any of these areas may also help.
Emergency Tooth Filling
Buy a packet of natural chewing gum from the chemist. Warm it in hot water and spread it into the tooth cavity and bite down on it. This will last from two days to a week. See dentist as soon as possible. Sometimes just sealing off the cavity will lessen the pain.
Avoid Magic and Witchcraft
It is always wise to seek good advice on any treatments for any conditions. Some are useful. Some are downright dangerous and some are absolutely impossible. In a book , “Cures Ancient and Modern,” collected by Camilla Sandell, some witchcraft and magic potions for toothache are mentioned. Definitely not recommended today !
Some examples:
- Stand booted on the ground under the open sky. Catch a frog by the head, spit into its mouth and ask it to take away the ache.
- Hang a bag with nine live woodlice round the neck. Or if no woodlice are handy, a few hairs from the cross of a donkey’s back.
We are lucky we live in a modern world. Toothache is bad enough, but imagine having to go out while suffering, searching for frogs or woodlice or donkeys in the belief that they might bring some relief from its agony?
Thank goodness for dentists.
Disclaimer – Always see a dentist as soon as possible for any toothache. Infection can be dangerous. These suggestions are purely emergency temporary relief until you can visit a dentist. Not to be used for children or during pregnancy.
Sources:
- Editors Bottom Line Health, Uncommon Cures for Everyday Ailments, Roundtable Press, Inc. Australia, 2005
- Sandell, Camilla, “Cures Ancient and Modern”, Collins, Australia, 1988.
- Forem, Jack, Shimer, Steve, Healing With Pressure Point Therapy, Prentice Hall Press, USA, 1999
Heather Donaldson - Heather Donaldson is a writer, a registered nurse with a diploma in nutrition, an interest in natural medicine, animals and environment.
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