Best Home Remedies for a Toothache


The sudden onset of a toothache never seems to occur during an optimal time. Not that a toothache is ever “optimal”, but it typically occurs when it is impossible to get to the dentist or after normal dental clinic hours. Searching for a quick solution, the best home remedies for a toothache can be found in a medicine cabinet or at the grocer.

Home remedies in the medicine cabinet

The best home remedies for a toothache can be found in over-the-counter pain medications. Tylenol, Advil, Ibuprofen, as well as the store brand pain relievers often provide the quickest and best relief. Since most medicine cabinets have one form of pain reliever or another, the cost and the effort it takes to seek relief is minimal. Taking the medication as prescribed helps control the pain until it is possible to seek professional care.

Another one of the best home remedies for a toothache may be found in clove oil. The way clove oil, an essential oil, works to relieve a toothache is due to the chemical it contains called eugenol. Eugenol is a mild anesthetic that works when you rub the clove oil directly onto the area causing the pain. Clove oil can be found in a grocery store or health foods store. The cost of a bottle of clove oil ranges between four to eight dollars.

Still searching for the best home remedies for a toothache? One more source for relief may be found the average tea bag. Just rub a hot tea bag on the source of the pain to seek relief. This is a very cost-effective source for relief, costing just pennies per tea bag.

When are the best home remedies for a toothache a good choice?

If the toothache occurs after a visit to the dentist, the source of the problem may be related to:

  • Discomfort, increased sensitivity, or bleeding after a routine dental cleaning. This source of pain is related to the cleaning process of the teeth performed by the dental hygienist or dentist. Discomfort is linked to the process of cleaning the teeth, which involves scraping not only the tooth itself, but also below the line of the gum. After the gums have been poked and prodded by the dental tools, there may be mild bleeding and discomfort. As long as the pain associated with a routine dental cleaning does not prolong, there is no reason to be alarmed. Therefore, the best home remedies for a toothache may be suitable for this type of pain.
  • A toothache as a result of an injury. Any facial injury can disturb the root of the tooth and cause a toothache. Time can be an indicator if professional advice is necessary as the severity of the injury may not present itself immediately. If after a week or two, the pain does not resolve or at least subside, it may be time to visit the dentist and determine the appropriate plan of care.
  • After a dental procedure. There may be increased pain and sensitivity following a dental procedure that does not require another trip to the dentist. Often during a dental procedure, the root of the tooth and occasionally the teeth adjacent to the affected tooth are disrupted. A problem can only be detected after a period of time, and the dentist performing the procedure will provide the best advice to follow up if any pain is experienced.

The worst home remedies for a toothache

While the best home remedies were discussed previously, there are also some things to avoid. A toothache is often extremely sensitive, therefore cold liquids and hydrogen peroxide should be avoided. Using either of these could result in increased sensitivity and lead to an immense amount of pain. To avoid increasing the amount of pain, stick to the best home remedies (pain relievers, clove oil, or hot tea bags.) By avoiding the worst home remedies, money and time will be saved.

Are even the best home remedies for a toothache a permanent solution?

Unfortunately, even the best home remedies for a toothache will not provide permanent relief. The only true solution to resolving a toothache is to seek professional advice. It is important to not wait too long before visiting the dentist in order to fix the problem before it becomes worse. A dentist will be able to take an x-ray of the teeth and determine the source of the toothache. The pain may be related to dental caries (cavities) or injury to the tooth, and professional dental care is the only way to resolve the pain completely.

Payment for a dental procedure

Regardless of how much money is put into the best home remedies for a toothache, sometimes the best solution is to go to the source of the problem and solely pay for the dental procedure necessary. Throwing money into alternative solutions that do not resolve the toothache can only increase the amount of time suffering in pain, when the true solution at a dental clinic is a permanent one.

If money is an issue, it can be valuable to ask the receptionist at the dental clinic about payment options. Often dental clinics provide payment options that fit any budget and even allow payment with a credit card. This can allow a patient to receive the care necessary without causing financial strain.

Using common sense as your best home remedies for a toothache

Whatever choice is made for treatment of a toothache, it is important to use common sense. Sometimes pain is temporary and can be relieved by using over-the-counter drugs or remedies. Other times, it can be important to consult with a dentist. While most people don’t associate dental pain with life threatening danger, it is possible if pain is ignored for too much time. Infection can travel into the tooth, then into the jaw and then through the rest of the body. When this bacteria hits the blood stream, very serious, life-threatening problems can occur. So using best judgment when it comes to whether pain is serious or not is important. A good rule of thumb: if pain lasts for an extended period of time, consult a dentist.