How to Manage Tooth Pain at Home Until You Can See the Dentist

Even mild tooth pain can be difficult to handle, but severe pain can be debilitating, making it nearly impossible to go about your daily life. My patients know that my team and I are just a phone call away, but if we can’t see them right away, we can often reassure them over the phone, guiding them towards relief until they can get into our office to see us. Here are some common causes and symptoms of toothache and what we usually recommend to our patients during those phone calls.

Causes and Symptoms

Tooth pain can take many forms. For some people, it is a dull, constant ache. For others, it may appear in short, stabbing bursts that come and go. Identifying the cause, to the best of your ability, will make it much easier to treat effectively. Some of the most common include: 

• a cavity or tooth decay
• gum disease
• a broken or chipped tooth
• an abscess
• material stuck between teeth
• trauma to the tooth
• impacted wisdom teeth
• and, though less common, oral cancer can cause significant tooth and jaw pain, along with swelling, sores, difficulty chewing, bleeding and numbness.

The first thing you should do when you’re experiencing tooth pain is to make an appointment with your dentist. While there are many measures you can take at home to manage the pain, these are all temporary. They’re intended to get you through until you can visit your dentist, who can diagnose the cause of the issue and offer a more permanent solution.  While you’re waiting for your appointment, here are a few steps you can take to help soothe the pain.

Clean Your Teeth

In many cases, maintaining a consistent teeth cleaning routine can provide some relief from tooth pain. If the pain is caused by tooth decay, cavities, or worn tooth enamel, cleaning is also important because it can slow down decay and prevent pain from getting worse.

If your teeth are extremely sensitive, or if brushing and flossing make the pain worse, do your best to clean the rest of your teeth while being extra gentle on the affected area. Gentle flossing can help relieve tooth pain caused by plaque or other matter stuck between teeth. 

Warm Saltwater Rinse

Rinsing your mouth with saltwater is one of the oldest home remedies for a toothache, but also one of the most effective. A daily saltwater rinse can kill bacteria, reduce swelling, loosen debris between teeth, and speed up the healing process. 

Mix one teaspoon of salt in a glass of water and swish it around in your mouth for 30 seconds before spitting it out. Warm water is best because it helps loosen debris better, and the warm temperature is usually more soothing and comfortable on sensitive teeth than cold water. 

Avoid Affecting Foods

Certain foods or beverages may exacerbate tooth pain and are best avoided. Chewy, gummy, and sticky foods often cause additional pain by pulling on your teeth while you chew. Sugary or acidic drinks and foods are often irritating, so it’s best to avoid soda, orange juice, and coffee. Temperature sensitivity is also common, so avoid piping hot drinks or frozen treats. 

Apply a Cold (or Hot) Compress

Either a cold or hot compress can help relieve toothache symptoms. The best one depends on what type of tooth pain you are experiencing and its cause, but cold is more effective in most cases.

An ice pack can reduce inflammation and help numb the area and offers better relief for sharp, intense pain caused by an injury or a severe cavity. The cold constricts blood vessels and reduces nerve activity, temporarily lessening the pain’s severity. 

A hot compress may help if you are experiencing dull pain or a continuous ache. The warming effect increases blood flow, which reduces jaw and muscle tension; however, it can make inflammation worse, so talk to your dentist before applying it. In some cases, it can worsen a toothache! 

Try Natural Remedies 

A variety of herbs, oils and other remedies can have a soothing effect on a toothache. Clove oil, peppermint, turmeric, and apple cider vinegar all have inflammation-reducing properties, although they are unlikely to provide complete relief. 

Over-the-Counter Options

A wide variety of over-the-counter medications can be helpful. Anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen and acetaminophen are effective, widely available, and safe when you take in accordance with their directions. Stronger pain relievers may be an option, but talk to your dentist first. 

Over-the-counter oral anesthetics may also help manage tooth pain, but talk to your dentist because products containing the numbing agent Benzocaine are not as widely recommended due to links to a blood disorder called methemoglobinemia. 

If you are at your wit’s end and can’t get a hold of your dentist, you can go to the emergency room, where they can provide antibiotics if there is an infection. In many cases, tooth decay and cavities don’t become painful until they are already serious. So, seek treatment as soon as you start to feel tooth pain. No matter the level of pain you’re experiencing, the best thing you can do is make an appointment with your dentist. Only your dentist can diagnose the underlying issue causing your tooth pain, and they will work with you to find the best treatment.