Before reading the remedies below it is very important to remember that all of these cures and preventative ideas are not meant to replace regular checks from your dentist and a quick visit if you are in pain or are encountering problems like bleeding gums, loose teeth or swelling. These remedies can be very helpful while you wait for an appointment or if you are woken with pain in the night and you may find that some of the suggestions result in general improved mouth health. You should also be careful when using some remedies as taken in high quantities they may cause problems.

 

Garlic

Garlic doesn’t just come in handy for when your teeth hurt; taken regularly it can be very good for mouth health in general and if you are worried about smelly breath, you can get capsules of the active ingredient – allicin – from health stores and many supermarkets. If you have a sudden onset of toothache, crush a clove of garlic with some rock salt and press it round the tooth, packing the top if it is a tooth at the back. Keep it there for as long as you can and it will relieve the pain and some people find the pain goes away altogether. You should still check with your dentist though – pain is your body’s way of telling you something is wrong, so you should heed the warning. Garlic is generally very good for you and as well as being a pain reliever, taken regularly it can keep your whole mouth healthy. Take care when using it though because the oil from a freshly crushed clove is quite strong and may cause irritation. In fact some people say that this is why it is such a good pain reliever in that it sets up a counter irritation in the same way as strong chillies work.

 

 

Onion

Like garlic, onion contains allicin, which has natural antibiotic properties. The whole onion family is very good for all kinds of health problems and used raw can kill germs in the mouth as well as any mouthwash. Included as a regular ingredient in the diet they deliver vitamins E and B12 but they are relatively high in sodium by weight so should be used with caution by anyone on a low salt diet. Even so, for emergency pain killing and mild germicidal treatment of the mouth, raw onion is a handy standby and something which most kitchens have plenty of in the vegetable rack. If you suffer from mild toothache, chewing a few slices of raw onion may keep it at bay.

 

Lime

If you don’t fancy smelling of onion, then a raw lime is a very good substitute. A lime is a very good source of vitamin C and so doesn’t just help your teeth – your whole immune system will benefit. Vitamin C is helpful in maintaining the health of teeth and bones, preventing dental decay and also loosening of the teeth. If you suffer from bleeding gums you might find that eating a raw lime – with peel – will help and also if you have toothache this can prove very effective. Many people tolerate limes very well raw as they are not as sharp as lemons, also a good source of vitamin C. The lower acidity of a lime is kinder to enamel as well.

 

Wheat Grass

You can get wheat grass juice in most supermarkets now, displayed with the chilled juices. The taste is rather an acquired one but starting the day with a glass of wheat grass juice is very good for mouth health and can reduce the pain of toothache. If you can find the actual grass, it is excellent chewed as it cleans the teeth whilst delivering the antioxidants it contains.

 

Asafoetida

This can be obtained from most health food shops and it needs to be lightly bruised in a pestle in lemon juice then heated to body temperature to release the juices. A cotton bud soaked in the lotion and applied to the tooth will be a very effective pain reliever. Asafoetida is a standby in many natural medicine communities, but particularly in the Indian sub-continent.

 

Bayberry (Myrica)

Obtained from most larger health food shops, bayberry bark made into a paste with vinegar is an excellent pain reliever when placed directly on the painful tooth. If you suffer from bleeding gums or regular mouth ulcers you may also find relief from this mixture, but it is essential that you visit a dentist as well to find the cause.

 

Cloves

Cloves or oil of cloves are used widely as a painkiller for toothache. Oil of cloves must be used with care as it can cause irritation on the skin, but for pain relief there is little to match its efficacy. A cotton wool pledget soaked in oil of cloves and pressed against the painful tooth will soon relieve the pain. This is due to the main ingredient of clove oil, eugenol, which is not only an anaesthetic but also an antibiotic. Eugenol is such a useful ingredient to promote mouth health that most toothpastes and mouthwashes contain at least some – in others it is a major part of the recipe.

 

Pepper

Pepper and coarse salt mixed together is a good way of cleaning the teeth and the combined mild abrasive of the salt and the natural antiseptic properties of the pepper help keep breath fresh and may reduce the occurrence of dental cavities. If you have sensitive teeth, the slight anaesthetic properties of the pepper may help you. Added to clove oil in the event of toothache, pepper makes it doubly effective.

 

General remedies for toothache

Toothache is very distressing and there are many home remedies to minimise the pain. Something as simple as a salt water mouthwash can bring a lot of relief as will oregano oil, tea bags and olive oil. The great thing about these home remedies is that they are safe for pregnant women; many women with previously good dental histories find they have toothache more when pregnant.

Home remedies for toothache infections with oregano oil, garlic, clove oil, tea bags, and olive oil are also quite popular while pregnant. Learn moore about theese home remedies and natural cures here