How To Relieve a Toothache
- December 10, 2007
- 520 Views
Contributor
Howcast Studios
A throbbing toothache can make any day feel like your last. Luckily, we have provided a few helpful steps to help you relieve that nasty pain — and they don’t involve a Bugs Bunny-like cloth tied around the head and under the chin.
You Will Need
- Waxed dental floss
- A benzocaine antiseptic or clove oil
- Over-the-counter pain medicine
- A cold compress
- Cotton balls (optional) (optional) (optional) (optional)
Step 1: Floss around tooth
Floss all around your sore tooth to make sure there’s nothing wedged in causing the pain.
Step 2: Take pain medicine
Take an over-the-counter pain medicine, like ibuprofen or acetaminophen, according to product instructions.
Step 3: Apply antiseptic
Apply an over-the-counter benzocaine antiseptic to the tooth and surrounding gums. This will help temporarily numb the area.
Instead of the benzocaine, apply a little clove oil—a centuries-old natural remedy still used in modern dentistry—to a cotton ball and carefully bite down so your sore tooth rests on it, taking care to avoid rubbing it on your gums.
Step 4: Avoid hot or cold foods
Avoid eating hot or cold foods—a severe temperature is likely to irritate your tooth more.
Step 5: Apply cold compress
Apply a cold compress to the outside of your cheek if your face is beginning to swell from the toothache.
Step 6: Elevate head
Elevate your head. As long as your head is above your heart, there will be less pressure going to the area.
Step 7: See a dentist
See a dentist if the pain remains for more than a day or two, if you have trouble swallowing or breathing, or if you have a fever or painful red swelling.
43 of the 50 largest cities in the U.S. add fluoride to their public drinking water, which strengthens tooth enamel.
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