Few people can withstand the pain and agony of a toothache. Whether it’s two in the morning, finals week at school, or a particularly busy day at the office, toothaches make our lives miserable. The dentist’s office may be a long drive away, and you may have not set up an appointment days earlier. While some people would bravely go through a day with a toothache, it’s only a matter of time before they finally surrender to the agonizing, writhing pain. If you do not have some painkillers on hand or you’re a long way from seeing a dentist, here are five simple ways to dull the pain of a throbbing toothache.
Suck In Air
For aching teeth that are not sensitive to air, you can try to suck in air towards the tooth. You can use a drinking straw or shift your tongue to draw air into the offending tooth. The air-sucking technique works a lot like the small air blower your dentist uses to dry out your teeth before an extraction, a root canal session, or a dental filling procedure. The aim is to keep your tooth as dry as possible, which makes the nerves in the pulp less sensitive to the pain.
Try Sugarless Gum
Sometimes contact with air is all that’s needed to cause a throbbing toothache. Dentists use substances like gutta-percha or silver amalgam to fill in cavities and other dental caries, which are a major cause of toothache. While there is no substitute for a professional dental filling procedure, you can opt for a temporary solution before you can go to a dentist.
Sugarless chewing gum is a good way to prevent air coming into contact with a painful cavity. After you have chewed all the flavoring out of the gum, it should be sticky enough to serve as a temporary filling for your cavity, at least for the next few hours until you can get to the dentist. Spicy peppermint gums also work well, as long as they are sugar-free. Chewing gum rich in sugar can irritate your already sensitive tooth, and will only prolong your agony.
Cold Water Remedy
an ice cold glass of water
Painful teeth that are not sensitive to low temperatures can be numbed with cold water. The neat thing about cold water is that it is always available from a refrigerator, a tap with hot/cold knobs, a water dispenser, or a convenience store. Cold water works particularly well for aching molars, impacted wisdom teeth, or a mild tooth abscess. The soothing feel of cold water can also soothe your nerves, and momentarily distract you from the pain. Here is a way to use the cold water remedy effectively:
Do not use ice-cold water, carbonated beverages like soda or ****, or crushed ice. Use plain cold water from a water dispenser or a drinking fountain.
Hold a small mouthful of cold water in your mouth, and swish it around to the painful tooth. Hold it as long as you can, and gently try to flush out the debris embedded in the cavities or crevices.
Repeat the process until the pain subsides.
Hot Water Remedy
People with sensitive teeth may find the cold water remedy even more painful and agonizing than the toothache. Serious tooth decay problems can sometimes be made worse by the cold water remedy. If the painful tooth is sensitive to cold water, you can use hot water to dull the nerves inside the pulp. Hot drinks like coffee or tea can also help draw out some pus from abscessed teeth. Here is a way to use the hot water remedy effectively:
Use water that’s hot enough for you to hold in your mouth. You can also try soups, as long as it is not a cream soup or a sweet soup. If you insist on drinking coffee or tea, do not add sugar or milk. Do not add cold water to cool down the drink; the point is that the liquid should be hot enough for you to hold in your mouth.
Slowly drink half a mouthful of the liquid, but do not swallow it.
Swish the liquid around your mouth to the offending tooth, and hold it there for about five seconds.
Repeat the process until the pain subsides.
a man drinking coffee
Brush Away
You can’t brush away the toothache, but brushing can help dislodge food particles stuck in crevices or cavities. Toothpaste also contains some chemicals that can partially numb the pain from the cavity or the gum line. Brushing is also a very helpful and welcome distraction. Brush as long as you can until you feel the pain subside, and then proceed with a hot water or cold water remedy.
a kid brushing his teeth
These helpful remedies are not substitutes for a dental appointment, but are ways to help you cope with the pain of a toothache when you don’t have painkillers at hand, or if you do not have home remedies like clove oil or peppermint extract. There is no guarantee that these remedies will cure you of a toothache, because only a dentist can perform the necessary procedures to heal the painful tooth. At least, these remedies can help you get through a day without having to scream in horrifying agony.