If you find yourself with a toothache well after your dentist office has closed, you may be trying to find a way to alleviate your discomfort. A toothache can cause excruciating pain. In many instances, a toothache may be caused by an infected tooth in which the dental nerves have become inflamed. If this is the case for your tooth, it will need to be treated by a dentist, but there are things that you can do to help lessen your tooth pain until your dental appointment. Here are a few of things you can do until you receive professional treatment:
Bite on a tea bag.
By placing a tea bag on the inflamed tooth, you can help decrease the swelling and pain associated with it. Tea contains tannic acid that can help draw out the infected liquid from within your tooth. This helps decrease the swelling, and it may relieve some of the pressure experienced by the dental nerves that are causing your discomfort.
It is often best to leave the tea bag in place overnight to get the full effect of the remedy.
Use a warm salt water rinse.
As a child, your mother may have told you to gargle with salt water if your throat felt scratchy. However, salt water can also be used to help reduce tooth pain. The salt in the water helps disinfect your mouth. In addition, it can shrink swollen soft tissues that may be inciting some of the inflammation and pain.
To make a saltwater rinse, simply add a spoonful of sea salt or table salt to a cup of warm water. It is important for the water to be warm. Hot water can further irritate the tissues of your mouth, and cold water can increase the pain associated with dental sensitivity during a toothache.
Rinse with hydrogen peroxide solution.
Hydrogen peroxide is antibacterial. The solution releases oxygen upon contact, which kills microbes. If your toothache is due to a dental infection, rinsing with hydrogen peroxide may help kill the infection-causing germs and relieve your pain.
Hydrogen peroxide can be purchased over the counter. However, at three percent, the concentration of the solution may be too high to be comfortable for use as a mouth rinse. Thus, it is best to dilute the peroxide with an equal part of water. You can rinse with the solution as you would with a regular, conventional mouth rinse.
Even if your tooth pain is completely eradicated by a home remedy, it is best to still consult with a dentist to determine the cause of the ache. Schedule an appointment with a dentist in your area.
For a dentist, contact a doctor such as Benjamin D Hull DDS.
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