15 Best Home Remedies for a Toothache

If you have a toothache, it is important to find the root cause of it because it can be really troublesome. Your mouth may turn sore and tender and your head may pound all because of a toothache. You may even have to give your favourite dessert a miss if you have a toothache. If the pain persists for two to three days. In the meantime, you can try these home remedies to get relief.

How to Cure Tooth Pain at Home

Whenever you have a toothache, the first thing you’d want to do is see a dentist. But there are many natural home remedies that can provide you relief. Go through the list of 15 easy home remedies and try out one which you think will suit you best.

1. Garlic

The antibiotic properties of garlic can provide relief from a toothache caused due to infections or inflammations. When you crush garlic cloves, they release a compound called allicin that provides relief from pain. However, pregnant women, people with diabetes, blood pressure, and stomach problems should not try this remedy.

What You Will Need 

• Few cloves of garlic
• Salt

How to Use 

• Crush the garlic cloves to make a paste.
• Add salt to it and mix well.
• Apply this mix on the affected area.
• You may feel a burning sensation after applying the garlic-salt mixture, but it will subside the pain.

2. Coconut Oil

Oil pulling can heal a toothache and improve your dental health. The high content of lauric acid in coconut oil makes it anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial in nature, which makes it highly effective in curing tooth infections and toothaches.

What You Will Need 

• Coconut oil
• Lukewarm water

How to Use 

• Take 1 tablespoon of coconut oil in your mouth and swish it around for 15-20 minutes.
• Then spit it out and rinse your mouth with lukewarm water.
• Later, brush your teeth normally.
• Try this remedy twice a day until the toothache subsides.
• Make sure that you do not swallow the oil.

3. Onions

Like garlic, allicin can be found in onions too. Allicin acts as a pain killer which provides relief from pain. The antimicrobial properties of onions also help cure infections.

What You Will Need 

• An onion

How to Use 

• Crush the onion and apply it on the affected area.
• You may even apply some onion juice on the affected area.

4. Wheatgrass Juice

The antibacterial properties of wheatgrass can provide relief from inflammation in the mouth and prevent tooth decay and gum infection.

What You Will Need 

• Wheatgrass

How to Use 

• Blend the wheatgrass in a juicer with very little or no water.
• Strain the juice.
• Rinse your mouth with it 2-3 times a day.

5. Guava Leaves

Fresh guava leaves have antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic properties. These properties help in curing infections and prevent tooth decay. The analgesic nature of the leaves provides relief from the pain.

What You Will Need 

• Fresh guava leaves
• Water

How to Use 

• Boil the guava leaves in water for 10-15 minutes.
• Strain the water and let it cool.
• Add some salt to the water and use it as a mouth wash.
• Rinse your mouth 2-3 times a day with this mouthwash.
• Alternatively, you can also chew on fresh guava leaves.

6. Thyme

Thyme has anti-bacterial properties which can help cure toothaches caused due to a tooth infection. The antiseptic properties in the herb curb bacterial build-up inside the mouth and reduce tooth decay and infections.

What You Will Need 

• Thyme (dried or fresh)
• Water

How to Use 

• Boil dried thyme in water for some time.
• Let it cool down and strain.
• Rinse your mouth with this water.
• You can also chew on fresh thyme leaves.

7. Cayenne Pepper

The chemical compound capsaicin found in cayenne pepper is known to reduce inflammation and pain associated with tooth infection and toothaches. The amount of capsaicin in cayenne pepper can heal even the most persistent of toothaches.

What You Will Need 

• Cayenne pepper powder
• Water
• Cotton swabs/cotton earbuds

How to Use 

• Mix cayenne pepper powder with water to make a smooth paste.
• Apply the paste with a cotton ear bud/cotton swab on the affected area.
• Try this remedy 2-3 times a day.
• Initially, it will burn but after a few minutes, the burning sensation will subside.

8. Baking Soda

Being alkaline in nature, it neutralises the acids in the mouth and its anti-bacterial property helps in reducing the infection-causing bacteria. Unlike the popular belief, it is less abrasive to the teeth and can be used for oral care once in a while.

What You Will Need 

• Baking soda
• Cotton balls or cotton earbuds
• Water
• Blotting paper

How to Use 

• Take a cotton ball and dip it in water.
• Place it over the blotting paper to soak out excess water.
• Then dip it in the baking soda.
• Place the cotton ball over it for some time.
• You may repeat this procedure 2-3 times a day until you feel better.
• Another way is to mix one teaspoon of baking soda in one cup of lukewarm water.
• Let the baking powder dissolve and then use the solution to rinse your mouth 2-3 times a day.
• However, do not overuse baking soda as it may result in milk-alkali syndrome.

9. Neem

The anti-bacterial properties of neem make it one of the best remedies for toothache. It also helps heal gum infections and provides relief from a toothache.

What You Will Need 

• Fresh neem leaves
• Water

How to Use 

• Grind fresh neem leaves with little to no water to form a paste.
• Apply the paste on the affected area.
• After some time, rinse your mouth with lukewarm water.
• Alternatively, you can boil 2 cups of water with 8-10 fresh neem leaves.
• When the water reduces to 1 cup, turn off the heat.
• Let it cool, then strain.
• Rinse your mouth with this water.

10. Peppermint Tea

Peppermint acts as a mouthwash which is excellent for oral health. Also, it can reduce the agonising pain in the tooth by numbing the area.

What You Will Need 

• Peppermint leaves
• Water

How to Use 

• Boil peppermint leaves in water.
• Strain the liquid and allow it to cool for some time.
• Rinse your mouth with lukewarm water.
• Rinse your mouth with this liquid 2-3 times a day.

11. Myrrh

Myrrh has excellent astringent properties and can eliminate bacteria from the mouth which is one of the main causes for toothaches.

What You Will Need 

• Myrrh – 1 teaspoon
• 2-3 cups of water

How to Use 

• Take water and myrrh in a pan and boil for half an hour.
• Strain the water and let it cool.
• Once it is cool, rinse your mouth with the solution 5-6 times a day until the pain subsides.

12. Cinnamon

Powdered cinnamon mixed with honey is a great home remedy to cure toothache. Eugenol, cinnamaldehyde, and methyl chavicol found in cinnamon have antimicrobial properties, which provide relief from the pain.

What You Will Need 

• Powdered cinnamon
• Honey

How to Use 

• Mix the cinnamon powder and honey and apply it on the affected area.
• Try this remedy twice a day for best results.
• People allergic to cinnamon should not try this remedy.

13. Pure Vanilla Extract

The analgesic and antiseptic properties of vanilla provide relief from toothaches. Eugenol, which is present in the vanilla extract, is used for temporary fillings. However, make sure that the vanilla extract is a pure one or else, it won’t be beneficial.

What You Will Need 

• Vanilla extract
• Cotton balls

How to Use 

• Dip a cotton ball in the vanilla extract.
• Place the cotton ball dipped in vanilla extract on the affected area for some time.
• Apply the vanilla extract as many times as you wish to. In case the pain persists even after 3-4 days, see a dentist.

14. Sesame Seeds

Sesame seeds have been used as a cure for toothaches in China since ages. Sesame seeds have anti-bacterial properties that cure dental problems.

What You Will Need 

• Sesame seeds/sesame oil
• Water

How to Use 

• Make a paste of the sesame seeds with little water.
• Apply the paste on the affected area.
• You can even dip a cotton ball in sesame oil and apply the oil on the affected area.

15. Ice Massage

Massaging ice on the L14 area (between the thumb and the index finger on the upper part of your hand) can help alleviate a toothache. Take the ice cubes in your hand, on the same side of the body as your sore tooth, it will help ease the pain.

What You Will Need 

• Ice cubes

How to Use 

• Take an ice cube and rub it between the thumb and the index finger.
• You may do this for 5-7 minutes.
• Try this remedy 2-3 times a day.

FAQs

Listed below are answers to a few of the most common FAQs.

1. What Should I Avoid If I have a Toothache?

In case of a toothache, avoid doing the following.

• Avoid placing painkillers or aspirin on the gum as it may cause inflammation and chemical burns to your gum.
• Avoid eating anything hot whenever you have a toothache because heat aggravates the pain.
• Do not eat anything too cold since it can increase the pain.
• Do not eat anything sweet or something that is on the “sugary” side. Bacteria which causes toothache thrives more on sweets.
• Even if you have a severe toothache, do not take or use more than the prescribed amount of antibiotics or gels.
• Do not take any OTC medication without seeing a doctor.

2. Can Brushing My Teeth Help Me Get Rid of My Toothache?

Yes, brushing your teeth properly can cure a toothache. But not always will it help, which is why you can try home remedies. You can apply clove oil too on the affected area. It is believed to be one of the best natural remedies for tooth extraction pain.

If you have a toothache, try the above-mentioned natural remedies. You will feel better soon.

Also Read: 

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How to Get Rid of Dry & Chapped Lips at Home
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