How To Calm Down A Toothache When Your Appointment Is Still Hours Away

Toothaches can be excruciatingly painful. Even when you're scheduled your dentist appointment, you often have to wait at least a few hours (if not a day or two) before your dentist can see you. How can you calm the pain in the meantime? Read on to find out.

Apply an ice pack.

Sometimes aching teeth are really sensitive to cold and other times they are not. So, you'll have to try this one to see if it works for you or not. Hold a bag of frozen veggies or an ice pack against your check for a few minutes. Either the pain will immediately get worse (in which case, you should remove the ice and try the other techniques on this list) or it will slowly fade away as the ice reduces inflammation and that throbbing sensation.

Dab on some clove oil.

Clove essential oil is readily available in most health food stores as well as some pharmacies. All you need is a drop. Rub it on the tooth itself and also on the gum tissue surrounding the tooth. Within a few minutes, the pain should face away. If you don't have access to clove oil, you can mix some ground cloves from your spice cabinet with a little water and press this mixture onto your tooth. It won't be quite as effective and the flavor will be strong, but it's a good choice in a pinch.

Take an NSAID.

NSAIDs are a class of pain relievers that not only dull the pain, but also relieve inflammation. Since a lot of the pain of a toothache is caused by inflamed tissues pressing on your nerves, taking an NSAID can be quite effective. Over-the-counter options include ibuprofen and naproxen. Ibuprofen lasts about 4 – 6 hours; whereas, naproxen lasts 8 – 12. Make sure you only take as much as is recommended on the bottle.

Bite down on some garlic.

Fresh garlic also contains compounds that help relieve pain and also fight infection, which is likely at the root of your toothache. This remedy might make you smell like a pizza shop, but it's worth it. Take a single clove of garlic, and bite down on it with the affected tooth. Keep it there, between your teeth, for as long as you can stand. Switch out to a new clove of garlic when the first one loses its flavor.

With any luck, your dentist will get you in quickly for treatment. Once he or she treats you with antibiotics and a procedure such as a root canal or filling, your pain should disappear altogether. For more information, contact a company like Smile 1st Dental Care. 

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