15 Proven Home Remedies For Toothache
Shalu Bhati
Updated At 04 Jan 23
You can hate it but you cannot ignore it. That’s toothache for you—a pain that can be felt in and around a tooth, and sometimes even in the gums or the jaw. It can be sharp or dull. It can also be sudden or constant. But, one thing is for sure, a toothache is a serious dental health issue that must not be shrugged off.
Pain in the tooth or toothache is more common than you think. A significant amount of the population across the globe suffers from it. It can be caused by cavities, tooth decay, gum disease, receding gums, loose or broken fillings, an infection, teeth grinding, aggressive flossing, or even food lodged between the teeth. Some toothaches will go away on their own while some might take a bit of help. There are several home remedies for toothache that can help.
If the toothache and its related symptoms persist even after a day or two of trying these home remedies for toothache, please consult a dentist immediately. This article is in no way a replacement for medical advice. If you are suffering from puffy eyes issues and are looking for natural treatment options, do make sure to check out our guide as we list 15 best home remedies for puffy eyes.
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Toothache Home Remedies
- 15 Best Home Remedies For Toothache
- 1. Garlic, Rock Salt And Pepper For Toothache
- 2. Ginger, Pepper And Olive Oil For Toothache
- 3. Alum, Cinnamon And Rock Salt For Toothache
- 4. Turmeric, Mustard Oil For Toothache
- 5. Wheatgrass, Cucumber And Rock Salt Mouthwash
- 6. Asafoetida & Lemon Juice For Toothache
- 7. Neem And Cloves
- 8. Clove And Olive Oil Mixture
- 9. Aloe Vera And Thyme Essential Oil Mixture
- 10. Coconut Oil With Peppermint Essential Oil
- 11. Myrrh For Toothache
- 12. Guava Leaves
- 13. Willow Bark Mouthwash
- 14. Saltwater For Toothache
- 15. Hydrogen Peroxide
- Frequently Asked Questions For Toothache
15 Best Home Remedies For Toothache
1. Garlic, Rock Salt And Pepper For Toothache
Ingredients: 1 clove of garlic, a pinch of rock salt, a pinch of black pepper
How to: Crush the clove of garlic and mix it with rock salt and black pepper to form a paste. Apply it to the affected tooth using your finger or a cotton swab. Let it stay for 5 to 7 minutes. Rinse with lukewarm water.
Frequency: 2 to 3 times a day
Why it works: Garlic doesn’t just add flavor to your food. It has several medicinal properties which have made it a part of several home remedies over the centuries. When you crush, chew, chop, or slice a fresh garlic clove, a compound called allicin is created which has both antibacterial and antimicrobial properties. It is present in crushed, chewed, chopped, or sliced garlic only for a short while and helps in killing the bacteria that is associated with toothaches, thus, bringing relief. Both salt and pepper have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that further soothe the toothache. This happens to be one of the easiest home remedies for toothache during pregnancy.
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2. Ginger, Pepper And Olive Oil For Toothache
Ingredients: 1 teaspoon powdered ginger, ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper, few drops of olive oil
How to: Mix the ingredients and apply them to the affected tooth for a few minutes. Rinse with lukewarm water mixed with salt.
Frequency: 2 to 3 times a day
Why it works: Ginger has historically been used for medicinal purposes, especially in traditional Chinese and Indian medicine. Several studies reveal that ginger can alleviate pain and reduce swelling to varying degrees. Capsaicin is what gives the chilies their heat and is found in the “ribs” of chili peppers. It relieves the toothache caused by nerve pain by numbing the nerves it comes into contact with. Due to the presence of phenolic components, virgin olive oil has anti-inflammatory qualities and is known to reduce inflammation and tooth pain. This combo of ingredients makes this one of the favored home remedies for toothache at night.
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3. Alum, Cinnamon And Rock Salt For Toothache
Ingredients: 1 gram alum, ¼ teaspoon cinnamon, ¼ teaspoon rock salt
How to: Grind the alum into a powder or you can simply take a gram of alum powder to make things convenient. Add cinnamon and rock salt with a few drops of water to form a paste. Massage this on the affected tooth. Rinse after a few minutes with lukewarm water.
Frequency: 2 to 3 times a day
Why it works: Here is one of the most effective home remedies for toothache and swelling. This powerful combo of alum, cinnamon, and rock salt will bring you much-needed relief. Alum is known to help with teeth and gum problems owing to its astringent properties. Cinnamon contains certain compounds like cinnamaldehyde and polyphenols which fight the bacteria responsible for causing cavities, tooth decay, and gum problems.
4. Turmeric, Mustard Oil For Toothache
Ingredients: ½ teaspoon turmeric, ½ teaspoon triphala powder, few drops of mustard oil
How to: Mix the ingredients to make a paste. Gently massage the affected tooth and gums. Rinse with lukewarm water.
Frequency: 2-3 times a day. You can also try brushing your teeth with this mixture once a day to maintain your oral health.
Why it works: This is an Ayurvedic home remedy that would bring you relief from toothache and improve your oral health in the long run. Triphala consists of equal parts of the Emblica Officinalis, Terminalia chebula, and Terminalia belerica. Studies have shown that triphala has anti-bacterial, anti-microbial, anti-collagenase, and antioxidant qualities that play a great role in alleviating pain, reducing inflammation, and preventing a myriad of tooth and gum issues. Turmeric, on the other hand, contains a compound known as curcumin which gives it anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, and antimicrobial properties that bring relief to dental issues.
5. Wheatgrass, Cucumber And Rock Salt Mouthwash
Ingredients: ½ cup wheatgrass juice, ½ cup cucumber juice, ½ teaspoon rock salt
How to: Mix the ingredients and use the mixture as a mouthwash.
Frequency: 3 to 4 times a day
Why it works: Wheatgrass has anti-inflammatory properties and contains many nutrients, including high chlorophyll content, which aid in fighting off bacteria, alleviate pain and inflammation, and promote healing. Now, cucumber might not have the same anti-bacterial properties but it sure comes with soothing and hemostatic properties that bring relief. Salt, on the other hand, is not just handy protection against demons but also against bacteria in your mouth and has been trusted to alleviate toothache for ages. All of this makes this one of the most soothing home remedies for toothache and swelling.
6. Asafoetida & Lemon Juice For Toothache
Ingredients: ½ teaspoon ground asafoetida, ½ teaspoon lemon juice
How to: Mix the asafoetida with the lemon juice and heat this mixture a little till the asafoetida dissolves. Massage the affected tooth and rinse after a few minutes with lukewarm water.
Frequency: Once a day
Why it works: This is one of the most trusted ayurvedic home remedies for toothache. Asafoetida is popularly known for its powerful aroma and is used to add flavor to food. But, it has also been used for ages as a medicine to treat several bodily ailments including toothache. It has antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties that alleviate toothache, reduce swelling, and heal bleeding gums.
7. Neem And Cloves
Ingredients: 2-inch-long neem/margosa bark, 6 cloves, 3 cups water
How to: Add the water to a saucepan and put it on a medium flame. Now, add the neem and cloves to the pan and bring them to a boil. Simmer the flame for about two minutes before bringing it down. Once cooled, use this concoction to gargle or as a mouthwash.
Frequency: 3 to 4 times a day
Why it works: Here is another one of the home remedies for toothache during pregnancy. We suggest regular use of this home remedy for healthy teeth and gums in the long run. The bitter-tasting neem is a natural antibacterial, antiseptic, and anti-inflammatory agent. Various scientific studies reveal that using neem can successfully alleviate toothache and bring down swelling as it eradicates the bacteria responsible for these issues. Cloves contain eugenol, an active ingredient known to effectively reduce pain, inflammation, infection, and any other irritation.
8. Clove And Olive Oil Mixture
Ingredients: 1 drop of clove oil, 5 drops of olive oil
How to: Mix the ingredients and apply them to the affected tooth using a cotton swab.
Frequency: Reapply every few hours for relief.
Why it works: Clove oil is one of the most effective home remedies for toothache at night. It is an effective remedy irrespective of the time it is used. But, we are emphasizing 'night' because many times the toothache gets triggered at night and leaves you helpless and in constant agony. Clove oil contains a compound called eugenol which is an anesthetic and anti-inflammatory in nature. It means when you apply clove oil to your tooth, the eugenol in it will numb the area and alleviate your pain and also effectively reduce inflammation. All these proven qualities of clove oil also make it one of the most effective home remedies for toothache and swelling.
9. Aloe Vera And Thyme Essential Oil Mixture
Ingredients: 4 drops thyme essential oil, ½ teaspoon aloe vera gel
How to: Take the thyme essential oil and mix it with aloe vera gel. You can also dilute it with a carrier oil like olive oil or coconut oil.
Frequency: Reapply every few hours for relief
Why it works: If treating your toothache with garlic doesn't sit well with you, then you can try this home remedy with thyme essential oil. Similar to garlic, thyme contains potent antioxidant and antibacterial qualities that can help relieve toothaches by fighting off bacteria that contribute to tooth decay. Aloe vera gel, on the other hand, can eliminate and remove harmful microorganisms as it contains compounds called anthraquinones, which are anti-inflammatory.
10. Coconut Oil With Peppermint Essential Oil
Ingredients: 5 drops of peppermint essential oil, 1 teaspoon of coconut oil
How to: Mix the peppermint essential oil with coconut oil. Apply directly on the affected tooth.
Frequency: Few times a day
Why it works: Peppermint oil for toothache is a popular remedy. Peppermint essential oil comes from the leaves and flowers of the peppermint oil. Menthol, an analgesic, is one of its key ingredients. Menthol helps in numbing the pain and is known to have an anti-irritant effect. In other words, it first cools the skin and then warms it to alleviate the pain and reduce discomfort. You can also drink peppermint tea and use the refrigerated tea bags as a cold compress to reduce swelling.
11. Myrrh For Toothache
Ingredients: 1 teaspoon myrrh, 2 cups water
How to: Add a teaspoon of powdered myrrh to 2 cups of water. Simmer it for 30 minutes. Strain the liquid and let it cool down. To use, take a teaspoon of this solution and mix in half a cup of water.
Frequency: 3 to 4 times a day
Why it works: Myrrh is known to eliminate harmful bacteria and bring down inflammation. It is applied directly to the affected area for treating several dental issues including toothache, soreness and swelling, inflamed gums, and bad breath. Myrrh essential oil can also be used in combination with frankincense essential oil diluted with a carrier oil like coconut oil for relieving toothache. This is one of the best home remedies for toothache and swelling. However, it must not be used by pregnant or lactating women.
12. Guava Leaves
Ingredients: 4 to 5 guava leaves
How to: Chew the leaves slowly.
Frequency: Few times a day
Why it works: It is one of the most versatile home remedies for toothache and swelling. You can chew these leaves, make a paste and apply it to the affected tooth, or boil the leaves with water and use it as a mouthwash once it cools down. No matter what you do, the guava leaves will bring you relief as they have antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. These leaves are also a natural analgesic and alleviate toothache quite efficiently.
13. Willow Bark Mouthwash
Ingredients: 1-inch willow bark, 2 cups of water
How to: Add the willow bark to two cups of water. Bring it to a boil. Simmer for another two minutes. Strain and let it cool. Use it as a mouthwash.
Frequency: 2 to 3 times a day
Why it works: This is one of the oldest home remedies for toothache and swelling. It was traditionally used by Native Americans as a natural medicine for treating toothache gum issues. Even now, willow bark is a favored remedy for alleviating toothache and reducing inflammation. This is all due to the presence of an active ingredient called salicin.
14. Saltwater For Toothache
Ingredients: ½ teaspoon salt, 1 cup water
How to: Mix a teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water to use as a mouthwash
Frequency: Few times a day
Why it works: Saltwater rinse is one of the most popular and effective home remedies for toothache. Salt is antibacterial and a natural disinfectant. Saltwater can also aid in removing any dirt or food that may be lodged between your teeth. If food debris triggered your toothache, doing this will immediately put an end to your problem. Rinsing with salt water can also help heal oral wounds and reduce inflammation.
15. Hydrogen Peroxide
Ingredients: 3% hydrogen peroxide
How to: Mix equal parts of 3% hydrogen peroxide with equal parts of water. Use this mix as a mouthwash.
Frequency: Few times a
Why it works: This is one of the best home remedies for toothache and swelling. Hydrogen peroxide rinse kills off the toothache-causing bacteria. It also helps in reducing inflammation and pain. Moreover, hydrogen peroxide can reduce plaque and heal bleeding gums. No wonder it is favored by dentists.
Frequently Asked Questions For Toothache
Q. What is the fastest way to stop a toothache at home?
Apply clove oil, chew on some guava leaves, use a neem mouthwash, and do a hydrogen peroxide rinse for quick relief from toothache at home.
Q. How do you get rid of a toothache in 5 minutes?
Use clove oil, peppermint oil, or guava leaves for quick relief. Saltwater can help in some cases.
Q. How can I stop nerve pain in my tooth?
For temporary relief, you can use ginger powder mixed with cayenne pepper and olive oil, peppermint oil, and clove oil. Nerve pain can mean serious concerns that can worsen if not given proper care and treatment. So, for more effective and proper relief, visit a dentist.
Q. Which is the best painkiller for toothache?
Clove oil, peppermint oil, and garlic are some of the best painkillers for toothache.
Q. Does garlic work for toothache?
Yes, garlic works for toothache as it has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.
Q. How to get rid of toothache at night?
Clove oil is one of the best and most effective home remedies for toothache at night.