Well Being: Cucumber

Toothache Home Remedies: What Helps Until You Can See a Dentist

A toothache never picks a good moment. It tends to arrive at midnight, on a Sunday, or right before something important. When you’re pacing the kitchen with a throbbing jaw, you’ll try almost anything.

Home remedies can take the edge off, and some are reasonable choices. But none of them fixes the reason your tooth hurts. Think of them as a bridge to the dentist, not a replacement for one.

Why teeth hurt in the first place

A toothache is pain in or around a tooth. Common causes include:

Tooth decay (a cavity)
An abscess, which is a pocket of infection
A cracked or fractured tooth
A damaged or loose filling
Gum infection or gum disease
Grinding or clenching your teeth
Trauma to the tooth
Food trapped between teeth
A sinus infection, which can make upper back teeth ache

Mayo Clinic notes that a toothache often needs treatment from a dentist, and that its self-care tips are meant to help until you can get there.

1. Warm salt water rinse

This is the remedy dentists mention most often, and it’s the one with the best support. A rinse helps clear food debris and can soothe irritated gums. A Mayo Clinic dentistry professor quoted by The Healthy explains that salt water cleans the area around the tooth and can help draw out some of the fluid that causes swelling.

How to do it: Stir about half a teaspoon of salt into a glass of warm water until it dissolves. Swish gently for about 30 seconds, then spit it out. Repeat a few times a day.

Tip: Use warm water, not hot. Very hot or very cold water can make a sensitive tooth hurt more.

2. Clove oil

Cloves have a long history as a dental remedy. The key ingredient, eugenol, is a natural numbing and antiseptic compound, and it’s used in some dental products. Dentists quoted by Business Insider recommend a dab of clove oil as a numbing agent for toothache pain.

How to do it: Put one or two drops on a cotton ball or swab and dab it on the sore spot, avoiding the soft tissue of your gums and cheeks as much as possible. If the oil is strong, mix it with a little olive or coconut oil first.

Be careful:

Undiluted clove oil can burn gums and cause irritation.
Don’t swallow it, and keep it away from young children.
Ask a dentist or doctor first if you’re pregnant, have a bleeding disorder or take blood thinners.
Use it for a day or two at most. It numbs the pain, but doesn’t treat the problem.

The original also suggested chewing whole cloves or placing powdered clove on the tooth, which is fine in small amounts for most adults, but the oil is stronger and easier to overdo.

3. Cold compress

This one wasn’t in the original list, but dentists often recommend it. If the pain follows an injury, or your cheek is swollen, hold a cold pack wrapped in a cloth against the outside of your cheek for 15 to 20 minutes at a time. Mayo Clinic’s toothache first-aid advice mentions a cold compress for pain caused by trauma. It can reduce swelling and dull the ache.

4. Garlic

Garlic is often described as an antibacterial and pain reliever. Garlic contains allicin, a compound that shows antibacterial activity in lab tests. That doesn’t prove a clove on your gum will kill the bacteria causing your toothache, and there’s little human evidence for pain relief.

If you try it: Crush a small clove into a paste and place it on the sore area for a few minutes. Raw garlic can cause a burning feeling and irritate the gums, so don’t leave it on for long, and rinse it off if it stings.

5. Onion

Chewing a piece of raw onion on the sore side is a traditional trick. Onion does have antimicrobial compounds in lab studies, but there’s no good evidence that it eases toothache. At best it may feel soothing for a few minutes, and the strong taste can be unpleasant.

Verdict: Harmless for most people, though I wouldn’t count on it.

6. Cucumber

The original claims cucumber has a “hemostatic” effect that reduces blood flow to the tooth. That’s not accurate: hemostatic means stopping bleeding, and cucumber doesn’t do that for tooth pain. What a cool cucumber slice can do is feel pleasantly soothing against an irritated area, a bit like a mild cold compress.

If you like it: Use a slice at room temperature or slightly cool, not ice-cold, especially if your tooth is sensitive to temperature.

7. Guava leaves

Guava leaves are a traditional remedy across South Asia, and laboratory studies suggest they have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. That’s promising, but human trials for toothache are lacking.

How to use: Boil a handful of clean leaves in water, let the liquid cool to a comfortable warm temperature, and use it as a mouthwash. A pinch of salt is optional. Spit it out rather than swallowing it.

What dentists often recommend

Beyond kitchen remedies, a few simple steps help:

Over-the-counter pain relief. Ibuprofen or paracetamol (acetaminophen) can help if they’re safe for you. Follow the label, and check with a pharmacist if you have stomach, kidney or liver problems, or take other medicines. Mayo Clinic also suggests talking to your dentist or doctor before using products that contain benzocaine.
Keep your head raised. Lying flat can increase blood flow to the head and make a throbbing tooth feel worse at night.
Clean gently. Brush and floss around the tooth to clear trapped food, using a soft brush.
Avoid triggers. Very hot, cold, sweet or hard foods can set off the pain.
Don’t put aspirin directly on the gum. It can burn the tissue.

When a toothache can’t wait

Home care is only a stopgap. See a dentist if the pain lasts more than a day or two, makes it hard to eat, sleep or work, or keeps coming back. Waiting rarely helps: DentaQuest notes that trying to ride out a toothache doesn’t fix the underlying problem, and the pain tends to return.

Get urgent help right away if you have:

Swelling in your face, jaw or neck
Fever
Difficulty swallowing or breathing
A bad taste or pus coming from the tooth or gum
Pain after an injury or a knocked or broken tooth

Mayo Clinic lists symptoms of infection, such as swelling, pain when biting, red gums or a foul-tasting discharge, as reasons to call a dentist or doctor right away. A dental abscess can spread, so swelling plus fever or trouble breathing is an emergency.

How to prevent toothaches

Brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and floss daily
Cut back on sugary snacks and drinks
Visit your dentist regularly for check-ups and cleanings
Wear a mouthguard if you grind your teeth at night
Fix small cavities and loose fillings early, before they become big problems

FAQs

What’s the fastest way to relieve a toothache at home?

A warm salt water rinse, a cold compress and an over-the-counter pain reliever are the most commonly recommended starting points. Clove oil can add short-term numbing.

Does clove oil really numb tooth pain?

It can, thanks to eugenol. It’s a short-term measure, and it must be used sparingly because it can irritate the gums.

Can garlic or onion cure a toothache?

No. They may feel soothing for a moment, but there’s no good evidence they treat the cause of the pain.

How long can I wait before seeing a dentist?

If the pain lasts more than a day or two, see a dentist. Go sooner if you have swelling, fever or a bad taste in your mouth.

Why does my toothache get worse at night?

Lying down can increase blood flow to the head, and you have fewer distractions. Keeping your head propped up and taking a pain reliever before bed may help.

Can a toothache go away by itself?

Sometimes the pain fades, but that can happen when the nerve dies, and the infection can remain. It’s not a sign the problem has healed.

Can a sinus infection cause tooth pain?

Yes. Upper back teeth sit close to the sinuses, so sinus inflammation can feel like a toothache. A dentist can rule out dental causes first.

Are these remedies safe for children?

Not always. Clove oil, garlic and some pain relievers need extra care in children. Ask a dentist or pharmacist before using them.

The bottom line

Salt water, a cold compress and a suitable painkiller will get most people through a rough night. Clove oil can add a little numbing. The rest of the pantry remedies are mostly comfort. But a toothache means something is wrong, so book that dentist appointment, and go sooner if you see swelling or have a fever.

This article is for general information and isn’t a substitute for professional dental or medical advice.