Excruciating toothache: Try these home remedies to soothe your pain

 Here are some common home remedies for toothache to keep you calm before you reach your dentist.
 

Is that toothache driving you crazy? Let's face it, toothache can hamper your daily functions - to say the least. Not only it can be disabling - to an extent to prevent you from eating your favourite food - it can also hinder your facial and jaw movement.

The excruciating pain arises from the deepest part of a tooth which is the pulp region. This part has living connective tissues and sensitive nerve endings and may get infected or swollen for various reasons, sending out pain signals from the centre.

Healthy teeth are essential for good digestion and quick metabolism as they are the first body-parts to come into contact with the food.

Here are some common home remedies for toothache to keep you calm before you reach your dentist.

Traditional Clove: Eugenol, the primary chemical compound found in clove, is a mild anaesthetic. Cloves help to numb the nerves in the tooth and thus alleviate pain. This spice can be used in more than one way for toothache. Use the whole clove or powdered clove by placing it on the tooth and chewing it a bit to release its oil, or you can simply apply some clove oil. However, one must be careful while using pure and concentrated clove oil; applying it directly on the infected region may worsen the pain if it flows onto the tongue or stings sensitive or exposed gum regions. A cotton ball, doused with a couple of drops of this oil, placed between the teeth should work.

Salt-Water Swishing: Hot water with salt dissolved in it works as a natural antiseptic mouthwash. Swishing it around the mouth for at least thirty seconds before spitting it out, helps to remove debris that may be stuck in crevices around the infected tooth, preventing further infection. This natural treatment can be repeated many times and has no side effects. The use of salt water increases the salt concentration in the immediate environment of the tooth and attacks the microbes that have been causing pain.

Icy Relief: Some ice-cubes sealed in a plastic bag and wrapped in a thin piece of cloth can numb the nerves in the irritated tooth when pressed against the cheek which is directly over the tooth. Ice is especially beneficial when the tooth ache is accompanied by swelling. The cooling effect of the ice numbs the region it is used on, and brings down swelling. Use a cold-compress or eat cold foods after a tooth-extraction to cool down the nerve endings and reduce pain.

Garlic: Garlic is known for its antibiotic medicinal properties and can provide relief from the worst of toothaches. Some crushed garlic mixed with table salt or black pepper can be applied directly to the affected tooth, or some cloves of garlic can be chewed to release their oil on the 'alarm-site' to alleviate the pain. It is imperative to remember that the garlic clove must be crushed and not cut because only crushing garlic releases its oil.

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