Your teeth work hard and go through a lot. From grinding up your food to letting liquids pass through, there are a lot of ways your teeth can get damaged, and that damage can be painful.
If you need fast-acting toothache relief, keep reading to find a few options from your Pharr family dentists. We can show you how to stop a toothache fast at home.
Fast-Acting Toothache Remedies for Immediate Relief
1. Anti-Inflammatories
The easiest way to stop a toothache is to take over-the-counter anti-inflammatories, like aspirin or ibuprofen. Often, toothaches are caused by swelling in the gums, so treating that inflammation can help you relieve tooth pain fast.
If you do decide to take anti-inflammatories, don’t just stop once your pain has been relieved. Instead, keep taking them as directed to keep the pain from returning. Eventually, either the source of your pain will be healed, or you will need to get further dental care.
If you have a toothache that won’t go away, you should see your Pharr family dentist.
2. Hot Saltwater
Applying heated saltwater is another way to get rid of a toothache quickly. While the hot water acts to clean the damaged area and provide some pain relief, the salt can help bring down swelling and encourage healing.
We recommend adding one tablespoon of salt for every cup of hot water and swishing the mixture in your mouth for about thirty seconds. Be careful not to swallow the saltwater, as this can make you sick. You can repeat the treatment every few hours as needed for pain relief.
Again, if your toothache doesn’t go away, you should see a dentist.
3. Hot and Cold Compresses
Applying both heat and cold to a painful area can help to stop a toothache fast at home. While cold compresses can help bring down swelling and relieve pain, hot compresses can also help combat painful toothaches by interrupting the pain signals on their way to your brain.
You can use frozen vegetables or ice for a cold pack, and be sure to use a cloth between your skin and the temperature pack to prevent damage to your skin. For a hot pack, you can fill a clean sock with uncooked rice and tie it off on one end before microwaving it.
4. Get Dental Care at Heroes Dental in Pharr
Finally, if your toothache is severe, you should see a dentist for care. A severe toothache can be a sign of a serious dental issue, like a cavity that’s reached your nerve endings or a cracked tooth. If you have a severe dental problem, getting care as soon as possible is important. This can help you get relief faster and prevent further damage.
If you’re suffering from a toothache that won’t go away or your tooth is severely painful, call your Pharr family dentists at Heroes Dental for help.