(Image source from: Ask the Dentist)
On the odd occasion, you might experience severe toothaches that are usually a result of tooth decay, tooth abscess, damaged fillings or infected gums. There are chances that if you have a toothache, it might bother you while sleeping or eating.
A toothache can pretty much affect all your daily life activities. It can give rise to multiple other issues like headache, fever, swollen gums, etc.
Common Causes of Toothaches
Sinus Infection
Drainage from sinus infections may cause tooth pain.
Mouth or Jaw Injury
These can occur from blunt force trauma to the facial area.
Tooth Decay
Tooth decay is commonly caused due to bacteria, snacking, sipping sugary drinks and poor teeth cleaning. When bacteria cause tooth decay, the nerves in your teeth may be exposed leading to pain.
Losing a Filling
The nerve inside the tooth might be exposed if you lose a filling, causing pain.
Abscessed or Infected Tooth
Off and on called a dental abscess, this condition is delineated as a pocket of pus in the tooth.
Food or Other Debris Wedged in Your Teeth
Organic and inorganic matter jammed in your teeth can cause pressure between the teeth.
Teething or Wisdom Teeth Crowning
If you have wisdom teeth coming in, as well as breaking through the gums, it may pain since they may be pressing against other teeth.
Temporomandibular Joint Disorders
Temporomandibular Joint Disorders or TMJ is classified as pain in your jaw joint, but can as well affect your teeth.
Gum disease
Gum diseases such as gingivitis or periodontal disease can cause toothaches or pain.
Grinding
You may clench or grind your teeth at nighttime which can cause additional pain.
Home Remedies of Tooth Ache
Here are five home remedies that can provide relief in case of a toothache. Always remember to consult an expert if the pain persists.
Apply Clove Oil
Clove oil has been used as a remedy in India and China for toothaches for centuries. It contains a chemical known as eugenol which acts as an antibacterial agent. Clove oil has anti-inflammatory properties.
Take a cotton swab or ball and put a few drops of clove oil on it. Put that cotton swab on the affected area for 5-10 minutes. Repeat this process after every 2-3 hours.
Rinse with Saltwater
Rinsing your mouth with salt water can help in clearing the debris stuck in cavities and between teeth. It draws fluid from the affected area and reduces pressure on it. It also reduces swelling.
Mix one teaspoon of salt in warm water. Swish the mixture inside your mouth for 20-30 seconds.
Ice Cubes
Ice works to numb your nerves. It sends cold signals to the brain. These may overpower the pain signals that are sent to the brain by the tooth. Ice packs are thus a very good remedy to cure your toothache.
Wrap one or two ice cubes in a thin fabric. Put the pack to the affected tooth. Apart from the affected tooth, it can also be put on the cheek where the affected tooth is.
Garlic
Garlic works very well in case of toothache. Garlic has anti-bacterial properties.
Peel a clove of garlic and chew it. If you cannot chew it, simply put it on the affected area with some rock salt until the pain is gone.
Apply Pepper Paste
Pepper has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties and kills the germs in your mouth. It is also a remedy for bad breath.
Take a pinch of pepper powder and salt. Add a few drops of water to the mixture to make it into a paste. Apply the paste on the affected area.
By Sowmya Sangam