Skip to main content

8 Easily Accessible Home Remedies for Toothaches

Last week my husband mentioned that one of his teeth was hurting every now and then.

Image source
Friday night, he cracked it. Of course, on a Friday, with a long weekend to wait until he could see a dentist.
We used home remedies to help keep the pain tolerable until he could get an emergency appointment on Monday. He did have to have it pulled yesterday, but here’s how he made it through the weekend.
The first worry I had wasn’t pain, it was infection. I’ve had an abscessed tooth and it was hands down the worst pain I’ve ever experienced, and I knew that if his tooth got infected he’d have to wait even longer to get his tooth taken care of- at least a day on antibiotics.
The mouth is a natural breeding ground for germs, and any opening in the teeth can quickly become infected. Our homegrown infection prevention included:
1.      Good hygiene, brushing and rinsing the mouth often
2.     Salt water gargle, which changes the pH of the mouth so bacteria can’t grow
3.     Garlic, which is a natural antibiotic. If you can, chew whole cloves so that the garlic gets into every nook and cranny of your mouth. It’s effect, but not particularly tasty and your breath is definitely not going to smell good. Otherwise, apply garlic to the area most prone to infection.  To do this, cut a clove of garlic in half and place the cut end over opening in the tooth.  It will burn for a few seconds, then the site will become numb.
            Pain relief was naturally the Hubs’ priority. Here’s how he managed the pain.
4.     Cloves.  You can buy clove oil, but if you don’t have that, using whole cloves on the sore area will numb it. Clove oil has long been used for dental problems, and it’s worthwhile to keep some on hand.
5.     Over-the-counter medications, in this case, ibuprofen (Motrin/Advil).  Ibuprofen helps reduce swelling and offers pain relief. 
6.     Liquid Anbesol.  This is the heavy duty stuff, not the teething fel for babies, and it’s mainly helpful for flare ups. DO NOT use with children- it’s so strong it could paralyze their throat muscles.
7.     Listerine.  Soak a cotton ball or roll of gauze, and pack it around the tooth.  Bonus, this will also help with infection control.
8.    Fluoride toothpaste. Use as a poultice, it will strengthen the enamel and reduce sensitivity.

A useful resource is the book, Where There Is No Dentist, written for situations in third world countries where DIY dentistry is often necessary. You can download the free .pdf, get it for your eReader, or order a paperback copy.
Prevent tooth aches from the start.
Also check our recent posts on Funky Faith Girl:

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Truth About the "No Poo" Hair Cleansing Method

Recently, I heard lots of hype about the “no-poo” method of cleansing hair. The name threw me off a bit at first, but after some research, I found out more about it and why so many women are making the switch for the benefit of their hair, as well as for the environment. In short, “no poo” is not using the traditional shampoo found in many drugstores and supermarkets. This is where the “no poo” name comes from, since you’re not using the “poo” in shampoo. Traditional shampoos often contain many harsh sulfates, often as the main ingredient after water, which strip the hair of oils. Some of these oils are unnecessary, but others are natural and give hair the necessary shine and sleekness that it craves. Traditional shampoos can act as a detergent to your hair, removing all of these oils, which can leave your hair feeling dry and brittle. This process can also cause your hair to produce more oil than usual to compensate for the loss, which will continue to make your hair greasy.
Post a Comment
Read more

How to Know The Breakup Was A Mistake

If there is something we ask ourselves all the time it’s "was it a mistake to break up?". Any relationship comes with a lot of investment, with the emotional part being the hardest to deal with. Everyone dreads a breakup, including that individual who ends up doing it. There are many scenarios leading to a breakup. For example, you broke up with a girl you loved after realizing you were moving quite fast and things were happening so rapidly causing you a lot of panic. Image source This happens a lot if the girl keeps on talking about your future together, the gown she will wear on your wedding, your married life, the poem or song she will sing as you go down the aisle and many other things dear to her. However, after ending this tirade of expectations that caused you a supposedly “panic attack” you broke things up. After some time you begin asking yourself whether you really did the right thing. Obviously, the girl might have reacted madly, weeping uncontrollably as
Post a Comment
Read more