There is nothing worse than having a toothache while you are away on vacation or on the weekend when you know our office is closed, and you don’t have access to treatment.

But it never fails to happen, and there are some things you can do to help with the pain of having a toothache until we can see you.

Home Remedies for Toothaches

An unexpected toothache is a nuisance, and this is why you should see us as soon as you feel discomfort. However, in some instances, a bad toothache can’t be predicted and will hit you at the most inopportune times. There are some things you can do relieve the pain in the meantime.

•	Take over-the-counter analgesics such as Orajel which numb the painful area.
•	Take over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications.
•	Place a cold compress to the face where the toothache is located.
•	Use an ice pack
•	Rinse with salt water made with 1/2 a teaspoon of salt dissolved in 1/2 cup of warm (not hot) water several times per day.
•	Use a damp teabag, which contains tannic acid, an excellent anti-inflammatory agent.
•	Place a peeled garlic clove over the sensitive area.

You probably have most or some of these items at home, and you can use them to relieve your pain. We do not recommend to use aspirin because of its acidity.

While these home remedies can help you control the pain from a toothache when you are away from home or don’t have access to our office, we need to see you as soon as possible. It is essential to treat a painful tooth quickly. Things such as a tooth abscess, inflammation of the tooth caused by a pocket of pus and can be excruciating. If not treated promptly, a tooth abscess can become life-threatening.

We have emergency hours, and our dentists will be available to see you on a weekend if it’s an emergency. If you have a toothache accompanied by fever, please don’t hesitate to call. On the weekend our answering service will pick up the call, and we will call you back as soon as possible.