How to Alleviate a Toothache

A toothache can strike without warning, and pain can radiate down your face and make eating or drinking impossible. Different factors play a role in a toothache. A piece of food can get stuck and cause discomfort, or fluids can seep into a cavity. A doctor can diagnose the exact cause of tooth pain. But if you are unable to see a doctor, there are ways to get fast relief from a toothache.

Things You'll Need

• Pain medicine
• Floss
• Ice

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Instructions

• 1

  Use ibuprofen, aspirin or acetaminophen to stop the ache. Relieve toothache pain with over-the-counter medications. Take as instructed. Do not put aspirin directly on the tooth.

• 2

  Relieve pain with topical oral pain relievers. Drug stores and grocery stores carry products specifically for tooth and gum pain. Dab a drop of the pain-relief gel onto your finger and place the medicine on the sore tooth to stop inflammation. Follow product instructions.

• 3

  Floss to remove food. Food stuck between the teeth may trigger a toothache. Be gentle and floss slowly.

• 4

  Dull pain with ice. Suck on an ice cube or place a cold compress on your cheek to help stop inflammation from a toothache. Keep the tooth cold for up to 15 minutes and then remove the ice.

• 5

  Rinse your mouth. Rinsing the mouth with plain water or salty water can help dislodge food trapped between the teeth and soothe a toothache. Add about one teaspoon of salt to an eight-ounce glass of water.

• 6

  Give your mouth a break. While healing a toothache, avoid activities that may aggravate pain such as biting down on hard candy and attempt to eat on the other side of your mouth.