Dealing with Toothache
18.2m adults were seen by an NHS dentist in the 24 months up to 30 June 2021, according to the NHS’ dental stats for England in their 2020-2021 annual report. However, for many, dealing with a toothache can be frustrating — especially if your dentist can’t get you in right away. Whether you’re experiencing pain due to wisdom teeth or you just have a simple toothache, here are just a few ways you can manage the pain naturally until you can be seen and treated by a professional.
The uses of hot and cold therapy
Using hot or cold therapy is a popular, natural method of alleviating pain, as they work in different ways to manage the pain associated with a toothache. Using heat therapy, for instance, will aid in relieving tension as well as to increase blood flow to the area. On the other hand, using something like a cold compress is a great way to reduce swelling, in addition to providing a numbing effect, too. While both methods can be ideal for someone with a toothache, the argument as to which is better depends greatly on personal preference. That said, alternating between heat and cooling is certainly a great, natural solution for those in pain and awaiting a visit to the dentist.
Alleviating wisdom tooth pain with peppermint
While a simple toothache can be frustrating enough to deal with, pain associated with wisdom teeth can be particularly awful, especially if the tooth is impacted. Because an impacted wisdom tooth can lead to issues like cavities and even infection, it’s imperative to get to the dentist right away. However, while many dentists can provide services like evening or weekend appointments, emergency visits, and wisdom tooth extraction services on site, there are some specific ways that natural methods can help if you have to wait a day or two.
According to Healthline, peppermint may provide a natural relief method for wisdom tooth pain, which can be applied via a soaked cotton ball in a small amount of peppermint extract, or even by rubbing the oil directly on the gums (or even by using cooled peppermint tea as a mouthwash). Because peppermint leaves are known to contain a natural cooling compound (also known as menthol), the paid reducing effects in other applications may also be useful for relieving wisdom tooth pain — though it’s important to note that there is no conclusive evidence for this method.
The value of oral rinses
For those with general toothache pain, a simple salt water rinse can do wonders. Due to it being a natural disinfectant, an aid in loosening anything (like food) that may be trapped between the teeth, and being great for reducing inflammation, there’s no doubt that it can be helpful for many. This natural method can be executed by mixing ½ teaspoon of salt into a glass of warm water, and proceeding to use it as a mouthwash. However, it’s important to realise that this isn’t the only natural oral rinse that can be used to alleviate toothache pain while you’re waiting to see your dentist, as hydrogen peroxide can also present a helpful solution as well. According to Healthline, a hydrogen peroxide rinse may help in relieving pain and inflammation in addition to killing bacteria. That said, this method can be easily used by mixing 3 percent hydrogen peroxide with equal parts water as a mouthwash, though it’s important to not swallow any in the process.
For those experiencing tooth pain and unable to visit the dentist right away, there are natural ways you can alleviate the pain. Instead of reaching for painkillers, trying out methods like hot/cold therapy, oral rinses, even trying out peppermint may help in the meantime.
Source: Sally Writes