Anybody who’s ever suffered from a toothache can tell you just how excruciating they can be. Whether they’re caused by a cavity, crowding, or another oral health issue, a toothache can cause quite an unpleasant distraction during your day to day life. While you should always consult a dentist for ongoing tooth issues, there are a surprising number of natural remedies for tooth pain that you can find at the grocery store, or better yet, already in your kitchen cabinets. Here are just a few natural remedies that can help alleviate tooth pain.
Onions
Onions have long been used as a remedy for various ailments, but many dentists even recommend this simple trick. Everyone knows that it’s recommended to consume at least one and a half to two servings of fruit and two to two and a half cups of vegetables each day, but all you have to do is hold a piece of the raw veggie in your mouth to get its dental pain-relieving benefits.
“Onions offer antiseptic and antimicrobial properties that are known to kill the bacteria in the mouth that contributes to pain…Just cut a piece of onion into a size that comfortably fits into your mouth and apply it to the affected area. It’s important that the slice is freshly cut so that some onion juice is released. Allow it to sit for five minutes, or even longer if you can,” writes Sierra Bright on Natural Living Ideas.
According to Bright, those who have successfully used onions to alleviate tooth pain have said that it’s “as effective as eight capsules of Advil and a bottle of Orajel.”
Peppermint Tea
About 54% of Americans over age 18 drink coffee every day, but as coffee’s highly underrated cousin, various tea are recognized for their health benefits. Peppermint tea, in particular, is known to help provide relief for those suffering from a toothache. To successfully use peppermint tea as a tooth pain remedy, simply put a peppermint tea bag in the fridge or freezer until it gets cold and then hold it on the bothersome tooth. About 20 minutes should do the trick, but if your teeth are sensitive to cold temperatures, you can forego the refrigeration. Keep in mind that this trick needs to be repeated relatively often to keep the tooth pain at bay.
Thyme
In addition to being used as a tasty and herbal addition to countless meals, thyme has also been used for a number of natural remedies, since it has among the strongest antimicrobial properties of all the essential oils. Furthermore, thyme is full of antiseptic and antifungal properties that make it ideal for other aspects of oral care. The herb is known to prevent or diminish tooth decay, which is 20 times more common than diabetes. Thyme is also versatile in the sense that it can be used to treat tooth pain in more ways than one.
“While you can sip a thyme tea for some relief, the best way to use thyme is by chewing on the leaves…Another option is to dilute a few drops of thyme essential oil with a carrier oil like olive oil, and then gargle with it. This helps to soothe the ache and fight infection. You can also apply the oil directly to the affected area, provided only a very minimal amount is used,” writes Bright.
More than half of the adult U.S. population surveyed over age 50 agree that a smile is the one physical feature that stays the most attractive as we age, according to a survey by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. While it’s always best to consult a dental professional for any ongoing tooth pain, these remedies should definitely help to provide temporary relief.
Weston Davie
Tuesday 27th of August 2019
Great tips on this article! I think that a lot can be done naturally to prevent having to go to the dentist.