At the end of the day, don’t you look forward to snuggle into bed and drift off into dreamland? However, having a toothache is something that will keep you awake and nag you throughout the night.
If you experience sudden onset of toothache at night and you are unable to visit a dentist, there are certain remedies you can use to make it through the night. Before we dig deep into the effective remedies for toothache, let us first understand some of the underlying causes that can result in the onset of this irritating mental illness and pain.
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Causes of Toothache
There can be several underlying factors that can lead to toothache. Some of the primary causes include:
- Tooth decay
- Grinding teeth
- Sinus infection
- Infected gums
- Abscessed tooth
Whether severe or mild, pain in the teeth can be really bothersome and upsetting, especially if it starts interfering with a good night’s sleep.
How to Sleep with Toothache?
You will only be able to permanently relieve toothache by clinically treating the root cause of the issue. However, until the time you are able to see a dentist, there are a few tips and home remedies that you can follow to alleviate the pain and enable yourself to fall asleep.
1) Taking Pain Relief Medication
Over-the-counter pain medications such as paracetamol and ibuprofen can alleviate the toothache temporarily.
2) Elevate Your Head while Sleeping
When you are trying to sleep with toothache, make sure to elevate your head using good quality pillows. This will reduce the blood flow to the area, thus helping to relieve the pain associated with toothache.
3) Avoid certain foods and drinks
When you suffering from toothache, it would be a good idea to avoid intake of foods and drinks that are too cold or too hot. Also, stay away from acidic or sugary drinks, especially during the hours leading up to sleeping time.
Natural Home Remedies for Toothache
Besides following the above-mentioned tips, there are certain home remedies that you can also use to get rid of the pain, at least temporarily. Some commonly used home remedies for toothache include:
Clove Oil
Soak a cotton ball with clove oil and place on the affected area, or simply apply few drops on the gums using a Q-tip. This will help to numb the area and provide relief from pain.
Salt Water
Dissolve some salt in a cup of warm water; then swish this solution in your mouth for a minute or so. Spit out the water after a minute. Do this remedy right before going to bed to cleanse the affected area and reduce inflammation. Not only this, the salt will fight against the bacteria that is causing the infection.
Garlic
Chew a couple of garlic cloves right before sleeping to get instant relief from toothache. Garlic is loaded with antibiotic and antifungal properties and helps fight with pain as well.
Onion
Chew on a small piece of raw onion for a couple of minute to reduce toothache. Onions have amazing antiseptic and antimicrobial properties and helps to reduce dental pain by attacking the infection-causing germs.
Ice pack
Place an ice pack on the area or apply cold compress over the cheek on the affected area for about 15 minutes. This will help to numb the nerves and provide quick relief from tooth pain.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Use a solution of 3 percent hydrogen peroxide for rinsing your mouth. Swish it around in your mouth for a few minutes to kill the bacteria and alleviate discomfort.
Peppermint tea
Peppermint tea is believed to have numbing power, which will reduce the pain associated with toothache. The astringent tannins present in it will reduce swelling and help alleviate the pain. You can either swallow the tea or swish it around your mouth for few minutes.
Ginger-Cayenne Paste
Mix together equal quantities of cayenne pepper and ginger juice. Add enough water to form a paste. Soak a cotton ball in this mixture and press it against the affected tooth.
Try to avoid the gums and tongue as it may cause some burning. Keep it pressed to the affected tooth as long as you can withstand it to alleviate the toothache.
When suffering from toothache, you can try few of these home remedies to help get some temporary relief and a good night’s sleep.
However, keep in mind that none of these are permanent cures for your tooth and gum disease. Make sure to see a dentist or local practitioner for dentistry to treat the root cause of the problem and get permanent relief.