Easing Tooth Pain and Swelling
If you begin to feel tenderness in or around a tooth, you
should immediately contact a dentist if the pain persists.
But in the meantime here are tips for
easing tooth pain and swelling (before or after your visit to
the dentist).
• Don’t worry, it’s all cool:
Applying a cold ice pack to the tender area is the best at-home
remedy for your toothache. Unlike other remedies, ice is good
for easing tooth pain and swelling. The ice will numb the pain
and prevent excessive swelling. Do not use heat!
• Raid the medicine cabinet:
Any nonprescription medications that contain acetaminophen,
ibuprofen, naxprofen, or ketaprofen will relieve an aching
tooth.
Tylenol, Advil, and Aleve are all
examples of these. Aspirin is useful as well, but those under
20 should be careful to consult a physician before taking
Aspirin due to the risk of Reye’s syndrome.
• Your four-leaf-clover of pain relief:
If you feel you’re toothache is just so excruciating that
you’re out of luck, here’s a nifty tip for instant relief. If
you grind up about two tablespoons of clovers and mix the
powder with some olive oil, you can then rub the paste onto
your gums. The pain relief is only temporary, but it is a great
way to seek immediate respite while you’re waiting for those
pain killers to kick in.
• Full body massage:
This is probably the most interesting tip of all. If you
massage your earlobes and hands, you will find that the pain
around your mouth will fade after about 10 minutes or so. This
may seem like magic but the way it works is your earlobes and
the areas between your forefinger and thumb are distinct
pressure points so if you massage them, your toothache will
slowly go away. Only the earlobe and/or hand that is on the
same side of your jaw or tooth pain needs to be massaged.
If you’re enduring pain around your jaw or tooth, hopefully
you can take these easy steps for easing tooth pain and
swelling. The best remedy is to make a dental appointment but
until then, do try this at home.
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