Natural Herbal Remedies For Tootheache Pain Relief

My tooth is killing me!!!
Almost everyone at some point in his or her life will experience the agony of a toothache. Holding your face, taking an aspirin, and applying ice cannot fully combat the bacteria causing damage inside your mouth. While tooth decay is the main reason that toothaches develop in adults and children, there are plenty of other reasons why you may suffer from this unmistakable pain and discomfort of the tooth.

What is a Toothache?

A toothache occurs when some sort of decay or injury has occurred to a particular tooth that has reached the nerves. The number one reason that toothaches occur is through the decay caused by bacteria thriving inside the mouth. The more sugars and starches you consume, the stronger and stickier the bacteria will be, as it attaches itself to the surface of your teeth.

When a high level of bacteria is present, acids are produced, which eat away at tooth enamel [1]. A cavity is the result. The first sign that a toothache may erupt is the sensation of pain that is felt when you eat or drink something that is too sweet, cold or hot. Usually, this is a clear sign to meet with your dentist.

Symptoms

While pain is one of the main symptoms associated with a toothache, additional symptoms might be present. They include:

a) A Painful Bite: When biting down or eating food, you may notice extra pain during a toothache.

b) Swollen Gums: Your gums may become swollen, red or sore. This is also a sign that you may suffer from an impacted tooth.

c) A Bump: When a toothache is more than a cavity, a bump may appear. Located close to or on the side of a sore tooth, a red bump that is swollen and painful may develop. This bump is a sign that infection has set in the tooth, which is also known as an abscess.

Causes of Toothache

While the main cause of a toothache tends to be tooth decay, an unhealthy or improper diet might be the root of this problem. If you consume a great amount of soda, candy, pastries, cookies, cakes, and other sugar-filled foods, you will increase your chances of developing a toothache. This is because the sugar from these foods is broken down into acids by the bacteria inside your mouth. All of this leads to an erosion of tooth enamel, which is supposed to be pretty strong. Additional causes of toothache include:

a) Cavities

b) Tooth Rot

c) Disease: When the gums or jaw shows signs of disease, this might be the cause of your tooth pain.

d) Wisdom Teeth: Sometimes wisdom teeth take their time falling into line with the rest of your teeth. When this occurs, you may experience pain and aching gums [2].

e) Tooth Injury: When a tooth becomes cracked or affected by injury, a toothache is a likely outcome.

Toothaches may also develop because you are suffering from a different type of medical problem. Vitamin deficiencies have been known to make teeth ache, such as a lack of vitamin B12. Sinus infections, cluster headaches, facial shingles, nerve damage, diabetes, alcoholism, and drug abuse are all known causes of tooth pain. A toothache may even serve as an early sign for a heart attack [3].

Natural Remedies for Toothache

When looking for a homeopathic or herbal toothache remedy, there are many choices to consider. Sometimes natural toothache relief is the best for some who favor home remedies beyond ingesting over-the-counter products or man-made chemical prescriptions.

a) Lime: Lime contains a high amount of vitamin C, which is great when it comes to maintaining tooth health. This effective fruit also has a knack for preventing tooth decay and bleeding gums. Use this remedy to effectively soothe toothaches.

b) Echinacea: Although primarily seen as a cold and flu treatment, this herb has been known to naturally treat toothaches. It is believed that freshly dug echinacea root straight from the ground is the best remedy to select, meaning this is a great plant choice to have in a garden.

c) Tea Tree Essential Oil: Using a few drops of tea tree essential oil infused in water can be used to cleanse the mouth as well as provide relief for inflamed gums. This is quite a strong antibacterial to turn to.

d) Herbal Toothpastes: A toothpaste made from either calendula or myrrh have been known to effectively treat gums and teeth.

e) Clove: Clove is known to reduce the pain associated with toothache, as well as decrease the presence of infection through its antiseptic powers. When applying the 1-2 drops of essential oil to an already decayed tooth, it is known to relieve the symptoms of toothache. You may also chew a clove for results. There is even an oil of clove toothpaste on the market for you to consider.

Toothache Prevention

One of the best ways to avoid a toothache is to follow proper oral hygiene, including brushing your teeth; flossing; using antibacterial mouthwash; and making regular dentist appointments. As far as a diet goes, selecting healthy choices will result in healthy teeth. Unfortunately, this means passing on the candy bars and soda, and increasing your intake of fresh fruits and vegetables.