By Dr. Keerthi Sudireddy
A toothache can be miserable, especially at night. These safe home measures can ease the pain until you can see a dentist, but they treat the symptom, not the cause.
To relieve a toothache at home, rinse with warm salt water, use a cold compress on the cheek, take over-the-counter pain relief as directed, and keep your head elevated at night. Avoid very hot, cold or sugary foods. These are temporary measures - a toothache means something needs treatment, so see a dentist promptly.
Safe home relief
- Rinse with warm salt water to clean and soothe.
- Apply a cold compress to the cheek for 15 minutes.
- Take over-the-counter pain relief as per the label.
- Keep your head raised when lying down to reduce throbbing.
- Gently floss to remove any trapped food.
What not to do
Do not place aspirin directly on the gum, do not ignore it hoping it passes, and avoid very hot or cold foods that trigger pain.
When it is an emergency
See a dentist urgently if you have facial swelling, fever, severe pain, or a bad taste, which can signal infection. Read our dental emergency guide.
For same-day relief, call The Tooth Studio on +91 90321 97737.
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