Five Holistic Ways to Deal with Dental Emergencies

Waking up in the middle of the night to a throbbing pain in your mouth is not fun. Toothaches can be excruciating, and many different issues can cause them. Even if you brush your teeth every day, you may still be susceptible to tooth decay (aka cavities) abscesses, cracked teeth, and more. You may experience a sharp or throbbing pain in your mouth, have a fever, and have a hard time swallowing. If you have any of these symptoms, it’s essential to act quickly to prevent it from worsening.

If you have a dental emergency, here are some holistic ways you can deal with it.

1. Rinse with hydrogen peroxide

Depending on how severe your toothache is, you might want to head straight to the closest 24 hour dentists office. That said, you can help relieve some of the pain and inflammation by using a hydrogen peroxide rinse. Hydrogen peroxide will kill bacteria in your mouth that cause inflammation. By doing this, it will help to reduce the pain associated with your toothache. Mix equal parts of hydrogen peroxide with water to dilute it properly and make sure you don’t swallow it.

2. Clove oil

Clove oil may not taste delicious, but it’s sufficient for temporarily relieving pain. It contains a natural substance called eugenol, which has disinfecting properties to cleanse the infected area. Although clove oil is entirely natural, it is also a potent substance that may feel uncomfortable in sensitive areas of your mouth, such as your tongue. It’s not a long-term pain-reliever, but when applied topically, it will help suppress the pain temporarily.

3. Saltwater

Rinsing your mouth with salt water isn’t something your mom made you do just to torture you. It’s a natural disinfectant that can help prevent bad breath and gingivitis and is suitable for sore throats. Saltwater promotes healing, so if you have a cut in your mouth or an abscess, it can speed up the recovery process. Rinsing with salt water is an excellent practice to get into in general as it can loosen up any debris or food stuck in your teeth to help you avoid cavities.

4. Garlic

Garlic is incredibly useful for relieving toothaches, though it might not give you the best breath. Garlic stops bacteria from attacking your teeth by inhibiting their growth. It serves as a natural antibiotic and will ease your tooth pain until you can get to the dentist. You can either chew the garlic or make a paste out of it with salt to apply to the sore area.

5. Peppermint tea

Peppermint is used in many ways for its soothing properties. From calming an upset stomach, to easing discomfort on irritated skin, peppermint tea is natural and safe to use. You can apply a chilled peppermint tea bag to your sore tooth to reduce the pain temporarily. Once you take the teabag off, the effects will wear off quite quickly, so you’ll need to keep reapplying the compress.