5 Herbal Remedies for Toothaches

Photo by: Bigstockphoto
Photo by: Bigstockphoto

When it comes to treating toothache and tooth decay, the first thing that pops to mind is the blood-curling sound a dental drill makes. A visit to the dentist once or twice per year is important to maintain health teeth and gums. Unfortunately, some kids and adults alike, avoid a visit to the dentist because most oral treatments are painful.

As they say, prevention is better than cure. While we still recommend you have your teeth checked regularly, these herbal remedies may help minimize the onset of toothache and even prevent tooth decay:

Ginger

Ginger is an excellent remedy for toothache and common oral problems. Just add powdered ginger with water, make a paste, and saturate a cotton ball with the mixture. Apply directly on the affected area. Use ginger with cayenne and ginger’s antibacterial and antiseptic properties are boosted even further. Mix half a teaspoon of powdered ginger and red cayenne pepper and add a couple of drops of water to make a paste. Dip a cotton swab on the paste and apply on the painful tooth. Make sure to avoid applying the mixture on the gums as this could irritate the soft tissue.

Garlic

Garlic contains powerful antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidant, antiviral, and antiseptic properties that help minimize inflammation and infection. It’s widely used for a variety of health problems, including toothache. Garlic contains a compound called allicin. Allicin contains antibiotic that slows down the spreading of bacteria. Just crush fresh garlic and apply on the painful area. It might sting at first but the mild burn will go away within minutes. Apply crushed garlic for several days until the swelling, pain, and infection is gone.

Cloves

Just like garlic, cloves also contain potent anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antioxidant properties that make it a great herbal remedy for toothache and all types of oral problems. Cloves contain eugenol, a type of phenylpropene that prevents infection from progressing. To treat toothache with cloves, just drop clove oil on the affected area with a cotton ball for several days until swelling goes down. You can also add two to four drops of clove oil on a ¼ glass of water and swish the solution in the mouth for 30 seconds. Do this three to four times per day until toothache and infection goes away.

Turmeric

Turmeric is a popular spice that gives curry its characteristic deep-yellow color. Apart from being utilized in cooking, turmeric is also commonly used to treat toothache because it effectively relieves pain, inhibits bacterial growth, and contains antiseptic properties. Turmeric can be prepared in many ways to treat toothache.

You can dissolve turmeric powder into a small amount of distilled water to create a paste. Apply the turmeric paste directly on the affected area. You can also mix honey and turmeric powder into a paste and apply on the affected area. Finally, you can also ingest turmeric supplements to relieve toothache.

Nutmeg Oil

Did you know nutmeg oil can also help heal toothache and soothe infected gums? Nutmeg oil is great for emergency toothache remedy. Clinical tests also show that bioactive in nutmeg helps prevent oral bacteria that cause cavities.

Just add a drop of nutmeg oil on a cotton swab and apply it on the affected area. Make sure to cover the gum area too. Add the oil several times per day until pain and swelling goes away. You can also use nutmeg oil and massage it on your gums if they are swollen, irritated, or inflamed.