One of the most painful things the human species experiences is a toothache. That's because even the smallest things can make a sore tooth just throb. Breathing, moving, drinking, eating, all of the basic necessities of life can cause excruciating pain when a tooth starts to hurt. Here are a few tips on how to ease a toothache until an appointment with the dentist can be made.



Call the dentist as soon as possible to make an appointment. Dentists, like any doctor, get booked up. Sometimes they can squeeze people in if there is a major emergency, but the best bet is to call the dentist right away. If there is a payment problem or insurance issues, calling and getting these things worked out will help relieve a lot of added stress. It is also nice to know how much longer a toothache must be endured. A little countdown can go a long way.

Clean your mouth. This is probably the last thing any will want to do if they have a serious toothache, but cleaning out the mouth is important. Try swishing with warm water first and then if possible use a toothbrush or floss to help remove any food particles from around the tooth. Food pieces may add extra acids that continue to irritate the tooth.

Take medication. It may be best to contact a primary care physician or the dentist to ask how much medication would be appropriate. Hopefully the pain is not so severe that an over the counter medication can't take a little of the edge off. There are some medications out there that can be applied topically to the infected area to numb on contact. These can provide some relief for a while. One thing to keep in mind is that in a dental emergency, like a tooth has been knocked out, if there is bleeding any medication with aspirin should be avoided as it is a blood thinner and would prolong the bleeding.

Apply ice. Ice can help numb the ache and, more importantly, it can reduce swelling. This should help with the pain. Apply ice by putting some ice cubes in a plastic bag and putting them into a sock, handkerchief, or a towel. Put the ice on the cheek where the tooth is. Never put ice directly onto the skin, however, as it can cause frostbite.

Avoid pressure on the tooth. This will probably be something that a person with a severe toothache can figure out for himself or herself, but it is still a good reminder. Biting down on food will probably increase the pain substantially. Try to avoid chewing on the side of the mouth with the injured tooth, and it may be best to eat soft foods for a while. It can be surprising how instinctive it is to chew on both sides of the mouth, so be very conscientious when trying to eat.

Try some home remedies. Some people claim that there are several good home remedies for a toothache. If someone is in that much pain anything may help so try these. One is clove oil. The suggestion is to put some clove oil on a piece of gauze and put the gauze directly onto the tooth. Other people claim that tea bags help relieve the pain. In any case, there are likely several home remedies available. If nothing else, they may provide a distraction from the pain.

Obviously these tips will only last so long. The most important thing is to get in to see the dentist. Toothaches are usually caused by tooth decay, and only the dentist can really remove the source of these problems. In the meantime, try to get some rest and relief!