Toothache Tips from Your Wilmington Dentist

You can’t schedule a toothache. When it happens, it happens. And it hurts. Sometimes, toothaches occur at a convenient time, when you can just call our Wilmington dental office and we can take care of you. Other times, toothaches can happen at night or on weekends when our Wilmington dental office isn’t open. Then what can you do to help relieve the pain? Anyone who has had a toothache knows that the pain can linger and make you not want to do anything until it goes away. And if you’re unfortunate enough to get a toothache late Friday night, you may need to wait until Monday to see the dentist. Fortunately, there are a few tips and tricks you can try to ease the pain. Some at-home remedies you can try include:

• Salt Water: Swishing with warm salt water for as long as you can may help ease the pain of a toothache. Do not swallow the mixture. Repeat as needed.
• Onion: Some people have claimed that a piece of raw onion placed on the affected area has eased the pain. However, this will probably cause you to have onion breath.
• Oil of Cloves: Also known as Eugenol, Oil of Cloves has antimicrobial properties as well as pain relieving properties that can help lessen pain of a toothache. Mix 2-3 drops with either olive oil or cooking oil and place on a piece of cotton. Put the cotton on the bothersome area and bite down.

A common and often-tried remedy for a toothache is Aspirin applied directly on the painful area. Don’t try this! Aspirin is an acid and can cause greater damage to your mouth. Simply swallow the Aspirin. While these tips and tricks can help ease the pain of a toothache, it’s still important to call our dental office in Wilmington as soon as possible. A toothache is a sign that something isn’t right, and it’s best to get it seen and taken care of. If you continue to simply treat the pain of a toothache, and don’t determine its underlying problem, something that could be small and easy to treat can turn into something much more dangerous. If you’re experiencing a toothache, don’t hesitate to call our Wilmington dental office. We can always help you determine and fix the cause of a toothache. But the best way to avoid one altogether is to follow good oral hygiene recommendations and see your Wilmington dentist at least twice a year. This way, we can work together to keep your mouth healthy and toothache-free.