A toothache is wild. One minute, you’re minding your own business, and the next, your day turns into a full-blown drama. The good news? You probably have some things in your kitchen that bring fast, natural relief. Just keep in mind—these tricks don’t solve the real problem (like a cavity, a cracked tooth, an infection, or a loose filling). They just buy you a little time until you can see your dentist.
First things first: Is this a real dental emergency?
Before you start swishing saltwater or rummaging for home remedies, watch for these warning signs. Call your dentist or get to the ER if you notice:
– Swelling in your face that’s spreading
– Fever, chills, or you just feel sick all over
– Trouble swallowing, breathing, or opening your mouth wide
– Pus, a gross taste that keeps coming back, or a bump on your gums
– Really bad pain after recent dental work, especially if it keeps getting worse
Severe pain plus swelling usually means infection. You can’t fix that at home—it needs a pro. The American Dental Association says emergencies include severe pain, bleeding you can’t stop, or swelling/infection that could mess with your breathing.
No red flags? Okay, here’s the quick relief plan.
How to Stop Tooth Pain Fast – The 10-Minute Home Fix
If you need relief, try these steps, in this order:
1. Rinse with warm saltwater (how-to below)
2. Hold a cold compress on your cheek (10 minutes on, 20 minutes off)
3. Clean gently—floss once, but don’t dig into sore gums
4. Avoid anything super hot, cold, sugary, or chewy on that side
5. If you need it, take an over-the-counter pain reliever (check the label first)
These are the basics you’ll find everywhere—saltwater and a cold compress are top picks for a reason.
What’s Behind Your Toothache? (Quick Clues)
Figuring out what’s causing the pain helps you pick the right remedy.
– Sharp pain when biting? Could be a crack, a high filling, or a loose crown.
– Throbbing, especially with hot/cold sensitivity? Might be deep decay or an irritated nerve.
– Pain with swelling or sore gums? Could mean gum inflammation or an abscess.
– Upper back tooth hurts and you have a stuffy nose? Sometimes that’s a sinus thing.
– Pain under a crown? Maybe decay at the edge, cement issues, or nerve trouble.
– Jaw ache after a new filling? The filling could be too high, or your nerve’s annoyed.
If the pain sticks around for more than a day or two, book a dentist. Even the best home remedies are just a pit stop—they won’t get you all the way.
The Best Natural Home Remedies for Toothache
1) Saltwater rinse
This one’s a classic because it works. Super simple, too.
How to do it:
– Mix half a teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water.
– Swish it around your mouth for 30–60 seconds, then spit.
– Repeat 2–4 times a day.
Saltwater helps clean out junk and soothes irritated spots. It’s usually the first thing dentists recommend.
Bonus tip: If rinsing with water makes the pain go away for a bit, you might have an exposed nerve. That’s a sign you should get checked out soon.
2) Cold compress
Got swelling or throbbing? Grab something cold.
– Use cold, not heat, for swelling or right after an injury.
– Save heat for sore jaw muscles, not if you suspect an abscess.
How to do it:
– Wrap ice or a bag of frozen veggies in a towel.
– Hold it against your cheek (10 minutes on, 20 minutes off).
3) Tea bag compress
Wondering if tea bags help? Sometimes, yeah—they can calm things down for a while.
How to do it:
– Steep a black or peppermint tea bag for a couple of minutes.
– Let it cool down—don’t burn yourself.
– Place it on the sore spot for 15–20 minutes.
Black tea has tannins that can settle inflammation, and peppermint feels cool and slightly numbing.
4) Clove oil
Clove is old-school for a reason. It holds eugenol, which can numb pain.
How to do it:
– Put a drop or two of clove oil on a cotton swab.
– Dab it on the sore tooth or gum (don’t go overboard).
– Try not to swallow it.
Just a heads up—too much clove oil can irritate your gums. Less is more.
So, while these tips bring some comfort, remember: They’re just a pause button. Only a dentist can fix the real problem.
5) Vanilla extract for toothache (yep, really)
You’ve probably seen people online swear by vanilla extract for tooth pain. For some, it actually feels soothing.
How to use it
Grab a cotton ball, dab on a bit of real vanilla extract, then hold it gently against your sore tooth for about a minute. Do this a few times a day if it helps.
Colgate even lists vanilla extract as a way to get temporary relief.
What about imitation vanilla?
Honestly, it’s not the same. Some fake vanillas have weird additives. If you give it a shot, use just a little and stop if it burns.
6) Hydrogen peroxide rinse (only if you’re careful)
A lot of people wonder if rinsing with peroxide helps a toothache. It can cut down on bacteria, but you have to dilute it and, seriously, don’t swallow any.
How to do it right
Use regular 3% hydrogen peroxide from the pharmacy. Mix it half and half with water. Swish for 30 seconds, spit it out, then rinse your mouth with plain water.
Colgate goes over this exact mix and stresses: Don’t swallow.
Skip peroxide if you have a bunch of open sores, aren’t sure about the strength, or it burns.
7) Garlic for toothache
Garlic gets a lot of love as a home remedy thanks to its antimicrobial powers.
How to try it (without wrecking your mouth)
Crush up a small bit of garlic, mix it with a tiny pinch of salt, and gently press it onto your tooth (not deep into the gums). Rinse shortly after.
Healthline lists garlic as a go-to home remedy.
What about chewing garlic?
In your food, fine. But rubbing raw garlic right on sore gums? It’ll sting. Don’t push it.
Holistic Tooth Pain Relief: Small Comforts That Help
Keep your head up, especially at night
Toothaches always seem worse when you lie flat. Extra pillow helps by easing blood flow and pressure.
Stick to soothing foods
When your tooth hurts, soft, lukewarm foods are your friends—think yogurt, oatmeal, scrambled eggs, soup (just not piping hot). Drink plenty of water.
Skip: freezing drinks, sticky candy, hard nuts, sugary snacks.
These won’t fix your tooth, but they cut down on pain triggers.
Sinus Toothache Natural Remedies (and figuring out if it’s not your tooth)
Sometimes it’s not the tooth at all. Sinus pressure (especially in the upper molars) can make it feel like a toothache. You might notice:
Pain in several upper teeth
It gets worse when you bend forward
Stuffy nose, pressure in your face
What helps?
Warm steam (from a shower or a bowl), saline nasal rinses (use sterile or distilled water), warm compresses on your cheeks, hydration, and rest.
If you have a fever, really bad facial pain, or symptoms dragging on more than about 10 days, see a doctor—sinus infections sometimes need real treatment.
Tooth Pain Under a Crown (or After a Filling)
If you’ve got pain under a crown, focus on calming things down and avoiding pressure:
- Saltwater rinse
- Cold compress on your cheek
- Chew on the other side
- Avoid sticky foods—they can tug at the crown.
- If biting down really hurts, or the crown feels too high, call your dentist. That’s not something you can fix at home.
Jaw sore after a filling?
First day: try a cold compress if it’s swollen. Later, if it’s more like muscle ache, switch to a warm compress. Stick to soft foods for a day or two.
If you feel a sharp “high spot” when you chew, call your dentist. A quick adjustment can save you days of pain.
Tooth Nerve Pain at Home (What Actually Helps)
People google all sorts of things for nerve pain—“natural remedies,” “how to get rid of tooth pain from nerve,” and so on.
Truth is, nerve pain usually means you need a dentist. At home, all you can really do is take the edge off:
- Saltwater rinses
- Cold compress
- Avoid really hot or cold foods
- Use over-the-counter pain meds as directed
- What NOT to do (no matter what TikTok says)
- Don’t put aspirin straight on your gums—it’ll burn.
- Don’t pour alcohol on your gums.
- Don’t try random “dental filling kits” at home.
- Don’t try to “kill the tooth nerve” or mess around trying to destroy the root.
- These ideas are dangerous and can make things way worse.
If you see stuff like “kill tooth pain nerve in 3 seconds permanently,” just remember: it’s as real as those “lose 30kg overnight” schemes. Not happening.
OTC Pain Relief (When Natural Isn’t Enough)
A lot of people reach for over-the-counter painkillers when a tooth starts acting up. Ibuprofen’s the go-to for many—it knocks down inflammation, which is usually what’s making your mouth throb. If you can’t take ibuprofen, acetaminophen works for pain too. Just make sure you actually read the label and think about your health conditions (stuff like ulcers, kidney problems, blood thinners, pregnancy). Not sure what’s safe? Ask a pharmacist or your doctor.
People always wonder, “Does ibuprofen help with tooth pain?” Usually, yes, at least for short-term relief. But let’s be real, it won’t fix the root problem.
Toothache Home Remedies for Expectant Mothers
Pregnant and dealing with tooth pain? Natural remedies can take the edge off: try a saltwater rinse, a cold compress, and stick to soft foods. Skip anything that triggers more pain. And don’t wait around—see your dentist soon. An untreated infection is worse than most dental treatments when you’re expecting.
Seriously, don’t mess around with essential oils or weird supplements unless your doctor gives you the green light.
What Most Lists Miss (But You Actually Need)
Most advice just gives you a basic list, but here’s what really helps:
- A quick way to figure out what’s going on, so you’re not just throwing random remedies at the problem
- Tips to tell if your pain’s coming from your sinuses or actual tooth decay
- Advice for pain under crowns or that annoying ache after a filling
- A clear warning section—what NOT to do, especially those scary “kill the nerve” tricks you see online
- Some smart food choices to make eating less miserable
FAQ (Real Questions, Real Answers)
Q. Does salt water help a toothache?
Yep. It soothes irritated gums and helps clean things out. Great first move.
Q. What kind of tea helps a toothache?
Peppermint tea feels cooling. Black tea bags have tannins that might ease swelling.
Q. Can peroxide help tooth pain?
A diluted peroxide rinse can cut down bacteria and calm gums. Just don’t swallow it.
Q. Can you fix teeth at home or heal them naturally?
You can give your gums a break and keep things clean, but if you’ve got a cavity, crack, or infection, you need a dentist. No way around it.
Q. Natural remedies for toothache or tooth healing?
Start simple: saltwater rinse, cold compress. If you’re still hurting, it’s time for a dental exam.
Bottom Line
Home remedies give you a break from toothache pain, but don’t let them lull you into ignoring the real problem. If pain sticks around for more than a day or two, keeps you up at night, or you notice swelling or a fever, call your dentist. Trust me—your future self (and your sleep) will thank you.
