Toothaches are inescapable difficulties that can quickly become simply too much. The constant dull aching can prevent sleep, make you shy away from your favorite foods, and even make you less talkative. Pain can disappear as quickly as a day, but sometimes it will be unbearable. Just remember that pain is a clear sign that something is wrong, and you should see a dental professional about your toothache.

But today, during lockdown and pandemic fears, it’s fair to be concerned about making trips to a dentist. We’ve been adjusting to video-calls, telehealth, and more socially-distant forms of communication, so it can feel odd to return to an in-person appointment so soon.

For some temporary relief, there are many home remedies that you can try while you sort out the best times and ways for you to feel comfortable in a dental office. So read on for the best natural tooth pain remedies.

Saltwater Mouth Wash

Saltwater rinses are a very classic and useful treatment for a variety of oral pains and issues. The standard recommendation is to add a half teaspoon of salt to one cup of warm water and use this to rinse out your mouth. But another option is to directly rub salt on the painful area. This could help dislodge debris.

Ice Pack Cold Compress

If your mouth feels swollen and painful, your go-to should be an ice pack or cold compress. There’s no need to use any special compress, anything frozen can help. The strong cold will slow blood flow to the area, and reduce pain. Just remember that chewing ice is not the recommended method here.

Aloe Vera

Aloe is considered something of a classic home-remedy, well known for its anti-inflammatory qualities. Please note that it is not always safe to ingest, but using small amounts of fresh Aloe gel on a toothache should be safe.

Garlic

Garlic may be bad for your breath, but in folk-medicine, it is a commonly used vegetable. If you have a few fresh cloves on hand, crushing one and mixing with a bit of salt will make a safe and healthy salve that can very quickly reduce pain and inflammation.