If your tooth is sensitive, avoid hot and cold foods and drinks that might increase the sensitivity. Opt for room temperature, easy-to-chew foods — such as mashed potatoes, yogurt, pasta, or peanut butter — until you’re feeling better.

4) Apply a Numbing Gel

Over-the-counter numbing gels can provide fast toothache relief. Add a pea-sized amount to the affected area and wait about 15 minutes before eating or drinking anything. This will allow the gel to fully activate and prevent you from swallowing it.

5) Rinse with Salt Water

Rinsing with salt water is another easy way to reduce swelling and pain. Simply mix ½ teaspoon of salt into 1 cup of warm (not hot) water before swishing it around in your mouth for about a minute.

6) Take Over-the-Counter Pain Medication

Pain medications, like acetaminophen or NSAIDs (ibuprofen or aspirin for example), can provide temporary pain relief and help reduce inflammation. However, always consult your dentist before using these treatments.

Professional Treatment Options for Toothaches

At-home remedies can provide temporary toothache relief as you wait for a dental appointment, but you’ll need professional treatment to take care of the underlying problem.

Here are some treatments your dentist may suggest.

1) Dental Filling

Cavities often require a dental filling. This involves numbing the area around the tooth, removing the decayed part of the tooth, filling the hole with composite resins used for restorative treatments, and polishing it.

2) Crown

If the cavity is too big or the tooth is cracked, your dentist may suggest a crown. A crown is a tooth-shaped cap that restores a tooth damaged by decay or trauma. Dentists also use crowns to cover dental implants and teeth that underwent root canal treatment.

3) Root Canal

If your tooth’s nerve is severely infected or damaged, your dentist may recommend a root canal, during which they’ll remove the damaged or infected pulp and replace it with a filler. The tooth is then restored with a crown.

4) Extraction

If your painful tooth is too damaged or decayed to save or it’s causing crowding in your mouth, your dentist may opt to extract (pull) it. Wisdom teeth, for example, are often pulled.

5) Antibiotics

Although antibiotics won't treat your pain directly, your dentist may prescribe one to help fight the infection that is causing the pain.

Preventing Tooth Pain

While there are ways to treat tooth pain, the best treatment method is preventing it altogether. Keep reading for our top tips.

Practice Good Oral Hygiene

First, brush up on your brushing and the rest of your oral hygiene routine.

Good oral hygiene prevents plaque from building up in your mouth, reduces your chances of tooth decay, prevents infection, and reduces tooth sensitivity caused by tooth enamel wearing away.

Brush Your Teeth for Two Minutes Twice a Day

Dentists recommend brushing your teeth twice a day for two minutes each time. Consider swapping your manual brush for an electric model.

Electric toothbrushes often include features like built-in timers and pressure sensors that encourage proper brushing technique and consistency.

Watch Your Technique

Hold your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to the gum line. Brush in small back-and-forth motions from the back of your mouth forward until you’ve brushed all surfaces of your teeth.

Use Toothpaste with Stannous Fluoride

Pair your good toothbrush and brushing technique with a stannous fluoride toothpaste. This will protect your teeth from acid and strengthen your tooth enamel.

Floss Daily

Floss once a day to remove any food particles and plaque stuck between your teeth.

Rinse with Antibacterial Mouthwash

Lastly, rinsing with an antibacterial mouthwash reduces the bacteria in your mouth and helps prevent gum disease.

Schedule Regular Dental Visits

In addition to practicing good oral hygiene at home, visit your dentist at least two times a year for a check-up and deeper cleaning.

Eat a Healthy Diet

Another important dental habit is choosing tooth-healthy foods, like fruits, vegetables, and foods with calcium and phosphorus, which help strengthen your tooth enamel.

Don’t Smoke

Say no to nicotine, as smokers are more susceptible to gum disease, tooth loss, bad breath, and cancer. Smoking also reduces blood flow to your gums, which can cause painful inflammation and prevent your gums from healing properly.

Protect Your Teeth in Sports

If you play sports, particularly contact sports, use a mouth guard to protect your teeth. Any trauma to your mouth can cause swelling, but contact sports increase the risk of fractured teeth, cuts in your gums, nerve damage, and even jaw misalignment.

Protect your teeth from temporary or chronic pain by wearing the proper gear!

Relief at Last

If you’re looking for tooth pain relief, at-home and professional treatments can help. Applying a cold compress or numbing gel, flossing, rinsing with salt water, and taking over-the-counter medications can relieve mild discomfort. For moderate, severe or persistent discomfort consult your dentist right away.

To take your oral hygiene to the next level, try the Oral-B iO Electric Toothbrush Series. The toothbrushes remove 100% more plaque than manual toothbrushes and offer convenient features, including a timer and pressure sensor, so you know you’re brushing well.