Any home remedies for a toothache

Home care can temporarily ease toothache, but it cannot repair decay, remove an infection, or replace dental treatment.

A toothache is pain from the tooth pulp, surrounding ligament, gum, or nearby tissues, so home measures provide temporary relief while the cause is diagnosed.

A toothache is pain from the tooth pulp, surrounding ligament, gum, or nearby tissues, so home measures provide temporary relief while the cause is diagnosed.

Rinse gently with warm water, remove trapped food with floss, and use a cold pack outside the cheek for short intervals if there is swelling. Use only pain medicine suitable for you and follow its label; never put aspirin or concentrated chemicals on the gum.

Keep the area clean, choose soft foods, and avoid very hot, cold, sweet, or hard foods if they trigger pain. Do not apply heat to facial swelling or attempt to drain a tooth.

Seek urgent dental care for facial swelling, fever, worsening pain, a broken tooth, pus, or difficulty swallowing or breathing. Pain that persists or wakes you should be assessed even without swelling.