The fastest way to reduce tooth pain at home is to take ibuprofen and acetaminophen together, which outperforms either drug alone for dental pain. While that kicks in, a saltwater rinse and a cold compress can provide additional relief. These steps buy you time, but a toothache that lasts more than a day or two almost always needs professional treatment to resolve the underlying cause.
Pain Relievers That Work Best
Combining ibuprofen and acetaminophen is the most effective over-the-counter approach for tooth pain. Ibuprofen reduces inflammation at the source, while acetaminophen works on pain signals in the brain. A combination tablet (250 mg acetaminophen and 125 mg ibuprofen) can be taken every 8 hours, up to 6 tablets per day. If you don’t have a combination product, you can take standard doses of each separately on the same schedule.
A few important notes: don’t place aspirin directly on your gum tissue, which is a common folk remedy that actually burns the tissue. And avoid ibuprofen on an empty stomach, since it can irritate your digestive system.
Numbing Gels and How Long They Last
Over-the-counter dental gels containing benzocaine (usually at 20% concentration) start numbing within about 30 seconds but only last 5 to 15 minutes. Gels with lidocaine take a bit longer to kick in (3 to 5 minutes) but last about 15 minutes as well. These products are useful for brief, intense flare-ups or right before eating, but they won’t carry you through the night.
Benzocaine products should never be used on children under 2 years old. The FDA has warned that benzocaine can cause a rare but serious condition called methemoglobinemia, where oxygen levels in the blood drop dangerously low. For adults, follow the label directions and don’t reapply more often than recommended.
Saltwater Rinse
Dissolve 1 teaspoon of salt in 8 ounces of warm water and swish it around your mouth for 30 seconds before spitting it out. If your mouth is especially tender, start with half a teaspoon of salt for the first day or two. You can repeat this several times a day, particularly after meals, to keep the area clean and reduce bacteria around the painful tooth. Saltwater won’t fix the problem, but it helps control inflammation and can flush out debris that’s irritating the area.
Cold Compress for Swelling
If your cheek or jaw is swollen, hold a cold pack or a bag of ice wrapped in a thin cloth against the outside of your face for 10 to 20 minutes at a time. Remove it for at least 20 minutes before reapplying. Cold narrows blood vessels in the area, which reduces both swelling and the intensity of pain signals. This works best for pain caused by infection, injury, or recent dental work.
Clove Oil as a Temporary Numbing Agent
Clove oil contains a compound called eugenol that acts as both an anesthetic and an antibacterial agent. To use it, dilute a few drops of clove essential oil into a carrier oil like coconut or olive oil, then dab a small amount onto a cotton ball and hold it against the painful tooth. Don’t swallow it.
Use clove oil sparingly. Despite its natural reputation, it’s actually toxic to human cells with repeated use and can damage your gums and the soft tissue inside your mouth. High doses are toxic to the liver and kidneys, and it should be avoided entirely during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
Sleeping With a Toothache
Toothaches famously get worse at night, and the main reason is simple: lying flat increases blood flow to your head, which raises pressure around the inflamed tooth. Propping your head up with an extra pillow so it stays above your heart can noticeably reduce the throbbing. Take a dose of ibuprofen and acetaminophen about 30 minutes before bed so the medication is at full effect when you’re trying to fall asleep.
What to Eat (and Avoid)
Chewing on a painful tooth makes everything worse. Stick to soft foods that don’t require much biting: scrambled eggs, mashed potatoes, yogurt, soup, oatmeal, smoothies, pasta, soft-cooked rice, avocado, bananas, and hummus are all good options. Avoid anything hard, crunchy, or sticky like nuts, popcorn, hard candy, raw carrots, or chewy caramel. Skip very spicy or salty foods too, since they can sting inflamed tissue.
Temperature matters as well. If your tooth is sensitive to hot or cold, try to eat and drink things closer to room temperature.
What Your Pain Is Telling You
The type of pain you’re experiencing reveals a lot about how serious the problem is. If cold water or something sweet causes a quick jolt of pain that disappears within a few seconds, the nerve inside your tooth is likely irritated but not permanently damaged. This is called reversible pulpitis, and a dentist can often fix it with a filling or by addressing the source of irritation.
If the pain lingers for more than a few seconds after the trigger is gone, or if heat makes it worse, or if tapping the tooth hurts, the nerve is likely inflamed beyond the point of recovery. This typically requires a root canal or extraction. Constant, spontaneous pain that wakes you up at night falls into this category too.
The most urgent situation is a tooth abscess, where infection has formed at the root of the tooth or in the surrounding gum. Signs include fever, visible swelling in your face or jaw, a persistent bad taste in your mouth, and pain that throbs steadily. If you develop swelling in your face along with fever, or if you have any difficulty breathing or swallowing, that’s an emergency. The infection may be spreading into your jaw, throat, or neck, and you should go to an emergency room if you can’t reach a dentist immediately.