Most tooth pain responds to a handful of readily available remedies while you arrange to see a dentist. Over-the-counter painkillers, cold compresses, salt water rinses, and topical numbing agents can meaningfully reduce discomfort in the short term. Some of these options work better than you might expect, and a few popular folk remedies can actually make things worse.
Over-the-Counter Painkillers Are the Strongest Tool You Have at Home
If you only do one thing for a toothache, take an over-the-counter painkiller. Ibuprofen and acetaminophen are both effective on their own, but taking them together outperforms either one alone. Multiple randomized trials after wisdom tooth extractions found that the ibuprofen-and-acetaminophen combination provided greater pain relief than either drug individually.1PubMed. Combining ibuprofen and acetaminophen for acute pain management after third-molar extractions A separate trial confirmed the same pattern: the combination delivered faster and stronger relief compared with each drug alone or placebo.2PubMed. Analgesic Efficacy of an Acetaminophen/Ibuprofen Fixed-dose Combination in Moderate to Severe Postoperative Dental Pain
The reason this works is that ibuprofen and acetaminophen reduce pain through different pathways. Ibuprofen is an anti-inflammatory, so it tackles the swelling that often accompanies a toothache. Acetaminophen works primarily in the central nervous system to dampen pain signals. Together they cover more ground than either one alone. A standard approach is 400 mg of ibuprofen alongside 500 to 1,000 mg of acetaminophen, repeated every six to eight hours as needed. One trial found that this full-dose combination significantly outperformed half doses and single agents across all pain measures over eight hours.3Clinical Therapeutics. Comparison of the analgesic efficacy of concurrent ibuprofen and paracetamol with ibuprofen or paracetamol alone in the management of moderate to severe acute postoperative dental pain
Do not exceed the recommended daily limits on either drug. Ibuprofen tops out at about 1,200 mg per day for over-the-counter use, and acetaminophen should stay under 3,000 mg unless a doctor says otherwise. If you have kidney problems, stomach ulcers, or take blood thinners, check with a pharmacist before reaching for ibuprofen.
Salt Water Rinses
Dissolving about half a teaspoon of table salt in a cup of warm water and swishing for 30 seconds is one of the oldest home remedies for mouth pain, and it holds up under scrutiny. Salt water creates a mildly hypertonic environment that draws fluid out of inflamed tissues and discourages bacterial growth. A clinical trial comparing salt water rinses to chlorhexidine after periodontal surgery found that the salt water group showed significant reductions in gum inflammation over the study period.4Clinical Oral Investigations. Anti-inflammatory effect of salt water and chlorhexidine 0.12% mouthrinse after periodontal surgery
Salt water will not fix whatever is causing the pain, but it can temporarily ease the throbbing and help keep an inflamed area cleaner. It is especially useful if you have a visible sore, an abscess that has started to drain, or swollen gums around an erupting tooth. You can repeat the rinse several times a day without worrying about side effects. It is free, has essentially no risks, and you already have what you need in the kitchen.
Cold Compresses
Holding something cold against the outside of your cheek, near the painful tooth, constricts blood vessels and slows the flow of inflammatory chemicals to the area. A study evaluating cryotherapy after oral surgery found that cold application significantly reduced both swelling and pain on the treated side compared with the untreated side. The cold worked for pain and swelling specifically, though it did not help with jaw stiffness.
Use an ice pack, a bag of frozen vegetables, or ice cubes wrapped in a thin towel. Apply it for 15 to 20 minutes, then take it off for at least 10 minutes before reapplying. Placing ice directly against the skin can cause frostbite-like irritation, so always use a barrier layer. Cold therapy works best in the first day or two after pain starts, when inflammation tends to be at its peak. It pairs well with oral painkillers since it targets a different part of the pain response.
Clove Oil
Clove oil contains eugenol, a compound that dentists have used in professional settings for over a century. It acts as both a mild anesthetic and an antiseptic. An animal study testing clove extracts found that the aqueous extract produced a significant analgesic effect at higher doses, and that this effect was partially blocked by naloxone, suggesting it interacts with the body’s own opioid pain pathways.5PubMed Central. Analgesic effect of the aqueous and ethanolic extracts of clove
To use clove oil at home, put a drop or two onto a small cotton ball and hold it against the sore tooth and surrounding gum for a few minutes. You can also dilute it with a carrier oil like olive oil if the straight concentrate feels too intense. The numbing sensation kicks in fairly quickly, though it fades within an hour or so. Clove oil is available at most pharmacies and health food stores. Avoid swallowing large amounts of it, and keep it away from children, who are more sensitive to eugenol.
Topical Numbing Gels
Benzocaine gels, sold under brand names you will recognize from the pharmacy pain relief aisle, are designed to be applied directly to a painful spot in the mouth. A clinical trial in patients with acute toothaches found that both 10 percent and 20 percent benzocaine gels were effective at temporarily relieving toothache pain and were well tolerated. Most participants in that study were able to self-apply the gel correctly and at doses well below any safety concern.6The Journal of the American Dental Association. An evaluation of 10 percent and 20 percent benzocaine gels in patients with acute toothaches
There is one important caveat: benzocaine carries a rare but serious risk of a condition called methemoglobinemia, in which the blood’s ability to carry oxygen is impaired. This risk is highest in young children. A review of pediatric poison control reports found cases of serious adverse effects across benzocaine concentrations ranging from 7.5 to 20 percent, including cases requiring emergency treatment with intravenous methylene blue and supplemental oxygen.7PubMed Central. Pediatric Exposures to Topical Benzocaine Preparations Reported to a Statewide Poison Control System For adults following label directions, the risk is very low. For children under two, benzocaine gels should be avoided entirely. If you use these products on an older child, apply the smallest amount possible and watch for any unusual symptoms like pale or bluish skin.
Diluted Hydrogen Peroxide Rinse
A mild hydrogen peroxide rinse can help reduce bacteria in the mouth and may ease gum-related pain. The typical approach is to mix equal parts 3 percent hydrogen peroxide (the standard drugstore concentration) and water, swish gently for about 30 seconds, and spit it out. Do not swallow it.
A systematic review found that hydrogen peroxide rinses, most commonly tested at 1.5 percent, performed better than placebo at reducing gum inflammation and had a modest effect on plaque buildup, though they were not quite as effective as chlorhexidine.8PubMed Central. A Systematic Review of the Effect of Oral Rinsing with H2O2 on Clinical and Microbiological Parameters Related to Plaque, Gingivitis, and Microbes Research on the safety profile of low-concentration hydrogen peroxide used daily over extended periods found no damage to oral tissues and no meaningful long-term risks.9PubMed. Safety issues relating to the use of hydrogen peroxide in dentistry So while it is not a painkiller in the way ibuprofen is, a peroxide rinse can help manage the infection and inflammation that often drive tooth pain in the first place.
Avoiding Temperature Triggers
If your tooth hurts more when you eat or drink something hot or cold, the pain is coming from exposed or thinned-out areas where the nerve-rich inner layer of the tooth is closer to the surface than it should be. Research on thermal dental pain suggests that repeated swings between cold and warm temperatures can cause changes in the tooth’s nerve fibers, producing a kind of low-grade inflammation that keeps the pain cycle going.10PubMed Central. Dental pain induced by an ambient thermal differential: pathophysiological hypothesis
While you are dealing with a toothache, sticking to foods and drinks at moderate temperatures can prevent these painful flare-ups. Avoid ice water, hot coffee, and anything extremely sweet or acidic, which can also trigger sensitive teeth. Chew on the opposite side from the painful tooth. These are not treatments in any real sense, but they can make the difference between manageable discomfort and sharp jolts of pain throughout the day.
What Not to Do
One of the most common and most harmful folk remedies is placing an aspirin tablet directly on a painful tooth or gum. The logic seems straightforward: put the painkiller right where it hurts. The problem is that aspirin is acetylsalicylic acid, and it has a pH low enough to cause chemical burns when left in contact with soft tissue. Case reports document severe chemical burns to the gums and inner cheeks from this practice, with the acid causing tissue death and painful ulceration.11Saudi Endodontic Journal. Chemical burn from direct application of aspirin onto a painful tooth Aspirin is actually one of the most frequently reported causes of chemical burns inside the mouth, whether applied as a tablet, powder, or gel.12SRM Journal of Research in Dental Sciences. Chemical burns of gingiva and its management
If you want to use aspirin for tooth pain, swallow it as you would for a headache. It works systemically, through your bloodstream, not by dissolving against your gum. The same warning goes for any household acid or irritant people sometimes press against a toothache: rubbing alcohol, undiluted essential oils, or crushed garlic. Some of these may have mild antimicrobial properties in a lab setting, but the tissue damage they cause at full strength outweighs any benefit.
Tooth Pain in Young Children
Children’s tooth pain often has different causes than adults’. Teething pain in babies and toddlers, cavities in primary teeth, and loose baby teeth all need a gentler approach. A clinical trial of nonpharmacological remedies for teething symptoms found that teething rings, cuddling, and rubbing the gums were the most effective methods for reducing symptoms like irritability, drooling, and gum tenderness.13PubMed Central. Signs and symptoms associated with primary tooth eruption: a clinical trial of nonpharmacological remedies
For older children with a toothache from a cavity or injury, age-appropriate doses of children’s ibuprofen or acetaminophen are the first step. Cold compresses work the same way as in adults. Salt water rinses are safe as long as the child is old enough to swish and spit reliably rather than swallow. As mentioned above, benzocaine gels should not be used on children under two, and even for older kids the dose should be minimal. If a child’s tooth pain is accompanied by facial swelling, fever, or trouble swallowing, skip the home remedies and go directly to urgent care or an emergency room.
The Acupressure Point on Your Hand
There is a long tradition in acupuncture and acupressure of pressing on a specific point between the thumb and index finger, known as LI4 or Hegu, to relieve dental pain. Anatomical research has shown that this point sits unusually close to the spot where a vascular branch meets the radial artery, placing it near a dense cluster of nerve fibers.14PubMed Central. Acupuncture Point “Hegu” (LI4) Is Close to the Vascular Branch from the Superficial Branch of the Radial Nerve The idea is that stimulating this nerve-rich zone may modulate pain signals traveling along branches of the trigeminal nerve, which is the main nerve responsible for sensation in your teeth and face.
To try it, find the fleshy web between your thumb and index finger on the hand opposite the painful side and press firmly with the thumb of your other hand for one to two minutes. Some people find it provides mild, temporary relief. The evidence for acupressure as a standalone dental pain treatment is not strong enough to replace any of the remedies discussed above, but it is free, risk-free, and easy enough to try while waiting for painkillers to kick in.
When Home Remedies Are Not Enough
Everything described here is a holding measure. Tooth pain almost always signals a problem that needs professional treatment, whether that is a cavity, a cracked tooth, an abscess, or gum disease. Certain warning signs mean you should stop managing the pain at home and see someone promptly:
- Facial swelling: Swelling in the cheek, jaw, or under the eye can indicate an abscess that has spread into the surrounding tissue. Dental infections occasionally become dangerous if bacteria reach the bloodstream or the airway.
- Fever: A temperature alongside tooth pain suggests your body is fighting an active infection, which typically requires antibiotics.
- Pain lasting more than two days: Mild sensitivity that resolves on its own is common. Pain that persists or worsens over 48 hours is unlikely to resolve without intervention.
- Pus or foul taste: Drainage from around a tooth points to infection. Salt water rinses can help manage it temporarily, but the source of the infection needs professional care.
- Difficulty opening your mouth or swallowing: These are signs that an infection has spread beyond the tooth itself and warrants urgent evaluation.
A dentist visit is ultimately the only thing that addresses the root cause of most toothaches. Home remedies buy you time and comfort, sometimes quite effectively, but they do not fill cavities, drain abscesses, or treat infected nerves. The sooner you get in, the less likely you are to need more extensive treatment later.
Combining Remedies Safely
You do not have to pick just one of these approaches. In fact, layering several together tends to work better than relying on any single remedy. A reasonable plan for moderate tooth pain would look something like this: take ibuprofen and acetaminophen together, apply a cold compress to the outside of your cheek for the first 20 minutes, and rinse with warm salt water every few hours between doses. If the pain is sharp and localized, dab a small amount of clove oil or benzocaine gel on the spot for faster-acting but shorter-lived relief on top of the systemic painkillers.
The key is that these remedies work through different mechanisms. Ibuprofen reduces inflammation, acetaminophen dampens central pain signaling, cold constricts blood vessels at the site, salt water reduces bacterial load and draws out fluid, and topical agents numb the nerve endings directly. Stacking them is not redundant. Each one handles a different piece of what makes a toothache miserable. Just stay within the recommended limits for any medication, and do not apply anything to your gums that you would not put on an open cut elsewhere on your body.