Tooth Pain Remedies

| Modified on May 22, 2023
Add New Post Comments

Fast and effective home remedies for tooth pain include garlic, clove, apple cider vinegar and salt. Knowing how to use these remedies to treat a tooth ache can save you much misery, especially when your tooth pain flares up in the middle of the night, on a weekend, or when you cannot see the dentist for days or weeks.

What Causes Tooth Pain?

 Infection, tooth decay, changes in temperature, and exposure to acids are among the most common causes of toothache pain; however, genetic factors, your diet, and dental hygiene practices have a long-term effect on whether and how often you experience tooth ache pain.

Remedies for Tooth Pain that Work Fast

Garlic 

A regular clove of garlic, or even garlic powder helps with tooth pain. Garlic is an anti-inflammatory herb that also kills viruses, fungi, and bacteria.

Clove

Clove can be used for tooth pain in the form of ground cloves, whole cloves, or clove essential oil. Clove is a strong anti-bacterial herb that also numbs upon contact, relieving pain.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar added to water and sipped helps with a variety of pains, including tooth pain.

Oil Pulling

Pulling or swishing coconut or sesame oil in the mouth for 10-15 minutes relieves tooth pain. Essential oils can be used with this method.

Charcoal

Activated charcoal powder, used as a poultice against a sore tooth brings relief by drawing out infection and by relieving pain.

Clay

A variety of types of clay can be used to treat tooth pain. A pack or poultice is made and placed against the tooth.

Vitamin C 

If you have tooth pain caused by infection, vitamin C as a supplement to other remedies or as a stand alone remedy can help.

Salt

Salt water rinses can relieve pain and infection from a tooth ache. This is a remedy that can be used in conjunction with other natural treatments.

Oregano Essential Oil

Oregano essential oil is a very strong concentration of a plant that has amazing healing properties. Oregano oil is a strong ant-viral and anti-bacterial oil. It also helps with pain.

Oil pulling 

Oil pulling is another effective way to deal with tooth pain. Coconut oil or sesame oil are excellent oils to use for tooth pain. Adding a drop or two of essential oils like oregano or tea tree essential oil multiply the healing properties of this remedy.

Herbs for Tooth Pain

Turmeric

Turmeric is an anti-inflammatory herb tha that also fights infection. For acute infections and pain, 1 teaspoon of turmeric can be taken in a glass of warm milk. Turmeric powder can also be applied topically at the area of pain.

Olive Leaf

Olive Leaf is a strong anti-bacterial herb. It is most easily taken in capsules according to package directions.

Tea

Black or green tea bags make for fast poultice for a tooth ache. Moisten the tea bag with warm water and place against the pained tooth.

Other Natural Remedies for Tooth Pain

Baking Soda

1/2 to 1 teaspoon of baking soda in a glass of water can help with pain. Baking soda help to alkalize the body, which makes pain less noticeable. It is also important to stay well hydrated. Dehydration makes pain worse.

Vanilla or Almond Extract

Put a few drops of vanilla or almond extract onto a cotton ball and apply to the pained tooth.

Hydrogen Peroxide

3% hydrogen peroxide, the kind in the brown bottle is great for tooth pain. It can be gargled, sprayed in the pained tooth, or just held in the mouth for a few minutes several times a day.

Have you tried any of these remedies for a tooth ache? Perhaps you have a unique remedy for tooth pain. Please share your experience with us!

Additional Pages of Interest:
Tooth Infection and Tooth Abscess Remedies
Dental Extraction Pain Remedies




Acmella Oleracea

1 User Review
5 star (1) 
  100%


Posted by William (Akron, Ohio) on 08/18/2009
5 out of 5 stars

Acmella oleracea, also known as Spilanthes acmella or toothache plant, is a natural analgesic which numbs the tongue and gums. Chewing a young bud results in extremely strong tingling and numbing effect.You can also make a tincture using 1 part herb (buds, flowers, leaves)1 part water, and 5 parts ethanol. Let stand for 2 to 3 weeks shaken occasionally. Apply to affected area with cotton wool.


Activated Charcoal

6 User Reviews
5 star (5) 
  83%
4 star (1) 
  17%


Posted by Ellie (minneapolis mn) on 11/26/2022
5 out of 5 stars

I've been using salt to calm down a tooth infection with a lump on my gum. This time salt somehow made it worse and I woke with terrible tooth pain at 3am! I prayed and tried salt again. Nothing. Iodine. Nothing. Then quickly came here to Earth Clinic - my go to if all else fails! Seeing that I had charcoal in my "medicine closet" I quickly made a poultice and applied. The pain and swelling subsided pretty instantaneously. Thank you so much!!


Activated Charcoal
Posted by Jackier (Hernando) on 11/12/2014
5 out of 5 stars

My 17 year old son was up all through the night with a toothache. We tried everything....I looked on earth clinic and saw the suggestions for activated charcoal-I made a paste and it worked! Glad we had it-we keep it for spider bites.


Activated Charcoal
Posted by Julie (Lake Oswego, Or) on 07/25/2011
4 out of 5 stars

YES!!! I can attest to the charcoal for tooth pain, too! Had a scale 9 pain one night before I could get to a dentist. Excruiciating. Saw this method and happened to have one cap - making a paste - the swelling in my gums subsided after about an hour, pain to tolerable 5. It really pulls the toxins out! SOOOOO gratefull to have found this for my lost filling and exposed nerve! Before taking it, was on my way to extraordinary gum swelling and awful pain. It is my hero!

Replied by Grace
(Sydney, NSW)
04/15/2022

Hi Julie, thank you for your post. I'd like to ask how long the charcoal poultice should be left around the teeth, and how often the poultice should be applied to the affected tooth. Thanks and look forward to your reply. God bless.


Activated Charcoal
Posted by Issie (Jax, Fl) on 07/02/2011
5 out of 5 stars

wow I now know the meaning of trying anything to make the pain stop. my tooth has been hurting on and off for a couple of days now. but I was using over the counter meds til I could get in to dentist last night it became unbareable. I was in sooo much pain. I almost got the tool box out and pulled my own tooth.

Instead I hopped on internet and found this thread. I used what I had in closet to get me through night. (honey, cinnamon, tea, garlic and I threw in oats too. This helped to draw some of the infection out. Cause around 4am I was spitting it blood that had a yellow color to it) around 9am I went to health foods store and got the charcoal and slippery elm clove oil and pick up some cayanne pepper at grocey store. Came home made a paste out of all of it and put it in my gum and tooth and pain free wooohooo. so I am hoping this will draw infection out and that I can go to denist with it under control instead of having to pay for two appts but who ever started all of this thank you cause I am going to make it through holiday weekend now.


Activated Charcoal
Posted by Teresa (Spanaway, Washington) on 07/22/2009
5 out of 5 stars

Yes! The activated charcoal STOPPED my TOOTH ACHE within minutes. I opened 1 activated charcoal capsule, poured on saucer, added drops of water, which a made runny paste, put it on my finger and then rub it on the gum above my aching tooth. When the tooth would start to feel like it was beginning to ache again, I added this charcoal mixture, and it stopped the pain.


Activated Charcoal
Posted by Keith (Orlando, FL) on 10/05/2006
5 out of 5 stars

Was reading the remedies and just wanted to add the following: I am a medical missionary that uses natural methods of healing. I encounter several different diseases and sickness in my line of work.

One remedy that I have never seen fail for toothache pain, is charcoal. It will stop severe toothache pain in about 20-45 minutes in most cases! I will give you an example with my wife. She begin to have toothache pain last year(2005) around the time of thanksgiving. She begin to call dentists for an appointment; however, the soonest that she could get an appointment was 2 weeks! To make a long story short the pain became unbearable. It radiated all the way to her temple on the side of the bad tooth.

So I took activated charcoal, added a little water, stirred to a paste consistency, placed it on a gauze(a piece of cotton t-shirt could also be used) and placed it directly over the tooth. I had her press down very gently. I then offered a prayer.

In about 12-15 minutes the pain that was radiating up to her temple begin to subside. In about 20-30 minutes my wife, who had been in such great pain, that she was in tears, and was unable to even sleep, dropped off to sleep.

The next day we also started her on a program of drinking 2-3 glasses per day of a table spoon of the charcoal mixed with a glass of water. She did eventually go to the dentist only to find that a small cavity had exposed a nerve, and infection had set in.

The charcoal worked on the infection because it is the inflammation that causes the pain. So by pulling or drawing the poisons from the infection(the underlying cause) the inflammation is addressed.

A friend of mine, who is also a very experienced medical missionary, with more than 30 years of hands on experience, even running a natural clinic in Tennessee for a long time, and having a 45-50% success rate with 4 stage cancer, (conventional success rate with 4th stage cancer is about 5%" gives the following alternative for toothache pain and abscess

These are direct quotes: "Mix 3 tablespoons charcoal,1/2 teaspoon clove oil, 1/3 teaspoon cayenne pepper, ½ teaspoon olive oil (enough to make a paste), and 1 teaspoon of golden seal. He states: " This remedy is strictly for pain in the jaw or tooth pain. Pack this around the tooth that is giving you problems. If you can cover the tooth up it will generate heat. That will remove the pain faster than any toothache remedy. Try it. You will feel the heat and you can go wash your mouth out. If you are in a lot of pain the heat is comforting. The pain of the poultice drawing is less than the throbbing of the toothache.[The mixture] should be quite thick, about the consistency of natural peanut butter. You want to be able to mould it around the tooth, so that it will stick."

The next is for an abscess specifically.

His words: "If you have an abscess with a lot of swelling, you cannot get that tooth pulled until you get the abscess under control. This recipe is famous for getting that abscess down 3 parts Slippery Elm, 2 parts baking yeast, 4 drops cloves, 1/3 teaspoon cayenne pepper. Add a little water, enough to make a paste. It will be gummy due to the slippery elm. Then pack this mixture around the gum. The slippery elm, like charcoal, draws the inflammation, the cayenne stimulates the cells around the tooth to release toxins and the cloves are added for the reputation as a pain remedy, especially in toothache.

Activated Charcoal, Oil Pulling

1 User Review
5 star (1) 
  100%


Posted by Vr (Minnesota) on 12/24/2016
5 out of 5 stars

Pain in tooth/gum came on very suddenly. No way to see a dentist. It's midnight & tomorrow is Christmas! I took 3 tylenol, oil pulled with coconut oil, made a paste of Activated Charcoal & applied it all over gum area. Feels much better within 15 - 30 minutes.


Almond Extract

2 User Reviews
5 star (2) 
  100%


Posted by Mhenson254 (Toccoa, Ga - Georgia) on 03/25/2012
5 out of 5 stars

After several hours of pain from a rear wisdom tooth that had been sensitive for about a year and turned bad, I tried several things including clove or cinnamon cassia oil to dumb the pain, only thing that worked was swishing a spoonful of real almond extract around bad tooth for about 20 seconds, no pain for about three hours almost instantly will work until I see dentist.

Replied by Benita
(Canada)
07/22/2015
5 out of 5 stars

My cracked tooth gave me almost unbearable pain. I wasn't able to see a dentist for a couple of days. Tried the almond extract. It worked almost immediately and provided about three hours of pain relief. Thanks!


Alum

1 User Review
5 star (1) 
  100%


Posted by Vaughn (West Palm Beach Fl.) on 04/16/2014
5 out of 5 stars

Anytime I have problems with my gums or teeth I use Alum. I pack my gums or brush my teeth with Alum. I also use oil pulling with Coconut oil. I love these two things. They have helped me a lot.You can find Alum in the spice rack at the store.

Replied by Cecilia
(Craftsbury, Vt)
07/02/2015

I would strongly suggest not using alum, it is an aluminum salt and toxic to injest.

Replied by Darla
(Ft. Wayne, Indiana)
07/03/2017

How much alum is needed? Does alum need to be mixed with water?


Apple Cider Vinegar

18 User Reviews
5 star (17) 
  94%
4 star (1) 
  6%


Posted by Crystal (Valley, Al) on 08/06/2017
5 out of 5 stars

This was the best remedy, it works like a charm and works fast, I had tried all kinds of over the counter meds, orajel but nothing else worked like this natural remedy, it soothed the pain until I was able to get to the dentist, I put warm water, 2 teaspoons acv(with the mother) and added salt to mine and gargled with it and it worked immediately

Replied by George
(Alabama)
08/11/2017
5 out of 5 stars

Apple cider vingar and a teaspoon salt and hot water works good.


Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Blessed1ia (Iowa) on 07/31/2017
5 out of 5 stars

I have a tooth that need to be pulled on my upper left in the back. It started bothering me and I was taking ibuprofen and using Orajel, which worked well at first. Over the weekend, the pain was increasing and ibuprofen was not cutting it. I tried alternating acetaminophen and ibuprofen and the pain was unbearable. I tried tea tree oil and vanilla extract which numbed for only a few brief moments. My husband thought of ACV, I said, I don't want to just try anything, and he found your website. I am so thankful for these reviews and testimonies to ACV. I mixed 2 TBSP ACV and 2 TBSP warm water, drank the majority of it down and swished the last swallow for 1 min. It is not easy to drink if you're not used to it, but the benefits out weigh the sour taste. It took a little longer than 15 minutes for me, but I do weigh over 200 lbs, so that probably has a factor. I was able to sleep, I was able to go to work, I have the slightest ache now, but I can live with this until I can get my tooth out. Thank God for my husband, ACV, and your site!!!


Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Suzi (Missoula, Mt) on 07/10/2017
5 out of 5 stars

ACV stopped my severe tooth pain.

After 7 days of agony and mental anxiety this is what I just did. 2 tablespoons of organic ACV with the mother. Put in one glass of warm spring water. Drank it down and then swished throbbing tooth with last mouthfull and spit out. OMG I trully feel alive again. YES THAT FAST. I have no dental insurance and hence no dentist to run to. I will repeat once more before bed for good measure. Thank you all who who reminded me with your posts that ACV works wonders. Bless your hearts!!!

Replied by Eric D.
(Missoula, Montana)
06/16/2022
5 out of 5 stars

Apple cider vinegar, room temp distilled water, a hope and a prayer.

Mixed 2 tbs ACV with 2 tbs distilled water (slightly warmer than room temperature. Drank at once, but forgot to swish because of the excruciating pain. Immediately prepared another 1 tbs of each and mixed prior to swishing. Swished concoction in mouth for 30-60 seconds, (directing the majority to the area of mouth where toothache presented), then spit once finished with swishing. Good enough for Suzie from Zootown, good enough for me, Eric from Zootown. Boy oh boy, what a wonderful wizardry!!!


Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Nicole (Warren, Mi) on 07/01/2017
5 out of 5 stars

I have a broken tooth on the top in the back of my mouth. I haven't been able to go to the dentist and the pain has been keeping me awake. The most painful thing I have ever felt in my life!! So I looked up home remedies and came across apple cider vinegar. I used 2 tsp apv and 2 tsp warm water rinsed my mouth for about a min. And the pain is was gone right away!! I think I might finally get some sleep!!


Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Kellie (Usa) on 10/12/2016
5 out of 5 stars

I had a horrible toothache and I mixed about 2 Tbsp ACV with the Mother and about 1 tsp of raw honey with about 1/4 cup of lukewarm water and I swished it around my teeth and then swallowed it. that was about 30 minutes ago and the pain was GONE within 15 minutes. Completely gone. I don't know how long the pain will be gone, but I am amazed and so grateful. I am concerned about the enamel damage possible by ACV so I might just swallow the mixture next time and see if that works as well. I am so amazed that this worked.



NEXT