The fastest way to reduce tooth pain at home is to take an anti-inflammatory painkiller while applying a cold compress to your cheek for 15 to 20 minutes. That combination can noticeably dull the pain within 20 to 30 minutes. But several other remedies can layer on top of those basics, and the right approach depends on what you have available and how severe the pain is.
Start With Over-the-Counter Pain Relief
Ibuprofen is the strongest first move because it reduces both pain and the inflammation driving it. For adults and children 12 and older, a combination tablet containing 250 mg acetaminophen and 125 mg ibuprofen can be taken as two tablets every eight hours, up to six tablets per day. If you don’t have a combination product, you can alternate standard ibuprofen and acetaminophen separately, which targets pain through two different pathways at once. Do not exceed 4,000 mg of acetaminophen in a 24-hour period.
Topical numbing gels containing benzocaine are sold at most pharmacies and can numb the gum tissue around a painful tooth within minutes. Apply a small amount directly to the sore area with a clean finger or cotton swab. One important caution: benzocaine should never be used on children under 2 years old. The FDA has warned that it can cause a rare but serious condition that reduces the blood’s ability to carry oxygen.
Salt Water and Hydrogen Peroxide Rinses
A warm salt water rinse is one of the simplest and most effective things you can do. Dissolve half a teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water, swish it gently around the painful area for 30 seconds, then spit. Salt water draws fluid out of inflamed tissue, which temporarily reduces swelling and eases pressure on the nerve. You can repeat this several times a day.
A hydrogen peroxide rinse offers a similar benefit with added germ-killing action. Mix equal parts 3% hydrogen peroxide and water (the brown bottle you’d find at a drugstore is typically 3%), swish for 30 seconds, and spit thoroughly. Never swallow it, and don’t use it undiluted. Full-strength peroxide can burn and irritate gum tissue.
Clove Oil for Direct Numbing
Clove oil contains eugenol, a natural anesthetic that dentists have used in various forms for decades. It numbs on contact and also has anti-inflammatory properties, making it one of the more effective home remedies for targeted tooth pain.
To use it safely, mix a few drops of clove oil with about a teaspoon of olive oil or another carrier oil. Soak a small cotton ball or swab in the mixture, then place it directly against the painful tooth or gum area. Let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes. You should start to feel numbness setting in. Reapply every 2 to 3 hours as needed. Never apply undiluted clove oil directly to your gums, as it can irritate the tissue. If it burns or upsets your stomach, stop using it.
Cold Compress and Peppermint
Wrapping ice or a bag of frozen vegetables in a thin towel and holding it against your cheek constricts blood vessels in the area, which reduces swelling and dulls nerve signals. Apply it in cycles of 15 to 20 minutes on, then 15 to 20 minutes off. This works especially well alongside oral pain relievers while you wait for them to kick in.
If you have peppermint tea bags, steep one, let it cool until it’s comfortably warm (or chill it in the freezer for a few minutes), and press it against the sore area. Menthol in peppermint has mild numbing properties, and the gentle pressure of the tea bag can be soothing. It won’t match the potency of clove oil, but it’s a good option if that’s what you have on hand.
Garlic as a Last Resort
Crushing a fresh garlic clove releases allicin, a compound with antimicrobial properties. Some people place the crushed garlic directly on the painful tooth for temporary relief. It does have real germ-fighting ability, but there’s a significant trade-off: garlic can cause a burning sensation on soft tissue and has an intense, lingering taste. If you try it, don’t leave it pressed against your gum for more than a few minutes, and rinse afterward. It’s worth trying only if you have nothing else available.
How to Sleep With a Toothache
Tooth pain often gets worse at night, and there’s a straightforward reason for that. When you lie flat, blood flows more easily to your head and increases pressure in already-inflamed tissue around the tooth. That’s what causes the throbbing to intensify the moment you lie down.
Elevating your head 30 to 45 degrees above horizontal can make a real difference. Prop yourself up with two or three pillows, or use a wedge pillow if you have one. This forces the heart to work harder to pump blood upward, which naturally lowers pressure in the tissues around the tooth. Take a dose of ibuprofen about 30 minutes before bed so it’s fully active when you’re trying to fall asleep, and keep a salt water rinse on your nightstand in case you wake up in pain.
When Tooth Pain Signals Something Serious
Home remedies manage symptoms. They don’t fix the underlying problem, whether that’s a cavity, a crack, or an infection. If your pain lasts more than a day or two, you need a dentist to identify and treat the cause.
Certain symptoms mean you shouldn’t wait. If you develop a fever along with facial swelling, the tooth may be abscessed, and that infection can spread. If you have trouble breathing or swallowing, the infection may have reached your jaw, throat, or neck. Both of those situations call for an emergency room visit if you can’t reach a dentist immediately.