The most effective home remedy for a toothache is a combination of ibuprofen and acetaminophen, taken together. The American Dental Association recommends this as the first-line approach for managing tooth pain temporarily, and clinical trials show the combination starts working in about 45 minutes and can last 10 to 11 hours. But pain relievers are just one tool. Several other strategies can reduce your discomfort while you wait to see a dentist.
Ibuprofen Plus Acetaminophen Works Best
For adult dental pain, the ADA suggests 400 mg of ibuprofen (two standard tablets) or 440 mg of naproxen sodium, taken alone or combined with 500 mg of acetaminophen. In a clinical trial comparing different pain relief strategies after tooth extraction, combining ibuprofen with acetaminophen delivered meaningful relief faster than ibuprofen alone, with a median time of about 45 minutes versus 56 minutes. The relief lasted roughly 10 to 11 hours, and the combination was well-tolerated with a side effect profile similar to placebo.
If you can’t take ibuprofen or other anti-inflammatory medications due to stomach issues, kidney problems, or other reasons, acetaminophen alone at 1,000 mg (two extra-strength tablets) is the recommended backup. Anti-inflammatory pain relievers like ibuprofen do have an edge over acetaminophen for tooth pain specifically, because much of what causes a toothache is inflammation inside or around the tooth. Reducing that inflammation directly addresses the source of pain, not just the sensation.
One critical safety note: never place an aspirin tablet directly on your gums next to the aching tooth. This is a persistent folk remedy that causes chemical burns to the soft tissue of your mouth, creating a painful white lesion on top of the toothache you already have. Swallow your pain relievers normally.
Saltwater Rinse
Dissolve 1 teaspoon of table salt in 8 ounces of warm water and swish gently around the painful area for 30 seconds before spitting. Repeat two to three times a day. Salt water acts as a mild antiseptic, helping to remove bacteria from the area around an infected or irritated tooth while reducing inflammation. It won’t fix the underlying problem, but it can keep the area cleaner and provide modest relief, especially if the pain involves swollen gums or a small abscess.
Clove Oil for Targeted Numbing
Clove oil contains eugenol, a compound that blocks pain signals in nerve fibers and suppresses inflammatory chemicals involved in swelling and soreness. It works through several pathways at once: it reduces the production of compounds that drive inflammation, blocks the nerve conduction that carries pain signals, and interacts with pain receptors in a way that’s chemically similar to capsaicin (the heat compound in chili peppers).
To use it, put a small drop of clove oil on a cotton ball or cotton swab and apply it directly to the tooth and surrounding gum area. Hold it in place for a minute or two. You should feel a warming or mild tingling sensation followed by numbness. Use it sparingly. Clove oil is potent, and applying too much or too often can irritate the soft tissue around your teeth. If you don’t have clove oil, whole cloves from your spice cabinet can be placed near the sore tooth and gently bitten down on to release some of the same compound.
Cold Compress for Swelling and Pain
If the side of your face is swollen or the pain is throbbing, hold a cold pack or a bag of ice wrapped in a thin cloth against your cheek. Keep it on for 10 to 20 minutes, then remove it. You can repeat this cycle as needed throughout the day. Cold narrows blood vessels in the area, which reduces swelling and dulls the pain signals traveling from the tooth. This is especially helpful when the toothache involves visible facial swelling or follows an injury.
Hydrogen Peroxide Rinse
A diluted hydrogen peroxide rinse can help reduce bacteria around an infected tooth. Use the standard 3% hydrogen peroxide sold at drugstores and mix it with equal parts water to bring the concentration down to about 1.5%. Swish for 30 seconds and spit thoroughly. Do not swallow it. Low-concentration hydrogen peroxide is safe for short-term oral use and won’t damage your teeth or gums, but higher concentrations or prolonged use can irritate soft tissue. This is a temporary measure, not a daily routine.
Sleeping With a Toothache
Toothaches notoriously get worse at night, and there’s a straightforward physical reason. When you lie flat, blood flows more easily to your head, increasing pressure everywhere, including inside the tiny chamber (the pulp) at the center of your tooth. That chamber is surrounded by hard, rigid walls that can’t expand. When infection or inflammation has already increased fluid volume inside, any additional blood pressure in the area has nowhere to go, and the throbbing intensifies.
Propping your head up with an extra pillow or two forces your heart to work against gravity to push blood upward, naturally lowering blood pressure in your head and jaw. This won’t eliminate the pain, but it can noticeably reduce the throbbing that makes it impossible to fall asleep. Taking your ibuprofen-acetaminophen combination about 30 minutes before bed gives the medication time to kick in while you settle in with your head elevated.
Pressure Point Relief
There’s a pressure point called LI4 located on the back of your hand, in the fleshy area between your thumb and index finger, near the base where the two bones meet. Firm, steady pressure on this spot for one to two minutes has been used in traditional medicine for tooth and facial pain. The evidence for this is limited compared to medication, but it’s free, harmless, and easy to try while you’re waiting for other remedies to take effect. Use the thumb of your opposite hand and press firmly enough to feel deep pressure without sharp pain.
When Home Remedies Aren’t Enough
Everything above is a temporary measure. A toothache is your body telling you something is wrong inside a tooth or in the surrounding tissue, and no rinse or pain reliever fixes the cause. That said, some situations can’t wait for a routine dental appointment. If your toothache comes with facial swelling, fever, a foul or sour taste in your mouth, or difficulty swallowing, those are signs of a spreading infection that needs professional treatment quickly. Difficulty breathing alongside dental swelling is a medical emergency. In those cases, go to an emergency room rather than waiting for a dentist’s office to open.