COVID-19 has turned out to be the biggest threat in the current era. And most services, excluding emergencies have clearly been shut nowadays to prevent spreading of the disease.
The services affected also include dental services. Since it deals with the mouth, it comes under one of the most risky professions, at least in today’s time. There have been instances of people in need of dental care, but many were rendered helpless due to the lockdown.
I, being a dentist, would like to suggest some home remedies to deal with mild-to-moderate dental pain. Pleases note that these are just temporary solutions for the dental complaints. If
anyone has long lasting and severe issues with the dental condition, then one must visit the dentist personally and undergo the emergency treatments as suggested by the dentist.
Following are some home remedies to get rid of mild to moderate dental pain.
1] SALT WATER
Gargling with salt water cleanses the food particles between teeth. Also it reduces mild inflammation of the gums. Eventually it reduces pain and bad breath also.
How to use:
Take half spoon of salt and add it to a glass of warm water. Gargle with this salted water.
2] GARLIC
Garlic already has some medicinal property and is generally used for common cold and flu. Garlic contains Allicin, having antibacterial properties. Garlic also helps to get rid of pain. So garlic acts as antibiotic as well as pain killer of the tooth.
How to use:
Crush a clove of garlic and apply it over the affected area. After some time, gargle with water.
3] CLOVE OIL (ESSENTIAL OIL)
Clove has antibacterial effect for some medical condition. Clove oil will reduce some amount of inflammation also. But on the other side, this should be used in limited quantity.
How to use:
Take 2-3 drops of clove oil in the clean finger and apply it over affected area. Massage for 5 to 10 minutes and gargle with water. Or make a mouthwash by adding some drops in water and gargle with that mouthwash.
4] TEA BAGS
Tea contains Tannins, which kills the bacteria, thus it has antibacterial effect. But using this might be slight irritating to the gums.
How to use:
Put a tea bag in boiled water for five minutes. After that remove it and let it cool for some time. Bring it to warm condition and apply it over the affected area for four to five minutes.
5] ALOE VERA
Aloe vera has natural antibacterial content. It kills bacteria and prevent decaying the tooth.
How to use:
Use pulp of natural Aloe vera or a gel of Aloe vera. Apply some amount of Aloe vera, using clean finger or an ear bud, over the affected area. Massage it for five to seven minutes and gargle with water.
6] HYDROGEN PEROXIDE (3%)
This as a chemical available over the counter at chemist shop. Hydrogen Peroxide must use with the caution as being a chemical, it might be irritating to the soft tissues of the mouth. It has antibacterial effect. Further it reduces the inflammation. It helps removing plaque from the tooth surface and thus heals the bleeding gums.
How to use: Take a little amount of solution and dilute it with water. Gargle for some time.
DO NOT SWALLOW.
7] VANILLA EXTRACT
Vanilla extract contains some amount of alcohol. It reduces the pain. It also has antioxidant effect, so it reduces the discomfort when applied over the affected area.
How to
use: Take small amount of vanilla extract onto a finger or a cotton. Apply it over the affected area.
These ideas cannot reverse the tooth decay or the other dental infection. Appropriate treatments for present dental disease are must. So these all are the possible home solutions to get rid of tooth pain. Please note that, these are only temporary solutions. If the pain or the condition does not improve in seven to eight days, then one must talk or visit dentist for the effective and permanent
solutions.
And if one has following issues related to dental conditions, then one must visit the dentist without any delay:
- Continuous – non relieving pain
- Swelling
- Fever
- Pain on biting
- Difficult swallowing
- Difficult breathing
- Bad breathing
- Abnormally swollen gums
- Bleeding gums
- Pus discharge
Remember that there is no alternative to a doctor. Any degeneration or destruction is not reversible in nature. one can delay it in mild/moderate cases but ultimately one must have to undergo for permanent treatment for the same.
Author:
Dr. Sweety Thumar, Associate Professor, Dept. of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, Karnavati School of Dentistry (KSD)
Disclaimer: The opinions / views expressed in this article are solely of the author in his / her individual capacity. They do not purport to reflect the opinions and/or views of the College and/or University or its members.
