9 Solutions to Stop Tooth Pain Fast
Oh, My Aching Tooth!

Excruciating: Extremely painful; causing intense suffering; unbearably distressing; torturing.
I am a stranger to pain. I say this because I do everything I can to avoid it!
My husband does everything he can to help me to avoid it, too. He knows that as long as I am in pain, life is unbearable—for him, as well as for me. With him at my side, we search high and low to find anything, whether it's been tested or not, that might relieve any pain I might be experiencing.
To be clear, I am not a doctor, and I can’t prescribe medication. However, after my experience with tooth pain, I have become something of an expert in this type of pain. I am writing this article to share what worked for me to get rid the pain fast. I can save readers time and money as they search for solutions to manage their own tooth pain.
Using Over-the-Counter Medicines for Fast Relief
Some medications will work for minor pain relief, no matter what kind of pain reliever you use. For me, when the pain was simply an annoyance, I used whatever I had in my medicine cabinet. I tried aspirin, ibuprofen, and acetaminophen (not all at the same time, of course). All of these pain relievers worked for my tooth pain.
My recommendation for the fastest tooth pain relief: acetaminophen.
Acetaminophen relieved my pain within 5-10 minutes, and I did not experience any adverse side effects. When I read the back of the label, I saw that this medication had the least number of adverse side effects in relation to my personal health concerns. So, I was happy that my pain could be relieved so quickly with this medication.
You should read the cautions and warnings on the label to determine which type of medication will be most beneficial with the fewest side effects with respect to your specific health concerns.
While all of these medications worked for me, I would be negligent if I didn't share some precautions that come with taking these medications. See the chart below to learn more about these medicines, as well as other tooth pain solutions.
9 Tooth Pain Solutions
Medication
| Labeled Uses
| Labeled Warnings
|
---|---|---|
Aspirin
| Provides temporary relief of headache, pain, and fever of colds, muscle pain, menstrual pain, toothache, and minor pain of arthritis.
| Reye’s syndrome: Children and teenagers who have or who are recovering from chicken pox or flu-like symptoms should not use this product. When using this product, if changes in behavior with nausea and vomiting occur, consult a doctor because these symptoms could be an early sign of Reye’s syndrome, rare but serious illness. Allergy alert: Aspirin may cause a severe allergic reaction, which may include hives, facial swelling, asthma (wheezing), and shock.
|
Acetaminophen
| Temporarily relieves minor aches and pains due to headache, muscular aches, backache, arthritis, the common cold, toothache, menstrual cramps, reduces fever.
| Alcohol warning: If you consume 3 or more alcoholic drinks every day, ask your doctor whether you should take acetaminophen or other pain reliever/fever reducers. Acetaminophen may cause liver damage. Also, do not use with any other product containing acetaminophen, and stop using the product and ask your doctor if new symptoms occur, redness of swelling is present, pain gets worse or lasts more than 10 days, fever gets worse or lasts for more than 3 days. Finally, if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, ask a health professional before using acetaminophen.
|
Ibuprofen
| Temporarily relieves minor aches and pain due to headache, muscular aches, menstrual cramps, the common cold, backache, toothache, minor pain or arthritis, and temporarily reduces fever.
| Ask your doctor before use if you are pregnant, under a doctor’s care for a serious condition, age 60 or over; taking any other drug or have stomach problems. This product may cause a severe allergic reaction, especially in people allergic to aspirin. Symptoms may include hives, facial swelling, asthma (wheezing), shock, skin reddening, rash, and blisters. If an allergic reaction occurs, stop use and seek medical help right away. Do not use this product if you have ever had an allergic reaction to any aspirin reliever/fever reducer. This product may cause stomach bleeding. Long-term continuous use of this product may increase risk of heart attack or stroke.
|
Ice Packs
| Considered an analgesic (pain reliever).
| Applying ice directly to the skin may cause the skin to burn. Do not place an ice pack directly on the skin. Always place a paper towel or cloth between the ice pack and the skin.
|
Benzocaine
| Gel tooth pain reliever.
| Can cause a condition called methemoglobinemia, which includes headache, fatigue, confusion, fast heart rate, and feeling light-headed or short of breath, with a pale, blue, or gray appearance of your skin, lips, or fingernails. Reference: Drugs.com
|
Garlic Oil
| An anti-inflammatory treatment that is intended to relieve inflammation in the body.
| Ingesting garlic is normally safe, however too much garlic can cause a burning sensation in the mouth, stomach upset, heartburn, gas, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
|
Instant Tooth Bonding Product
| Repairs loose caps and lost fillings, and fractured crowns.
| The adhesive is considered to be non-toxic, so there are no severe side effects unless you happen to be allergic to the adhesive used in the bonding product.
|
Salt Water Solution
| Acts as an antibacterial by increasing the pH of the mouth, limiting the ability of bacteria to grow. Eases pain and swelling.
| Because of the increased pH, the solution is high in alkaline which can erode tooth enamel. Be sure to spit out the solution after swishing in the mouth for a maximum of 30 seconds.
|
Tooth Wrapping
| Stabilize the tooth. Keep bacteria out.
| No side effects noted.
|
From a Dull Toothache to Excruciating Pain
The onslaught of my toothache began as a dull throb. In fact, at first, I just worked through the pain—no big deal. As time went on, however, that dull throb gradually turned into the most excruciating pain I had experienced in my life. And yes, I say this as someone who has experienced childbirth pain.
I repeat, the pain was excruciating. As long as it was dull, I could take over-the-counter medication and go about my day as usual, but when it transitioned to the next level, I could barely function.
Ice is considered to be an analgesic (pain reliever) and is often recommended for pain. An ice pack placed at the affected site is the universal "go to" solution for relieving pain. Just hold the ice pack (wrapped in a paper towel or cloth) to the face on the affected side. Hold the ice pack in this position for at least 20 minutes. Do this every four hours to help relieve pain.
When I hear "ice packs" and "20 minutes," I want to say, forget it! Twenty minutes is just too long to wait for tooth pain relief. I have to be fair and admit that after holding an ice pack next to the affected area for about 15 minutes, the pain subsided. At the same time, folks, when I have unbearable pain, I want solutions that work faster than that.
Why I Didn't Immediately Go to a Dentist
Why didn’t I go to the dentist, you ask? Well, at the time, I didn’t have dental insurance—and although I was in extraordinary pain, I am very afraid of dentists. I didn't want to pay money out of pocket only to see a dentist who was likely to cause me even more pain.
I had a wonderful dentist in my hometown, from which I had recently moved, but I was now living in a new city, hundreds of miles away. I was too afraid to try someone new who wouldn't understand my severe aversion to pain.
I discovered that the reason my tooth began to ache so much was because the tooth had cracked. It had split vertically from the top down to the gum line. I was not going to be able to fix this on my own, so I had no choice but to call a local dentist.
However, the dentists I called said my cracked tooth didn't qualify as an emergency—so it would be a month before I could get an appointment. I scheduled an appointment with a dentist whose promotional material claimed, “Friendly staff with painless solutions for all your dental needs.” No pain? Well, that was the office for me. But, in the meantime, until my appointment, I had to manage the pain on my own.
Gel Tooth Pain Reliever
Probably the most widely known solution for immediate pain relief is a gel that is placed on the affected area. The active ingredient in these gels is benzocaine, which is a local anesthetic, or numbing medication. It works by blocking nerve signals in your body.
I used an over-the-counter gel containing benzocaine for a short period of time. It worked immediately. However, there are some precautions that should be taken seriously when using medication. See the table above for specific precautions.
Symptoms can reoccur after a very short period of time when using product like this, and up to two hours after application. Remember, I was in severe pain, so the side effects were a mere inconvenience to me. The gel worked very quickly for me—almost immediately.
But please take heed of the cautions listed on the label when you are using over-the-counter gel tooth pain relievers containing benzocaine.
Avoiding Infection
Sometimes, untreated tooth infections can evolve into a condition called encephalitis, which is an acute inflammation of the brain. This condition can be treated—but if not it can lead to high fever, convulsions, coma, and in some cases, death.
Although my dentist could not treat my cracked tooth immediately, he set an "exploratory" appointment so that he could prescribe an antibiotic to ensure that I would not get an infection before my scheduled "analysis and treatment" appointment.
Alternative Antibiotic Solution: Garlic Oil
Garlic oil is known to relieve inflammation in the body. Some cultures use this oil as an anti-inflammatory treatment. Well, once I completed the 10-day course of antibiotics my dentist had prescribed, I figured I should do all that I could to continue the effect of the antibiotics.
I read all I could about alternative solutions to antibiotics and noticed that garlic oil was a common remedy. I started taking 1000 mg of garlic oil four times a day. Folks, I do believe it worked. While I cannot guarantee that it worked, I can attest to the fact that during the month I had to wait to see my dentist, I never developed an infection.
Instant Tooth Bonding Product
My tooth was split from the crown to the gum line. Instinctively, I knew that if food were to get trapped inside the crevice, I could develop an infection. My dentist appointment was a month away, so I had to devise a solution that would keep the two halves of my tooth held together tightly.
Many of my friends have had good experiences with tooth bonding products. I tried one that I found at the local pharmacy; the label promised "instant pain relief." I followed the directions religiously—"to the tooth," so to speak—but I could not get it to work as promised.
Perhaps I was not applying it correctly. If I ever have the misfortune of cracking another tooth or crown, I would be willing to give these products another try.
Temporary Tooth Wrapping
When the instant tooth bonding product did not work, I was in extraordinarily extreme pain. I had to find a solution—fast!
People say, "necessity is the mother of invention." Well, by this time, it was necessary for me to find relief for the awful pain I was experiencing.
I don't know how my brain came up with the idea, but somehow I invented a solution that relieved my tooth pain immediately! Don't ask me how I developed this strategy, but somehow I had the sense to:
- Make a solution of 1 teaspoon of salt to 1 cup of warm water. Somehow, I knew that salt water was a sanitizing solution for the mouth. I must have actually learned something way back in high school biochemestry class. In any event, the knowledge came in handy when I needed it the most.
- Swirl and rinse the mouth with the salt water solution for about one minute. Sip and swirl for about 15 seconds, then spit out the salt water. I sipped, swirled, and spit three times. During the process, I could feel the pain subsiding. I knew I was on to something wonderful.
- Wrap a string of dental floss tape around the tooth. I wrapped dental floss tape around my tooth three times: once to secure the bond, another to enforce the bond, and a third time to be able to tie the floss without jeopardizing the initial bond. Then, I cut the excess floss with a pair of sterilized scissors.
I was pleasantly surprised. After wrapping my tooth, the tooth pain stopped. I was able to eat and feel normal almost immediately afterward.
Incidentally, when I mentioned to the dentist that I was wrapping my tooth with dental floss, he said he'd never heard of anything like it. He said it was an ingenious idea and that I should keep doing it until I could get in for my appointment.
The tooth was wrapped securely. Food particles and bacteria were blocked, which lessened the chance of infection. I felt good about how I was protecting myself from infection, so at that moment, I was a very happy camper!
The tooth wrapping strategy proved to be an excellent solution. From that day forward, my pain was relieved until the day that I could go in to see my new dentist.
Treat Tooth Pain Seriously
Tooth pain can be a sign of underlying problems and should always be taken seriously. Most people do not have to endure tooth pain for as long as I did, but if you find yourself experiencing this type of pain, rest assured that there are viable over-the-counter medications, as well as home remedies, to help you stop the pain in its tracks.
Consider ice as an analgesic. It doesn't work immediately, but it can be used in conjunction with medications that work more quickly.
For fast relief, consider over-the-counter topical pain relieving gel. You can also take aspirin, ibuprofen, or acetaminophen. And, if you have a tooth that is split vertically, consider wrapping it with dental floss tape.
These are my temporary solutions for fast tooth pain relief. Of course for a more long-term solution, I recommend seeing your dentist—preferably one who specializes in "pain free" dental solutions.
Questions & Answers
Comments
Super helpful & definetly worked for me til my appointment with my dentist thank u so much I’m thankful for the relief
useful article thanks
None of these worked, nothing will ever work except to get tooth pulled.
How can solve parmanent teeth pain
Is hell when you ' have a severe tooth pain and can't get to the dentists right away and can't get tylino 3 over the counter in a emergency situation..The law must be change, i know some people abuse it, but what about people like me ?
haw can I solved high teeth pain in emergency
Sir I m suffering from tooth pain what I can do
i almost never join join blogs and such especially just to comment but your article is so universally pertinent and tooth wrapping is so innovative that i had to thank you personally. i have had 18 teeth removed in the last few weeks and in this last round they will be removing the rest. i'm using everything in the article and i'm about to buy a ton of cloves lol thank you and your fans for making life easier!!!
Excellent, well-informed and useful article. It's going straight to my bookmarks. Thanks, Marlene Bertrand :)
Buy a ginger root and chew on it when your tooth ache's it knocks the pain out instantly...I love you mom..old time remedie's really work!
you can try one part liquid glycerin, one part peroxide mix well, add orajel or any other toothache relief gel with benzocaine and add to glycerin and peroxide and swish. gives pain relief for hours and has a sweet taste. Clove oil also works well.
Cloves do work.I had 13 Teeth removed at once.But before I could get them removed I had horrible pain.I put a handful of cloves in my mouth and waited about 10 minutes. Then went and spit it out. Didn't have any more pain for the 3 weeks waiting on the appointment.
I knew about some of the home treatments mentioned in here such as rinsing the mouth with warm salty water (sea salt); hat will stop pain very fast as I have tried it. Clove is a good one also: place some clove powder on affected area and that will help a lot; matter of fact dentists use it in other countries as a routine treatment. Garlic pills also are good for general health in fact and is used a lot in Europe and Latin American countries. Then using benzocaine helps also as it is an anesthetic. A good thing to do after rinsing with salty water is to apply peroxide to the affected area with a cotton swab and that will for sure disinfect the area; matter of fact it is good to rinse the mouth with peroxide after brushing.
I have already tried all of these and none work
A warm clove poultice, made by brewing 1-2 Tbls. whole or ground clove in 2-4 cups of water and straining it (brewing it in a coffee maker with a coffee filter works well), can be very helpful in immediately alleviating tooth or gum pain. Dip a small sponge or edge of a washcloth into the "tea" and place it on the affected area.
I always thought you have to live through the pain. Am relieved to say that this is not the case. I also like the combination of art and technology.
What an awesome idea to tie dental floss around the tooth! The salt solution remedy is also a tested herbal remedy. Clove oil also numbs the area and the pain. It is great to know that these remedies worked for you till it was time for you to see the dentist.
Hello! dgcaaed interesting dgcaaed site! I'm really like it! Very, very dgcaaed good!
No one wants to see a Dentist, I definitely am with you on that, but realistically its not going to go away, and in reality it might only get worse, plain and simple, you need to see a dentist. Here locally in San Diego we actually even have emergency dental clinics that are open 24/7, which is where I went for my tooth infection weeks ago, www.OnDemandDentist.com , but there are mutliple ones, the biggest thing is addressing the issue and a painkiller can never do it.
THANK YOU!
Nice well explained tooth pain relievers and remedies and i enjoyed reading them, i guess for me when i finally went to the dentist i was ready for a war, i mean i really wanted real pains from the syringe ''the anesthesia, it is the most painful for me, but with the terrible pain i almost gave my gums away and finally anything more painful is never painful for me anymore, specially extractions, i feel great relief of the fast effect of the anesthesia then peace is all over.
I love your recommendation for garlic oil to ward off infection! Very well researched and useful. Thanks!
Indeed, tooth pain is really torturing, i can't hold myself back and immediately go to dentist
Use dental floss for a split tooth, what a clever idea! I am taking note of this. It might come in handy in the future. Thank you for sharing. :)
There is nothing worse than toothache pain! This is very insightful information here. I knew about the gels, but never would have thought about ice. Great hub!
Very useful Hub! I've had fragile teeth ever since I had to take anti-seizure meds some years ago and no matter how diligently I take care for my teeth they remain so vulnerable. And over the years I have found the fastest relief to a sudden assault by a bad tooth is holding an aspirin against it until I can get to a dentist.
Good advice here, voting up.
Very helpful chart! I remember breaking a tooth in Alabama (banana taffy!) and having to wait days to finish vacation and return to California. I have a dentist that I trust. Everyone else has brought me pain.
Goodness, this is such a fantastic guide! I love the table, and it's great to know about some of the other alternatives as well. I didn't know that there were even gels one could apply directly to the effected area. So cool!
Thanks for sharing all this info!
Very informative hub. I do think your instincts are correct about garlic. I was watching the news the other night and they said a study showed that it was more effective and worked faster than some antibiotics when dealing with certain types of food poisoning. Although the news report didn't specify how much garlic you had to eat. Somehow when I'm that sick, I couldn't imagine eating garlic - and keeping it down. Anyway I'm glad you're feeling better.
toothache really really hurts!!! oh my. thanks or the chart. great help!
Tooth pain is one of the worst forms of pain to have. Sorry you had to deal with this. I really enjoyed reading this informative hub! Take care, Kelley
What an awesome chart, Marlene. Sorry about your toothache. I hate tooth pain. I think b/c it is associated with the head it makes it even more excrutiating than other pain. Voted it up.
60