# My Tooth is Killing Me! Pain Relief Tips? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 12, 2017, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-tooth-is-killing-me-pain-relief-tips/786443 "2017-05-12T12:56:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mrdeals](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ea666f/32.png) [@Mrdeals](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mrdeals)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2017, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-tooth-is-killing-me-pain-relief-tips/786443/1 "2017-05-12T12:56:03Z")
First off i do have an appointment with a dentist, unfortunately it isn’t for a few days. So no need to tell me to see a dentist. Any tips of relieving tooth pain while i wait? ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2017, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-tooth-is-killing-me-pain-relief-tips/786443/2 "2017-05-12T13:01:51Z")
Depends on precisely what is wrong. Most tooth pain can be alleviated somewhat by ibuprofen. ---
**Author:** ![Arrogance\_Ex\_Machina](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/arrogance_ex_machina/32/192_2.png) [@Arrogance\_Ex\_Machina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arrogance_Ex_Machina)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2017, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-tooth-is-killing-me-pain-relief-tips/786443/3 "2017-05-12T13:35:20Z")
Try keeping cold water in your mouth. The relief doesn’t last long before you have to spit the water out and drink another batch of cold water but if you are in agony it might be worth the hassle. ---
**Author:** ![Evan\_Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b487fb/32.png) [@Evan\_Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evan_Drake)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2017, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-tooth-is-killing-me-pain-relief-tips/786443/4 "2017-05-12T13:50:29Z")
**Oil of Cloves** seemed to help. And, whilst I don’t even believe in homeopathy, a couple of their remedies, mainly **Silicea** and maybe **Merc. Sol** — but there seem to be various — definitely diminished the pain. And no, it wasn’t placebo effect: if only because pain is so intensely real; and I still don’t believe in it. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2017, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-tooth-is-killing-me-pain-relief-tips/786443/5 "2017-05-12T13:52:00Z")
Yes, very cold water. You might look for an alternative dentist who can see you immediately. Are you near a dental college? I know my local one has an emergency section (where graduate students see you at higher prices). Google dentist emergency [your geographic area] ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2017, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-tooth-is-killing-me-pain-relief-tips/786443/6 "2017-05-12T14:03:05Z")
> [@Mrdeals](#): > > First off i do have an appointment with a dentist, unfortunately it isn’t for a few days. So no need to tell me to see a dentist. Sorry, but if the pain is that bad, go and make an emergency appointment and get seen ASAP. Here in the UK, if your NHS dentist can’t fit you in, they’ll ring round the others in the area. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2017, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-tooth-is-killing-me-pain-relief-tips/786443/7 "2017-05-12T14:15:40Z")
Yeah, most dentists will squeeze you in if you’re in extreme pain if only to prescribe a pain reliever. Ibuprofen is a logical step. I’ve had temporary relief with salt water rinses. You can try the topical ointments (Anbesol, etc) though those never worked well for me. Sometimes, uh, I may have just taken a couple rapid shots of vodka to take my mind off of it in the evening. Obviously not recommended as a long term solution or during work/school/driving hours. ---
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2017, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-tooth-is-killing-me-pain-relief-tips/786443/8 "2017-05-12T14:15:45Z")
I recently had a tooth go bad while my dentist was out of town for the weekend and he called meds in for me: an antibiotic and a painkiller. They kept me from clawing the thing out myself. …and the idea of cold water? Dear sweet Cecil on a segway! Cold water is how I hit the ceiling in the first place. Absent a compassionate dentist, I’d go for cloves or Anbusol. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2017, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-tooth-is-killing-me-pain-relief-tips/786443/9 "2017-05-12T14:25:34Z")
> [@Evan\_Drake](#): > > **Oil of Cloves** seemed to help. Thirded. My oral surgeon packed my dry sockets with oil of cloves when my wisdom teeth extraction did not go as wished. Try Anbusol first, then this. Actually, first call your dentist and beg for an Rx to get you through to the appt, then try the other things. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2017, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-tooth-is-killing-me-pain-relief-tips/786443/10 "2017-05-12T14:29:26Z")
Oh, yeah, antibiotics. You’d be surprised how quickly the pain will die down once you start fighting the infection. Even if your dentist can’t work on you, he might authorize a call-in for some Amoxicillin. ---
**Author:** ![cher3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@cher3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cher3)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2017, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-tooth-is-killing-me-pain-relief-tips/786443/11 "2017-05-12T15:16:50Z")
Ibuprophen and a warm compress on your jaw over the area where the tooth is. ---
**Author:** ![GreedySmurf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a698b9/32.png) [@GreedySmurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreedySmurf)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2017, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-tooth-is-killing-me-pain-relief-tips/786443/12 "2017-05-12T16:03:29Z")
> [@Sunny\_Daze](#): > > Thirded. My oral surgeon packed my dry sockets with oil of cloves when my wisdom teeth extraction did not go as wished. Try Anbusol first, then this. > > Actually, first call your dentist and beg for an Rx to get you through to the appt, then try the other things. +1 from me on Clove Oil. When first suggested to me I thought what homeopathic nonsense is this. But it really works. For me it was far better than the OTC painkillers. ---
**Author:** ![Enter\_the\_Flagon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Enter\_the\_Flagon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enter_the_Flagon)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2017, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-tooth-is-killing-me-pain-relief-tips/786443/13 "2017-05-12T16:24:33Z")
Listerine, for a few minutes every couple hours, works for me. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2017, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-tooth-is-killing-me-pain-relief-tips/786443/14 "2017-05-12T16:31:24Z")
And after this is resolved, get a new dentist. I wouldn’t want one that allows a possible abscess to go for a few days. With my dentist, he will see you (or at least get you in a chair) as soon as you can get to the office. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2017, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-tooth-is-killing-me-pain-relief-tips/786443/15 "2017-05-12T16:43:14Z")
Alcohol. For medicinal purposes. ---
**Author:** ![Anny\_Middon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bc79bd/32.png) [@Anny\_Middon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anny_Middon)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2017, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-tooth-is-killing-me-pain-relief-tips/786443/16 "2017-05-12T17:45:09Z")
> [@GreedySmurf](#): > > +1 from me on Clove Oil. When first suggested to me I thought what homeopathic nonsense is this. But it really works. For me it was far better than the OTC painkillers. Make it +2 on the Oil of Cloves. Is there a crack or other crevice in the tooth that’s causing you pain? If so, check your local pharmacy for a toothache kit – it will have several tiny pellets of cotton, a small tweezer-like thing, and a tiny bottle of stuff that’s mostly oil of cloves. You use the tweezers to saturate the pellet with the liquid and then cram it into the crevice in the tooth. Worked like a charm for me. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2017, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-tooth-is-killing-me-pain-relief-tips/786443/17 "2017-05-12T18:00:43Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Depends on precisely what is wrong. Most tooth pain can be alleviated somewhat by ibuprofen. Yeah, that always worked for me. But I guess there is a reason why there are lots of different pain relievers. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2017, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-tooth-is-killing-me-pain-relief-tips/786443/18 "2017-05-12T18:09:33Z")
Have you tried [Orajel](http://www.orajel.com/en/Products/adult-oral-care/Orajel-Maximum-Strength-Toothache-Pain-Relief-Double-Medicated-Gel)? It’s an anesthetic ointment you can apply directly to the area of the toothache. ---
**Author:** ![Esco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9de053/32.png) [@Esco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esco)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2017, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-tooth-is-killing-me-pain-relief-tips/786443/19 "2017-05-12T18:17:41Z")
Your tooth is most likely infected. You’ll need 2 things: **1.** Liquid Lidocaine to numb the pain: [Benzalkonium Chloride: Indications, Side Effects, Warnings - Drugs.com](https://www.drugs.com/otc/108961/benzalkonium-chloride-and-lidocaine-hydrochloride.html) **2.** Vitamin C powder to treat the infection. Rub both onto the tooth 3 to 4 times a day (or as needed) and it might even cure your infection so you wont have to see the dentist. At the very least the lidocaine should kill the pain. If you cant find Vit. C powder then buy capsules, open one up and apply the powder to your tooth . ---
**Author:** ![Esco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9de053/32.png) [@Esco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esco)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2017, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-tooth-is-killing-me-pain-relief-tips/786443/20 "2017-05-12T18:35:26Z")
Here are some more tips: [Tooth Pain Remedies](https://www.earthclinic.com/cures/home-remedy-toothache-tooth-pain.html) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-tooth-is-killing-me-pain-relief-tips/786443.md?page=2)