Does salt water help tooth pain?

Does salt water help with tooth pain?

Cleveland Clinic lists a saltwater rinse as a home remedy for mild toothache pain: dissolve about half a teaspoon of salt in 8 ounces of warm water, swish for 30 seconds and spit it out. Healthline says a dentist quoted in its salt water article describes the rinse as temporarily easing pain until you can see the dentist, and that it does not address the underlying cause. Healthline's toothache remedies article calls it an effective first-line option and a natural disinfectant that can help loosen trapped food, but says home remedies do not treat cavities, abscesses or gum disease.

Why does salt water help tooth pain?

Healthline says saltwater rinses may help kill bacteria and guard against infection, and that a small 2017 study found they reduced dental plaque and oral microbes when used with routine plaque control. A rinse can also wash away trapped food that is pressing on a sore tooth or gum. These effects are small and temporary, which is why the sources say to see a dentist.

How to make a salt water rinse

Healthline gives 8 ounces of warm water and 1 teaspoon of salt, with half a teaspoon for the first one to two days if the rinse stings a tender mouth, boiling the water, stirring in the salt and letting it cool to warm. Cleveland Clinic uses half a teaspoon. Healthline says overuse can irritate gums and cause bleeding, to avoid rinsing many times a day or swallowing large amounts, and that spitting it out is preferred, especially when infection is present.

Does alcohol help a toothache?

Neither source recommends alcohol. Cleveland Clinic's toothache page does not mention alcohol as a remedy, and Healthline's article does not recommend whiskey or drinking alcohol for toothache. It notes only that vanilla extract contains alcohol, which it says can help numb pain. Alcohol is not a treatment for infection, can interact with pain medicines and can irritate an inflamed area, so ask a dentist or pharmacist about what is safe for you.

Other remedies from the sources

Cleveland Clinic lists a diluted hydrogen peroxide rinse made with equal parts peroxide and water, spat out and not swallowed, and ice packs wrapped in a towel against the outside of the jaw for about 20 minutes several times a day. Healthline says over-the-counter ibuprofen may help until you see a dentist and to dilute hydrogen peroxide, and to talk to a dentist before using herbal remedies if you are pregnant or breastfeeding or have a condition they could affect. None of these treats the cause.

Why does my tooth hurt when I drink something cold?

Healthline says heat or cold sensitivity usually happens when enamel wears down and exposes the dentin, or receding gums expose the root, and lists causes including cavities, tooth decay and gum disease, chips or bruises, grinding and forceful brushing, harsh whitening toothpastes or alcohol-based mouthwashes, acidic foods and drinks, smoking and dental work that is too deep, poorly fitted or loose. Cleveland Clinic says sensitivity to heat and cold can point to cavities, cracks or gum disease, and that if the pain fades quickly the enamel may be worn.

Why does my tooth hurt when I drink water?

The same causes apply, because cold or room-temperature water can reach exposed dentin or a cavity. Healthline lists desensitizing toothpaste, a soft brush with gentle strokes and limiting acidic foods and drinks such as citrus, soda, coffee and wine, which mainly give short-term relief, and says to see a dentist if sensitivity is frequent or interferes with eating or drinking.

When to see a dentist

Cleveland Clinic says to call a dentist if a toothache lasts longer than two days, or if you have facial or jaw swelling or pain when opening your mouth wide, and to go to the ER for swelling below the eye or a knot on the jaw, severe pain that medication does not relieve, bleeding that will not stop with pressure or a fever above 101°F. Healthline lists pain lasting more than one or two days, fever, trouble breathing or swallowing, swelling, pain when biting, abnormally red gums and foul-tasting discharge.

Questions to ask your dentist

Ask what is causing the pain, not only how to relieve it.

• Is my tooth cracked, decayed or worn?
• Is the sensitivity coming from exposed roots or gum recession?
• What can I use now while I wait for treatment?
• Could a filling, bonding or desensitizing treatment help?
• Which signs mean I should come back urgently?

Frequently asked questions