Natural ways to ease tooth pain and inflammation

Though there are no replacements for making an appointment with a dentist to find the root of your discomfort, here are some ways to alleviate tooth-related pain and disease the natural way.

Too much sugar produces acids that attack and damage tooth enamel. The result is tooth decay. The good news: the risk of cavities decreases with advancing age. The bad news: gum and periodontal diseases start showing up more frequently.Here are some ways to alleviate tooth-related pain and disease, naturally. But they are no replacement for making an appointment with a dentist to find the root of your discomfort.

Home remedies can alleviate the pain of a cavity, but they can't eliminate the hole in your tooth — see a dentist for help with that.

• Tooth pain improves quickly when you dribble a little clove oil onto a cotton ball and hold it to the painful tooth.
• It's simpler and just as effective to place a clove on your aching tooth and carefully bite down on it.
• Roll a savoy cabbage leaf with a rolling pin until soft and then press it onto the outside of the appropriate cheek.
• Rub the gums surrounding your painful tooth with a crushed garlic clove.
• Rinse your mouth three to five times a day with an analgesic mixture of arnica, sage and chamomile. Mix together 10 grams (1/3 ounce) arnica, 30 grams (one ounce) sage and 40 grams (1 1/3 ounce) chamomile. Pour 250 millilitres (one cup) of hot water over 15 millilitres (one tablespoon) of the mixture, then strain and cool.
• Ice cools and soothes pain: press an ice pack onto your cheek or suck an ice cube.
• Chew a small piece of violet or calamus root to release pain-soothing substances.
• Willow bark and meadowsweet contain substances related to the painkiller acetylsalicylic acid (a component of many over-the-counter pain medications). Tea from these herbs relieves tooth pain.

Pressure sores and injuries from dentures, as well as plaque and tartar, can lead to inflammation of the gums, accompanied by redness, pain and bleeding. If untreated, it can lead to receding gums.

• Gargle with sage oil. It disinfects and alleviates pain. Put four drops into 125 millilitres (1/2 cup) of warm water and gargle with it several times a day.
• For a simple mouthwash, dissolve five millilitres (one teaspoon) of table salt in a glass of water.
• Put 150 grams (five ounces) of quince seeds in one litre (one quart) of water, boil for 15 minutes, strain and let cool. Rinse your mouth three times a day with it.

This tincture prevents inflammation and strengthens gums.

50 g (1 2/3 oz) rhatany root, minced

Put the root into a small bottle and completely cover with vodka. Seal and let steep for two weeks; shake occasionally. Strain the fluid into a small bottle, thoroughly squeezing out the roots. Apply some of the tincture on inflamed gums several times a day using a cotton swab.

Teeth aren't built for the punishment of constant grinding — they're designed to touch briefly when you're chewing or swallowing. Anger, worry and poorly-fitting false teeth are the most frequent causes of tooth grinding, which can lead to tooth wear and gum problems.

• Head to the dentist to find out whether tooth misalignment or fillings or crowns that don't fit properly are the root of the problem.
• Try relaxation techniques if psychological strain is causing your teeth grinding. They may provide relief.
• Use a mouth guard, fitted by a dentist, to reduce the impact of tooth grinding at night.