If you have ever suffered with toothache, you will understand first-hand just how painful it can be. Symptoms range from deep throbbing aches to sharp stabbing nerve pains, much like an electric shock, and when there is an abscess or infection involved, it can affect your entire face and make you feel like your head is about to explode.

Fortunately, toothache is generally a short-term pain that you can control with painkillers or prescription medicine from a registered uk pharmacy, but if your symptoms are severe, it is essential that you visit your dentist to find out the underlying cause, which could require antibiotics, or even surgery, to relieve the pressure and ease the pain.

Common causes of toothache include cavities, gum disease, loose fillings, exposed nerves, infections and abscesses. Treatment plans vary, according to the type of pain you have, but you might find some relief within these top 10 remedies for treating toothache:

1. Hot Salt Water

While hot salt water treatments will not cure your toothache, it can certainly provide short term relief. Ideal for cleansing the mouth and flushing out any debris, it can help clean infected areas and ease pressure around the tooth. Simply mix a teaspoon of table salt into a glass of hot water (as hot as you can stand without burning your mouth), and swish it around the affected area before spitting out. Repeat two or three times, and as often as required throughout the day.

2. Cloves or Clove Oil

Used for centuries to treat toothache, cloves contain a natural anaesthetic called eugenol, which numbs the affected area to provide instant short-term relief. Now available to purchase as an oil, simply apply two or three drops to a piece of cotton wool and place on the affected area.

3. Garlic

Garlic is packed with natural antibiotic ingredients, and so it is widely believed to provide fast relief from toothache. For best results, crush the garlic and mix with a little salt to form a paste. Apply directly to the affected tooth, and repeat 2 or 3 times per day. Of course, this toothache treatment does come with one negative side effect, and you can expect friends and colleagues to keep their distance when you speak!

4. Vanilla Extract

Vanilla extract is another natural ingredient that can provide immense relief from toothache. The delicate aroma is believed to have a calming effect, while the alcohol found in the extract acts as a numbing agent. Due to the alcohol content, this treatment is not recommended for children.

5. Peppermint Tea

Much like vanilla extract, peppermint tea contains numbing ingredients that can provide temporary toothache relief. You can make the tea and swish it around your mouth, or apply the wet teabag directly to the affected area.

6. Oral Dental Gel

Similar to that prescribed for teething infants, Oral Dental Gel can offer immediate toothache relief. Suitable for short-term use only, most oral gels contain benzocaine, which numbs the gums much like a local anaesthetic. Simply apply to the affected area up to 4 times per day.

7. Ice Treatment

Ice is probably the last thing you think of when it comes to toothache treatments, but studies show that ice therapies can stop pain signals to the brain. Simply rub an ice cube between your thumb and forefinger (on the same side of your body as your toothache) until the area turns numb.

8. Hydrogen Peroxide

Most of us have a bottle of hydrogen peroxide lying in our first aid cabinets, but did you know that it could ease your toothache? Stronger than hot salt water, hydrogen peroxide attacks the bacteria in the mouth, fights germs, and can offer temporary pain relief. Mix with water as indicated on the bottle, and swish around the painful tooth before spitting out.

9. Clean Your Teeth

When you are in pain, it can be tempting not to floss and brush your teeth, but is essential that you continue brushing at least twice per day. Flossing, brushing and using an antiseptic mouthwash could limit the build-up of bacteria in your mouth and provide temporary relief while you wait for your dental appointment.

10. Painkillers

Sometimes, only painkillers will do, and if your toothache is keeping you awake at night, speak to your doctor or online pharmacist about the pain relief options available. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as Ibuprofen are highly effective at relieving toothache, so there is no need to suffer in silence.