by Sarah Fonseca

Created on: September 10, 2009

Whether you've just undergone a root canal or are trying to tough it out for the next day's dentist appointment, one thing remains certain: toothaches are less than convenient events which interfere with work and social life at the most inopportune moments. Fortunately, there are several low-cost home remedies that are good for alleviating this type of pain, allowing you to become at least somewhat functional again. In this article, we will cover a few of them.

Alcohol as Anesthetic

If you are an alcohol aficionado and not entirely numbed by the pain, this remedy has the potential to be an enjoyable one. There are two liquors in particular which are said to work well: Whiskey and brandy.

When using whiskey as an anesthetic, take a large mouthful of the liquid - but do not swallow! Allow it to settle around the affected tooth for one minute. After that, swish the alcohol around for thirty seconds. After this, you may spit the whiskey out...or swallow it.

Brandy works best when added to a cotton ball, and biting down on the cotton. Leave this in your mouth until you notice a difference in the amount of pain you are experiencing.

Clove Oil

This is a highly effective remedy, particularly if you are experiencing pain which stems from a cavity. First, locate the cavity in your mouth. There are several ways to go about medicating the area: Via the use of a cotton swab saturated with clove oil, or by taking a mouthful of clove oil in the manner similar to the whiskey treatment seen above.

Cool Off

Depending on how well you can tolerate cooler temperatures, taking a walk outside or an ice-cold shower could help you alleviate a toothache. This isn't so much a cure for a toothache as it is a pain reliever. As your body has to work to stay warm, blood is pumped away from you mouth and into other organs and limbs. This is a short-time treatment, but an effective one.

Salt and Salted Foods

A lot of people will swear by crackers when combatting toothaches, but in actuality it is the salt content that alleviates the pain stemming from a misbehaving tooth. Simply add a few teaspoon of salt to a glass of warm water, and swish in a manner similar to using mouthwash. If you are going to eat salty foods instead, remember to chew slowly, and try to chew as close to the affected tooth as possible.

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