Trying home remedies to soothe and heal aches is a practical alternative and can save you the agonizing pain while waiting for professional help; whether it’s waking up in the middle of the night realizing you have no pain relievers in stock to numb that tooth, on a weekend, on a business trip or overseas in a foreign country - the list goes on.

Below are simple yet effective items at home you’d never realize can be used to relieve discomfort due toothache. 

1.       A glass of warm salt water. Mix half a spoon of common salt in a glass of hot water and use it to rinse your mouth thoroughly. It will help reduce swelling and inflammation, and also fight the bacteria that cause infection.

2.       Pepper and salt. Both ingredients have antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. Mix equal amounts of pepper and salt and a few drops of water to form a paste, and then apply the paste directly to the affected tooth and leave for a few minutes. Do this daily for several days.

3.       Garlic. Have anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antioxidant and anaesthetic properties that help fight all sorts of infections. It also helps in alleviating pain for tooth problems. Either crush a clove of garlic with some table salt or black salt and apply directly on affected tooth or chew one or two cloves to get relief.

4.       Onions. Like garlic has antiseptic and antimicrobial properties that control a toothache it can provide relief from pain by fighting germs causing infection. Chew raw onion for a few minutes to relieve the pain or place a piece of raw onion directly on the bad tooth or gum.

5.       Hydrogen Peroxide. By using it as a mouth wash make sure to be careful to not swallow the solution. Mix a 3 percent solution and slowly gargle to stop the pain for a while.

6.       Ice. A pack or small cube of ice applied on aching area numbs the pain, however once the coldness goes away the pain may reappear.

7.       Brush with soft bristled toothbrush and use toothpaste for sensitive teeth. Soft bristled toothbrush is good for shrinking gums to help preserve gum tissue.