Dental care discussions and local services.
Discussion options
Finally Found Relief From Awful Tooth Injury Pain - Here's What Worked for Me
Had a pretty nasty fall last weekend, landed face-first (yeah, graceful, I know 🙄), and ended up with some serious tooth pain. Honestly, the first couple days were brutal, couldn't even sleep properly. Tried the usual ibuprofen and ice packs, but it wasn't really cutting it.
Anyway, a friend suggested clove oil - sounded kinda old-school and weird, but at that point, I was desperate enough to try anything. Dabbed a tiny bit on a cotton swab and gently applied it around the tooth and gums. It stung a little at first, but within minutes, the pain eased up significantly. Seriously felt like magic or something.
Also started rinsing with warm salt water regularly, which seemed to help with swelling and discomfort too. After a few days of this combo, I'm finally feeling human again. Still gotta see the dentist soon (ugh), but at least I'm not miserable anymore.
Curious if anyone else has had success with home remedies or unexpected solutions after a tooth injury? Would love to hear what worked for you guys.
Join the conversation
Share your experience or ask a follow-up question.
8 replies
I've heard about clove oil too, but honestly, I'm always nervous about trying stuff like that - worried I'll make things worse somehow. Did you check with a dentist first, or just went for it? I've mostly stuck to saltwater rinses myself since they're cheap and safe, but maybe I should keep some clove oil around just in case... How long did the relief last each time you applied it?
Clove oil can be great, but honestly, it never lasted long enough for me - maybe an hour or two tops. I get your hesitation though; I was nervous at first too. Saltwater rinses are solid, but have you ever tried those numbing gels from the pharmacy? They're pretty affordable and worked wonders for me when I had a nasty toothache. Might be worth keeping around as a backup...
"Saltwater rinses are solid, but have you ever tried those numbing gels from the pharmacy?"
Yeah, those gels were a lifesaver for me too. Only downside is they tend to wear off kinda quick, so I ended up alternating them with ibuprofen - cheap and effective combo for getting through the night.
Yeah, those gels were a lifesaver for me too.
Clove oil is definitely underrated. I've used it myself, and while it didn't completely eliminate the pain, it did noticeably dull it. Saltwater rinses are a staple for me too - simple but effective. About those numbing gels, I found they helped initially, but like you said, they wear off pretty quickly. Plus, I wasn't a fan of the weird numbness spreading around my mouth.
Quick question though: did any of you experience increased sensitivity to temperature after your tooth injury? I've noticed hot drinks seem to trigger sharp pain more than cold ones, which seems counterintuitive. Wondering if that's typical or if it indicates something more serious going on. I'm scheduled to see the dentist soon anyway, but would appreciate hearing if anyone else had similar experiences and what your dentist ended up saying about it.
I had something similar happen after cracking a tooth last year. Cold stuff was uncomfortable, but hot drinks were way worse...felt like a sharp jab every time I sipped coffee or tea. My dentist explained that heat sensitivity can sometimes mean the nerve is irritated or inflamed, so it's good you're getting it checked soon. Mine ended up needing a root canal (ugh), but hopefully yours isn't as serious. Fingers crossed!
Yeah, heat sensitivity is definitely a red flag for nerve irritation. Good thing you got it checked out early - catching it sooner usually means less hassle down the road. Root canals aren't fun, but they're honestly not as bad as most people fear. I've seen plenty of patients relieved afterward because the pain finally stops.
One thing I'd add: sometimes cracked teeth can be tricky to diagnose right away. I've had patients come in with similar symptoms, and we couldn't spot the crack clearly until we did some deeper imaging or testing. If your dentist doesn't find anything obvious at first, don't stress too much - it might just take a bit more digging.
Also, if you're still dealing with sensitivity in the meantime, toothpaste designed specifically for sensitive teeth can help ease discomfort temporarily. It won't fix the underlying issue, but it can make things more bearable until your appointment.
Anyway, fingers crossed it's nothing major and you get relief soon. Keep us updated on how things go...
"Root canals aren't fun, but they're honestly not as bad as most people fear."
True, but I'd say it really depends on the individual tooth and how inflamed the nerve is. I've seen patients breeze through root canals with minimal discomfort, while others have a tougher time if the infection or inflammation is severe. Also, sometimes sensitivity toothpaste isn't enough - using a fluoride rinse or gel can give a bit more relief until treatment. Glad you're getting it sorted though, tooth pain is no joke...
Yeah, I'd second that it really depends on the tooth and how angry that nerve is. Had one root canal that was honestly a breeze - barely felt a thing - but another time, man, it was like my tooth had a personal vendetta against me. Sensitivity toothpaste helped a bit, but like you said:
"sometimes sensitivity toothpaste isn't enough - using a fluoride rinse or gel can give a bit more relief until treatment."
Wish I'd known that trick earlier... would've saved me some sleepless nights. Glad you're finally getting relief though, tooth pain is brutal.