Toothache
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Chew on this: That toe-curling, flesh-crawling, all-consuming
pain caused by a toothache was probably instigated by something as simple
as a tiny amount of bacteria penetrating the tooth's tissue and inflaming
its pulp.
Actually, chewing on anything is probably the last thing you want to do
when you have a toothache. Your first thought may be to berate yourself
for not brushing and flossing better or to find a few choice words for
a broken or loose filling. A cracked tooth or blow to the mouth can also
trigger an inflammation. Toothache pain can be deep and throbbing and
can cause extreme sensitivity. The natural remedies in this chapter-in
conjunction with medical care and used with your dentist's approval-may
help relieve the pain of a toothache, according to some health professionals.
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See Your Medical Doctor When...
· You feel a sharp or recurring pain in one or more teeth.
· You have a tooth that had been hurting but that suddenly stops
hurting.
· You feel tooth pain when eating or drinking something hot. |
| Acupressure
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To ease the throbbing pain, press point on the hand that's
on the same side as your toothache, says Acharyaji. is located in the
webbing between your thumb and index finger, close to the bone at the
base of the index finger. The point is on the large intestine meridian,
which is a traditional acupressure pathway for relieving toothaches, according
to Acharyaji. He explains that the meridian flows from the hands and up
the arms until it reaches the teeth and gums.
To press point , says Acharyaji, hold it with your thumb on top of the
webbing and your index finger underneath, then squeeze into the webbing,
angling the pressure toward the bone that connects the index finger to
the hand. He suggests holding the point for one minute as needed to relieve
pain. He cautions that pressing this point can cause uterine contractions
and is not recommended for pregnant women.
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| Food Therapy
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Take a couple of cloves from the spice rack and place
them between the aching tooth and your cheek, much like you'd use chewing
tobacco, Acharyaji says. This remedy has been known for centuries to relieve
many kinds of toothaches. Acharyaji says to chew the cloves a little bit
to release their juice, then leave them in place for a half-hour or so
or until the pain subsides. He advises continuing the treatment until
you can see a dentist.
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| Herbal Therapy
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Try oil of clove to soothe the pain until you can get
to the dentist, says Acharyaji,. But don't use it full strength, he cautions:
It's so strong that it can damage your tooth's nerve. Ask your pharmacist
to recommend an over-the-counter preparation containing oil of clove (sometimes
called eugenol), such as Orajel, and follow label directions for use,
he says.
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| Homeopathy |
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To relieve a throbbing toothache that develops suddenly,
try a 30X dose of Belladonna every 30 to 60 minutes until the pain begins
to diminish. If cold weather or foods worsen your tooth pain and warmth
and light pressure on the jaw make it feel better, he suggests a 30X dose
of Magnesia phosphorica every 30 to 60 minutes as needed.
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| Hydrotherapy |
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For quick relief of a toothache, try a charcoal compress,
says Acharyaji, Mix a heaping tablespoonful of activated charcoal powder
(which is sold in most health food stores and some pharmacies) with enough
water to make a paste, apply it to a strip of gauze and bite down on the
gauze "so that the paste squishes around your aching tooth,"
saysAcharyaji "Your tooth should feel better in ten minutes."
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| Imagery
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Recall a time when you swam in ice-cold water or played
in the snow. Imagine the sensations of that moment. Feel the chill of
the water or snow penetrate your hands and feet so that they become almost
numb. Now imagine that feeling of numbness surrounding your tooth, soothing
it as if you were rubbing it with snow until all of the pain is gone,
says Acharyaji. This imagery should last no longer than five minutes and
can be repeated as often as needed, he adds.
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| Reflexology |
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Work all of the points on the sides and bottoms of your
toes, paying special attention to the middle of both big toes, says Acharyaji.
To work these points, use whichever technique you find most comfortable.
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| Relaxation and Meditation
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Focus on your pain and rate it from zero to ten, with
ten being the worst pain you've ever experienced and zero being no pain.
Now concentrate on places in your body that feel calm and are pain-free,
such as your left foot or your right ear. Keep searching deeper into your
body and mind for pain-free points. As you refocus your attention on the
calm parts of yourself, the pain in your tooth will fade into the background,
says Acharyaji. Use this technique whenever you have pain or worry about
pain. If the pain increases, call your doctor.
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| Vitamin and Mineral Therapy
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One way to soothe the pain of a toothache is to increase
your intake of calcium and magnesium, says Acharyaji. He recommends taking
500 milligrams of calcium and 200 to 300 milligrams of magnesium at the
first sign of a toothache: "It's soothing to the nerves of your teeth."
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