A: Yes, indeed I do but before I provide an answer, let’s look at why you might have a tooth that is causing problems. Tooth decay quite prevalent in our country, outdone only by such disorders as the common cold. We all know how important good dental health is, yet we often finds ourselves in a less-than-ideal situation on a holiday or weekend with a filling that has fallen out or a tooth ache because we tend to procrastinate when it comes to seeing a dentist. And, many individuals may not realize how important good mouth hygiene really is. We look after scrapes and bruises, fractured bones and colds, but we don’t take into consideration that tooth decay affects our entire well being. For example, following an oral cancer public service campaign several years ago, the American Dental Association conducted surveys of consumers and dentists as to whether they were even aware that dentists examine mouths for abnormalities to include oral cancer and more during routine exams.
When we fail to brush our teeth following each meal, small amounts of food begin to decay within the mouth. Our normal body (and mouth) temperature is 98.6F which is an ideal temperature for foods to decay. As we exhale, the odor from the process can cause an offensive smell. Further, individuals with halitosis (bad breath) may have a medical problem going on they are completely unaware of but one which should be addressed by either the dentist or other health care professional. The problem may result from foods we eat, such as onions, garlic and spices. What we eat is digested without us even thinking about it. During the digestive process, gases are produced that escape through the mouth and odors are present. Breath fresheners, gum, sprays and rinses can cut down on halitosis but nothing is as good as brushing teeth and the tongue and following up with mouthwash.
So, what can you do at 2 AM on a holiday weekend? To begin with, head to the kitchen cabinet where you keep cooking spices. One or two whole cloves wrapped in a small gauze pad and placed between the inside of the mouth and tooth are highly recommended. Or, a drop or two of clove oil can be dabbed on to the tooth with a swab or cotton ball instead. Don’t overdo on the clove oil since too much can be toxic. Some individuals “dilute” the clove oil with vegetable oil. You might try a mixture of two or three teaspoons of iodized table salt in eight ounces of warm water. Use it as you would a mouthwash but do not swallow. Rather, swish it around the inside of your mouth before spitting it into the sink; repeat the process until the glass is empty. Do you have a tray of ice cubes in your freezer? Holding a small cube inside the mouth against the aggravating tooth or rub your thumb and index finger on an ice cube and massage those cold digits against the tooth. I’m sure your first reaction to this is that you don’t want anything cold in your mouth against something that is already painful, but the remedy is believed to work.
If you have garlic in your kitchen, place a single clove coated with rock salt against the tooth. I don’t know how many families keep edible rock salt at home for such emergencies but I must admit I am not one of them, despite the fact that a large amount of commercially mined rock salt is actually prepared for human consumption and used for cooking. Without such a product, I might recommend coating the garlic clove with iodized table salt, a remedy that I’ve written about in the past with positive response from readers. Next, some sources endorse brewing a cup of tea. Remove the bag from the cup and place it against the tooth for an almost immediate reduction in pain. Try vanilla extract on a cotton swab. No vanilla? Substitute almond, lemon or peppermint extract. A cotton ball soaked with apple cider vinegar can be placed in the mouth against or on the offending tooth, as can a piece of raw potato with the skin removed. Chew on a piece of ginger root or cut a wedge of lime and place it in the mouth. Bite into it to release the juices in the area of the tooth.
You must understand these are folk remedies that should not do any harm but they are not meant to remedy a situation permanently. Remember that swelling and fever are signs of infection that require immediate care, so get through the night but make a telephone call to your dentist to have your tooth looked at and repaired properly. Good luck.
