up again at 3:00 am due to tooth ache BUT, check ou this remedy I found for QUICK relief. Ice on my hand, ye sON MY HAND... A home remedy for that aching tooth could be just what the doctor ordered. iStockphoto/Thinkstock A cartoon character might treat a toothache by wrapping a cloth bandage under his jaw and tying it at the top of his head. But while this is sometimes still used as a common visual example of tooth pain, its based on a long-passed method of bandaging the jaw to relieve dental soreness. Historians arent entirely sure what the purpose of the practice was. Most believe it was to hold a poultice (a moist salve comprised of bread, cereal or mashed beans or beets) in place. Of course the treatment, which can be traced back to ancient Babylon, couldve also been used to warm the cheek or keep evil spirits from the face and mouth [source: Wynbrandt]. Head bandages werent the only unusual practice for treating toothaches. From cloth-wrapped hot bricks to chloroform-soaked cotton balls, history is filled with desperate attempts to end dental discomfort [sources: Steele; Ritter, et. al]. Historical records show that the Chinese used arsenic pills placed between the teeth to help ease pain [source: Wynbrandt]. Siberians came up with a debatably more desirable treatment, which involved gargling a garlic-vodka solution several times a day [source: Kourenoff]. Fortunately for you, you live in the 21st century -- and youre not an animated character. And luckily, there are many proven, nontoxic methods of treating toothaches. So if youre experiencing a painful ache in your teeth and gums, leave the cloth bandage, arsenic and chloroform alone, and try one of the remedies on the following pages. POSSIBLE CAUSES OF A TOOTHACHE Tooth killing you? The list of possibilities includes cavities, abscessed teeth, fractures, damaged fillings, teeth grinding, infected gums or sinus infections [sources: Carr; WebMD]. Prevention may be all well and good before your toothache, but what happens after the pain is already present? Well, it may not be possible to go back in time to that fateful moment you chomped the wrong way on a popcorn kernel, but you can prevent further agony by staying away from certain foods and beverages. For starters, try to avoid chewing anything in the area of your mouth where you have pain or tooth damage. And while some people may find that ice helps numb the pain of a toothache, experts recommend you avoid very cold or hot foods and beverages. If your teeth are sensitive, extreme temperatures can increase your pain. So, until your toothache improves, you should rule out hot chocolates and iced mochas. Its also best to steer clear of chewing ice, hard candy and popcorn. If you dont, you may end up with a broken tooth -- a problem that can cause you even more tooth pain. Watching what you put in your mouth makes sense. However, it may be a little harder to understand how the remedy on the next page helps toothaches. Many, though, have found it effective. Keep reading to learn more. The key to easing your toothache may be in your hands rather than in your mouth. Believe it or not, rubbing an ice cube on the webbed area of your hand between your thumb and index finger can help reduce the pain of a toothache [source: Melzack, et al.]. This section of the hand is known in acupressure as the L14 pressure point, which is recognized in alternative medicine as a spot that interacts with pain in various regions of the body. While massage or pressure in the L14 region may be helpful, researchers believe that the use of ice is crucial in reducing dental pain because it causes cold signals that interfere with pain signals [source: Melzack, et. al]. To try this nontraditional treatment, gently rub ice over the L14 pressure point for five to seven minutes. You should also make sure you focus on the hand thats on the same side of your body as your toothache.
Posted on: Sat, 14 Jun 2014 07:52:52 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015