Does salt water help toothache?

Toothaches can be extremely painful and make daily life difficult. When searching for relief, some people try rinsing their mouth with salt water. But does salt water actually help soothe a toothache?

Table of Contents

What Causes Toothaches?

There are several potential causes of toothaches:

Tooth decay – Damage to the hard, outer enamel layer of the tooth and infection of the soft inner pulp can cause toothache pain. This is the most common cause.
Cracked or broken teeth – Fractures allow bacteria to infect the pulp.
Loose or damaged fillings – Bacteria can leak under old or poorly fitted fillings and infect the pulp.

Abscess – An infection of the root tip or around the tooth can put pressure on nerves and cause pain.
Sensitive teeth – Hot, cold, sweet or acidic foods or drinks can trigger pain in teeth with worn enamel.
Bruxism – Grinding or clenching teeth can put pressure on teeth and jaws, causing ache.

Gum disease – Infection and inflammation of the gums and ligaments around the teeth can cause pain.
Sinusitis – Infections of the sinus cavities above the upper teeth can radiate pain down to the teeth.

The most common cause of persistent, severe toothache is tooth decay leading to inflamed or infected tooth pulp. Bacteria eat away at enamel and dentin, allowing infection of the nerve-rich pulp inside the tooth. This infection and inflammation presses on the nerves and causes throbbing pain.

Does Salt Water Help Toothaches?

Salt water or saline is simply a solution of table salt (sodium chloride) dissolved in water. It is sometimes recommended as a home remedy to temporarily relieve toothache pain in several ways:

Salt water can help draw out fluid from inflamed tissues via osmosis. This may slightly reduce swelling and pressure on nerve endings.
Salt water may disrupt oral bacteria. This could help reduce infection and inflammation.

The salt may slightly numb nerve endings in the gums, giving temporary pain relief.
Gargling with warm salt water can help dislodge food debris from cavities.
Salt water provides a cleanser to help keep decayed teeth and gums clean.

There is very little scientific evidence that salt water relieves toothache pain. But many people report temporary relief from using salt water as a mouth rinse. It likely helps by cleaning the area and reducing oral bacteria levels. The salt may also give a slight numbing sensation to inflamed nerves.

How to Use Salt Water for Toothache

To use salt water for toothache relief at home:

Dissolve 1 teaspoon of table salt in a cup of warm water. The salt should fully dissolve.

Take a mouthful of the salt water and swish or gargle it around the sore tooth and gumline for 30 seconds.
Spit out the salt water. Rinse your mouth with plain water to remove excess salt.
Repeat gargling with the salt water 2 or 3 times per day, especially after meals.

You can also try soaking a cotton ball in salt water and gently applying it to the sore tooth for several minutes to reduce inflammation and pain.

Benefits of Salt Water for Toothaches

Using salt water for toothache pain has several advantages:

Readily available – Table salt and water are easily accessible in most homes.

Cheap – Salt is an inexpensive remedy compared to oral pain relievers.
Safe – Salt water is generally recognized as safe for minimal use. It is non-toxic.
Easy to make – Preparing a simple salt water mouth rinse takes just a minute.

May reduce inflammation – Salt may help draw out fluid from swollen tissues.
May decrease infection – The salt solution can help disrupt oral bacteria.
Provides temporary numbness – Salt may slightly numb nerve endings to ease pain.

Cleans the area – Salt water can rinse away debris and bacteria.

For these reasons, salt water may bring short-term relief of toothache symptoms for many people. It likely reduces oral bacteria levels and inflammation, and numbs nerves endings temporarily to lower pain. And as a simple rinse, it is harmless to try for mild toothaches.

Risks of Using Salt Water for Toothaches

There are some potential risks with using salt water on a toothache:

Does not treat underlying cause – Rinsing with salt water only provides temporary symptom relief. It does not treat the root cause of the toothache.
May delay dental treatment – Putting off seeing a dentist because salt water brings minor relief could allow the condition to get worse.
Risk of excessive use – Swishing too frequently with very concentrated salt water could irritate gums or amplify tooth damage over time.

Choking hazard – Attempting to gargle while in severe pain could increase risk of choking on the salt water.
No long-term relief – The effects of salt water quickly wear off. It does not address ongoing infection or nerve inflammation.
Not recommended with wisdom teeth – Rinsing with salt water could disrupt or dislodge blood clots after wisdom tooth extraction.

While salt water rinses are generally safe for temporary relief, they should not replace dental treatment for a serious tooth infection. Relying only on salt water could allow the condition to progress.

When to See a Dentist for Toothache

You should make an appointment to see your dentist if you have:

Severe, constant toothache pain that prevents sleep or normal function

Swelling in the cheeks or gums around the painful tooth
Tooth pain that radiates to the jaw, ear, or side of the face
Fever, chills, or headache along with the tooth pain

Pain when chewing or biting down
An obvious chip, crack or damage to the tooth
A loose tooth

Bleeding or discharge from around the tooth
An old filling that is damaged, corroded or loose
Tooth sensitivity to hot, cold or acidic foods

These symptoms suggest a possible tooth abscess, infection, nerve damage or other dental emergency. The dentist can perform an exam, take x-rays, test for infection and determine the proper treatment.

Dental Treatments for Toothaches

Depending on the cause of toothache, a dentist may recommend:

Fillings – Removing decayed material and placing a filling can reduce sensitivity and prevent further decay and infection.

Root Canal – This can remove infected pulp and save a damaged tooth.
Extraction – Pulling the problem tooth may be needed for severe infection or damage.
Antibiotics – Medication to clear up infections and abscesses.

Drainage – Lancing and draining a dental abscess relieves pressure.
Debridement – Removing plaque and tartar from around teeth and gums.
Night guard – A mouth guard can protect teeth from grinding or clenching at night.

Sensodyne – Special toothpaste for sensitive teeth may relieve pain from temperature changes.

Seeing a dentist allows for both relief of current toothache symptoms and treatment to prevent future problems. Over-the-counter pain relievers and salt water rinses only provide temporary symptom relief.

Home Remedies for Toothache

In addition to salt water, you may get some temporary toothache relief at home using:

Remedy	How It Works
Cold compress	A cold pack or ice chips held against the cheek can reduce inflammation and numb nerve pain.
Warm compress	A warm washcloth applied to the skin may increase blood flow and reduce spasms in facial muscles.
Garlic	Garlic’s antibacterial properties may help fight oral bacteria. Place crushed raw garlic against the gums.
Onions	Like garlic, raw onion may have antibacterial effects to fight infection. Hold a small piece against the tooth.
Clove oil	Clove oil contains eugenol, a numbing agent and antibacterial. Dab it on the gums around the sore tooth.
Whiskey	Alcohol has a numbing effect and whisky may dull nerve pain. Swish a sip of around the mouth.
Self-care	Get plenty of rest and stick to soft, non-acidic foods. Over-the-counter pain medicine can help.

These do-it-yourself remedies may temporarily reduce toothache discomfort until you can get professional dental treatment.

Preventing Toothaches

You can help avoid painful toothaches by:

Brushing teeth thoroughly twice a day with fluoride toothpaste

Flossing once daily to remove plaque from between teeth
Eating a tooth-healthy diet low in sugar and acids
Drinking fluoridated water to strengthen enamel

Avoiding frequent snacking, which allows acid attacks on teeth
Not smoking, as tobacco increases gum disease risk
Getting dental cleanings and exams every 6 months

Wearing a night guard if you grind your teeth

Good oral hygiene and dental care help prevent cavities and tooth decay that can lead to toothaches. Promptly treating small problems stops them from becoming emergencies.

When to Seek Emergency Dental Care

See an emergency dentist right away if you have:

Unbearable toothache pain that medication does not help
Swelling in the mouth or face that prevents swallowing or breathing
Bleeding that does not stop

Numbness in part of your face
A fever over 100 F along with a toothache
A tooth that has been knocked out – it may be possible to reimplant it

A cracked or broken tooth with exposed pulp

Life-threatening dental emergencies like infections, injuries or severe swelling require immediate treatment to prevent permanent issues. Seek ER care if you can not reach your dentist.

Conclusion

Salt water should not be considered an effective treatment for toothache pain – only a temporary relief measure. While it may provide mild numbing and cleansing, it does not resolve the underlying cause. Severe or persistent toothaches from cavities, cracked teeth or dental abscesses require professional treatment as soon as possible.

Rinsing with salt water a couple times a day may provide minor relief of toothache symptoms. But rely on your dentist for diagnosis and definitive care to resolve toothaches and prevent future problems.