Relieve Toothache Pain during Pregnancy with Home Remedies: I'm pregnant and I've got severe toothache. What should I do?

A majority of expecting mothers have a tendency to put off any rather urgent dental work out of fear for the effects it may have on the unborn child. However, quite contrary to the common belief, correcting any dental issues before the pregnancy will not only reduce the amount of pain that the soon to be mother will experience, but will also avoid any complications that bad oral hygiene may have on the child. Carrying a toothache during the pregnancy places an additional amount of stress on the body on top of the already considerable amount of stress that it is being subjected to with the impending delivery. Caring for toothaches when pregnant is also significantly different to dental treatment under normal circumstances.

The fact that the intake of a number of substances could negatively impact the child needs to be addressed. One of the most commonly used dental painkillers is clove. You could try placing a piece of clove on the tooth that is aching or even between the affected tooth and the tooth directly in front of it. However, since you are pregnant, it is essential that you do not overdo this. You should also make sure that you do not consume the residue that accumulates with your saliva in your mouth, but spit it out instead. Guava leaves can also be a very helpful remedy, however, depending on the location of their growth may do more harm than good. Some countries have a high toxin soil content which could also end up in the leaves of the guava tree. While your body will be able to handle the excessive toxic levels under normal conditions, it would not fare so well when you are expecting. Make sure that you ascertain the origin of the leaves before you use them.

Topically applying an ice pack to the affected area on the outside of the mouth will not only reduce the inflammation, but also reduce the irritation in the gums. The usage of hydrogen peroxide as a mouth wash is also commonly used for significantly positive outcomes. Good oral hygiene is probably still one of the best ways to avoid the onset of tooth infection, thereby stopping the occurrence of toothaches. The fact that there are food cravings to contend with during the pregnancy increases the chances of plaque forming on your teeth. Make sure that you follow good oral hygiene practices while you are pregnant as this will help to lessen the infection and therefore decrease the inflammation and the pain.

answered by G M

A toothache is always an indication of some problem with the teeth, gums, or jaw. Many people make the mistake of seeing the toothache itself as the problem, but the truth is that a toothache is only a symptom. Treating a toothache therefore always requires diagnosing and then treating the underlying problem. There are treatments for the toothache itself, but these are only temporary, and if used for too long they not only lose their effectiveness but also allow the real problem to get worse.

What you should do therefore is make an appointment with your dentist as soon as you can. It is quite unlikely that any treatment you require will affect your pregnancy, but you should of course inform your dentist that you are pregnant, in order to be on the safe side. The dentist will need to take this into account if he is prescribing any medication. He or she will be fully qualified to judge whether the treatment is safe, and if necessary adjust the treatment taking into account your pregnancy.

The most likely problems include gum disease, a cavity or a cracked or chipped tooth, and growth of new wisdom teeth. The type of treatment will of course depend on what the problem is, and your dentist will take this call. In the meanwhile, you can take a small piece of ginger or garlic and chew on it using the affected teeth. A piece of ice may also work, but if it causes more pain stop using it immediately. Clove oil is also very useful for toothaches, but can be toxic and therefore needs to be used very sparingly. In fact it is best that you avoid using clove oil since you are pregnant; the other home remedies should work well enough for the few days till you visit the dentist.

answered by G M