Potential Causes of Tooth Pain & Holistic Treatment Options

Toothache is pain typically felt around one tooth, several teeth or the jaw. In most instances, toothaches are caused by dental problems, such as a dental cavities, cracked or fractured teeth, exposed tooth roots, or gum disease. But tooth pain can also be the result of seemingly unrelated - potentially very serious - health problems. Please click here for details.

The severity of a toothache can range from chronic and mild to sharp and excruciating. It can be a dull ache or intense.

Types of Tooth Pain

Tooth Sensitivity to hot or cold foods without recent dental work. (Note: Dental work can cause tooth pulp inflammation which can result in temporary pain and discomfort. The inflammation and associated pain should, however, resolve itself within 2 to 4 weeks.

• Recent: Minor breech of tooth nerve or beginning gum disease.
• Chronic: Infected tooth pulp; cracked or chipped tooth; gum disease. Tooth erosion, teeth wearing down / cavity formation.
• Tooth Sensitivity After Dental Work That Doesn't Resolve Itself: The tooth cavity may have been too close to the tooth pulp, and/or the dental treatment did not sufficiently protect the pulp.

Sharp Pain from biting down on food:

• Cracked, Fractured or Infected Tooth; Loose Filling

Constant and severe pain in combination with pressure, swelling of the gum, and sensitivity to touch.

• Tooth abscess

The tooth hurts when you tap on it from the side.

• The periodontal ligament is probably inflamed or is degenerating

Surprising causes of tooth pain:

Toothache-like symptoms (or pain around the teeth and jaws) can also be caused by:

• Diseases of the jaw joint or spasms of the muscles used for chewing


• Heart disease: For example, angina - the pain is usually located in the chest or the arm. However, in some angina patients, the only symptom they experience is a toothache or jaw pain


• Inner or external ear infections


• Sinusitis (infection of the sinus cavities)


• In some rare instances, some chronic toothaches are caused by neuralgias and other nerve ailments

Common Holistic / Alternative Treatments:

A qualified physician / biological dentist should assess the root cause of the problem. As in all cases, prevention is preferable to addressing an existing health problem. Good nutrition will be key in keeping your teeth strong and healthy. However, once the problem exists, some home remedies have been helpful, such as:

• If you have a terrible toothache and cannot get to a dentist right away, put a capful of 3% hydrogen peroxide into your mouth and hold it for 10 minutes several times a day. The pain will lessen greatly. Hydrogen peroxide - even though not a pain killer, is an anti-viral, antibacterial and anti-fungal agent, and is effective at treating the pathogen that is causing the infection. It's important not to use Hydrogen Peroxide longer than say two weeks as they also kill good bacteria -- which could result in an oral yeast infection.

• Marine grade coral calcium applied to the tooth or mouth - please refer to calcium therapy

• Olive oil soaked on cotton applied to tooth - or try oregano or clove oil

• Vanilla extract or almond extract applied to tooth

• Put a slice of onion into your mouth near pain

• Place crushed garlic on tooth

• Golden seal powder or aluminum-free baking soda (such as Bob's Red Mill Baking Soda) swished in mouth

• Other Options: Ozone tooth treatments from a dentist.

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