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What can I do About a Toothache During Pregnancy?

Alicia Sparks
Alicia Sparks

Dentists and doctors recommend pregnant women pay especially close attention to oral hygiene during pregnancy to avoid pain and infection. Even so, there are certain causes of toothache during pregnancy that many women can’t avoid. Among those causes include an increased hormone level, growing wisdom teeth, and a decrease in important nutrients. Fortunately, pregnant women typically have several safe toothache remedies to choose from, including natural pain management, certain medications, and even dental procedures. Whether you choose natural or medical ways to treat a toothache during pregnancy, be sure to consult both your dentist and your doctor.

Before prescribing medication or suggesting you undergo any dental procedures, your dentist might suggest several natural remedies for a toothache. One natural way you can treat a toothache while pregnant is to crush cloves between your teeth or soak a cotton ball in clove oil and allow the oil to saturate the area. Other natural remedies for a toothache include applying a warm or cool compress, rinsing the mouth with warm salt water, and applying a baking soda paste to the affected tooth and gums. Even though these remedies are considered natural, you must talk with your dentist and doctor before trying any of them. Some of them might include ingredients you’re allergic to or that can be harmful to unborn babies.

An ice pack may be helpful in easing pain of a toothache.
An ice pack may be helpful in easing pain of a toothache.

If natural toothache remedies don’t work, your dentist might recommend you try treating a toothache with medicated options. Some women who experience toothache during pregnancy can use certain over-the-counter pain medications such as acetaminophen. Others have more luck with or feel safer using certain kinds of medicated tooth gel. If an infection accompanies the pain, your dentist might consider certain antibiotics for a toothache. Some antibiotics are considered safe for pregnant women to use.

Acetaminophen may be helpful in reducing toothache pain during pregnancy.
Acetaminophen may be helpful in reducing toothache pain during pregnancy.

Generally, a dentist will view a dental procedure during pregnancy as a last resort. This is because he can’t always X-ray your tooth, so he might not know for sure if the reason for the toothache requires immediate work. Still, both your doctor and dentist understand that the constant pain and stress of having a toothache during pregnancy and any accompanying infection can negatively impact your pregnancy and your baby. This is why they might recommend certain dental treatments during pregnancy if the toothache can’t be managed with natural therapies or other safe toothache remedies. Most likely, your dentist will use an anesthesia to numb your mouth for the procedure and then recommend you manage the after pain with a mild toothache medication, such as acetaminophen, or a natural remedy.

Discussion Comments

paulettka

Green tea is fully natural and healthy and as far as I'm concerned there are no restrictions on drinking it during pregnancy.

SteamLouis

@SarahGen-- Can't you just take acetaminophen? It's safe to take during pregnancy. I had a tooth cavity when I was pregnant and I took acetaminophen until I could see the dentist about it.

You can also use a toothache pain relief gel that's sold at the pharmacy. Those are safe to use during pregnancy as far as I know,

serenesurface

@SarahGen-- I think that a cold compresses is great for toot pain during pregnancy. Some people say to use a hot compress but I've also heard that heat can make a tooth infection worse. There is no such risk with a cold compress. Cold will help numb the infected tooth and relieve the pain.

I'm not sure about clove oil. As far as I know, a little bit is applied on the tooth for pain relief. So you shouldn't be ingesting it anyway. If you don't want to use clove oil, try vanilla extract. It's supposed to do the same thing and I don't think it will cause any issues if you swallow a little bit.

SarahGen

Isn't it dangerous to ingest clove oil?

Are there any other safe toothache home remedies I can try? I'm due in four weeks and I woke up with a tootache yesterday. It's not going away. I just want a natural pain reliever until I give birth.

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    • An ice pack may be helpful in easing pain of a toothache.
      By: Scott Griessel
      An ice pack may be helpful in easing pain of a toothache.
    • Acetaminophen may be helpful in reducing toothache pain during pregnancy.
      By: mocker_bat
      Acetaminophen may be helpful in reducing toothache pain during pregnancy.
    • Crushing whole cloves between the teeth may help relieve a toothache.
      By: bergamont
      Crushing whole cloves between the teeth may help relieve a toothache.
    • If you are pregnant and seeking treatment for a toothache, be sure to let your dentist know that you are expecting.
      By: drubig-photo
      If you are pregnant and seeking treatment for a toothache, be sure to let your dentist know that you are expecting.
    • Baking soda and warm salt water may help alleviate toothaches during pregnancy.
      By: Lsantilli
      Baking soda and warm salt water may help alleviate toothaches during pregnancy.
    • Women should pay particularly close attention to oral hygiene during pregnancy.
      By: hartphotography
      Women should pay particularly close attention to oral hygiene during pregnancy.
    • A warm salt water rinse is often used to ease the pain of a toothache, and is safe for pregnant women.
      By: MediablitzImages
      A warm salt water rinse is often used to ease the pain of a toothache, and is safe for pregnant women.