Ciao! So you have set out on the wonderful journey of becoming a mother! Whilst you bask in the joys of your taste buds, your body combats a few undesirable stuff too. Apart from morning sickness and mood swings, tooth ache is a terrible experience during pregnancy. The hormonal imbalances and surges during gestation leaves your gums sensitive and more prone to developing dental infections, cavities and swollen gums. Deficiency of calcium may also cause tooth ache during pregnancy.
Can I Get A Toothache During Pregnancy?
Toothaches have been found to be very common during pregnancy. Many women have been found to be susceptible for dental problems in pregnancy. From morning sickness to calcium deficiency, from diet changes to poor oral hygiene, all these factors can increase the chances of dental problems during pregnancy. Well, wisdom tooth eruptions are quite common during pregnancy. Also such a condition causes undue stress to the expecting lady as well as the baby. Some studies have linked premature deliveries and low birth weight to continued tooth ache.
Read more about gum diseases during pregnancy here.
How Can I Get Relief From Toothaches During Pregnancy?
Tooth ache can be very irritating and in severe cases may disrupt eating and drinking. Opening mouth, even to speak becomes troublesome, leaving you teary-eyed and grouchy! Over the counter painkillers are a very common approach as it is considered that the tooth ache will go away, the same way it randomly cropped up. Really? Moreover, OTC medications can provide only temporary relief and may not be suited for consumption during pregnancy, it’s best to stick to natural, home remedies.
10 Natural Remedies To Get Relief From Toothache During Pregnancy
Below is a list of natural remedies, which do not affect your health or the baby and are effective in curbing tooth ache too:
- Clove: Clove or ‘laung’ is one of the common spices in our kitchen. You can either simply keep the whole clove between your teeth or apply clove oil on some cotton and hold it at the affected area
- Saline solution: Simply mix one teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water and gargle with this. This solution not only fights bacteria and dislodges stuck food particles, but also has soothing effect
- Hot or cold compress: Applying cold or hot compress soothes nerves and provides temporary relief from pain. Simply wrap a few ice cubes in soft cloth or handkerchief and apply at the affected area
- Garlic: Garlic contains ‘allicin’, a substance that has antibacterial properties and instant soothing effect too. Caution should be exercised here that you do not place raw garlic directly in contact with the affected gum as this may further exacerbate it. It’s best to crush a garlic, wrap it up in a cotton and hold it firmly between teeth. As the juices are slowly released, this will take care of the tooth ache
- Tea rinse: Black tea contains tannins which works to reduce inflammation and ease swelling. Simple boil some tea in water, let it cool and rinse with it. Alternatively, dip a tea bag in warm water and gargle with it
- Peppermint: Peppermint leaves or ‘pudina’ is often grown in pots at our homes and we use it to make chutneys. It must be noted that mint leaves have fabulous pain relieving properties. It will instantly lift your mood and the juices will work against pain. You can simply boil a few mint leaves and drink it like a peppermint tea, gargle with it or simply chew on them!
- Raw onion: The juice of raw onion is capable of soothing the dental pain and works as an antiseptic. You can either place a small piece of raw onion at the affected spot or dab a cotton in onion juice and hold it there. However, chewing it for just 3 minutes can have terrific result!
- Spinach leaves: Who knew that Popeye’s favourite food – spinach also had pain relieving properties! Truly a super-food, eh! All you need to do is, wash a few spinach leaves and chew them raw between the affected teeth
- Carom seeds: Carom seeds or ‘ajwain’ is another common spice available in our household. Simply boil one teaspoon whole ajwain with half teaspoon salt in half litre water, strain and gargle frequently
- Basil: Basil or our very own Tulsi can come to your aid to combat tooth ache. Simple crush a few basil leaves along with equal amount of peppercorns and apply this paste on the affected tooth. Otherwise you may simply chew on the basil or make a concoction (basil leaves + peppercorns boiled in water) and gargle with it
The greatest advantage is, you can easily access and use these natural remedies, even after your 2:00 AM truffle pastry snack!
Since you are susceptible to rampant and weirdest food cravings during pregnancy, it is necessary to maintain oral hygiene. Those heavenly delicious dishes are pro at attacking your teeth! You should identify the cause of tooth pain and visit a dentist if you see cavity (black spot) developing in your teeth, or if you sense a wisdom tooth is erupting and in case of bleeding gums. It is to be noted that these microbes can enter your blood stream if not treated timely.
