How Do You Get Rid of a Toothache Overnight?

The only way to get rid of a toothache completely is to visit the dentist and get the proper dental treatment. Home remedies can help ease the pain of a toothache overnight, including keeping your head upright, avoiding certain foods, over-the-counter (OTC) pain medicines, cold compresses, heating pads, saltwater rinses, and others.

If you have a toothache, see your dentist as soon as possible. There are many causes of toothaches so it is important to have a proper diagnosis because treatment for a toothache depends on the reason for the pain. 

You may be able to relieve the pain of a toothache overnight, but the only way to get rid of a toothache completely is to have the cause diagnosed and to receive the proper treatment. 

Home remedies can help ease the pain of a toothache overnight while you wait for your scheduled dentist appointment, such as:

• Keep your head in an upright position
• Avoid eating cold, hard, or acidic food right before going to bed
• Over-the-counter (OTC) medicines 
  • Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) for pain and inflammation
    • Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin)
    • Naproxen (Aleve)
  • Acetaminophen (Tylenol) for pain
• Cold compresses or ice packs/cold gel packs wrapped in a towel
  • Apply for 20 minutes at a time
• A hot pack applied to the cheek over the painful area 
• Pain-relieving oral gel
• Rinse with saltwater
• Rinse with a guava mouthwash
  • Boil crushed guava leaves in water to make a mouthwash or chew on fresh guava leaves to help clean the mouth if an infection is present and help heal oral wounds
• Clove oil
  • Can reduce inflammation and has numbing properties 
  • Apply a small amount of the oil to a clean cotton ball and dab it on the affected area
• Garlic
  • Crush a garlic clove into a sticky paste and apply it to the affected area for pain relief, or chew a clove of fresh garlic and spit it out
• Peppermint tea bags
  • These have mild numbing properties and may be applied while warm or cold
• Rinse with homemade thyme mouthwash
  • Add a few drops of thyme essential oil to water to make a mouthwash
• Research acupressure points
  • There are several reported to help relieve toothache

At the dentist, treatment for a toothache depends on the cause. 

Treatment for enamel damage caused by cavities, chips, or cracks may include: 

• Dental fillings 
• Crowns
• Topical varnish, applied as a liquid that hardens to protect the exposed tooth roots

Treatment for an infection may include: 

• Antibiotics
• Removing the infected tissue (for example, with a root canal)

Toothaches caused by braces or dentures may require the appliances to be adjusted. 

Impacted wisdom teeth may need to be removed.