Toothache Folk Remedies
Good dental care was a luxury for many people during the early days of this country, and sadly, it is a luxury that many can not afford today. But, as always, folks did the best they could with what they had and treated a toothache in a variety of ways. Here are a few of them.
One remedy was to take a small amount of wine, or juice, from some pokeberries and mix one part to eight parts of white whiskey, or moon shine, and take a small spoonful a day. (caution! Poke berries and the plant itself are poisonous! Only the early spring shoots and leaves of this plant are considered edible!) It was considered to be good for rheumatism and muscle cramps as well.
Another, and much safer, remedy was to pour pure vanilla extract straight from the bottle onto the tooth. There was another remedy called Bluestone that people sometimes bought and used because it killed the nerve…(however, this author is unable to find any information concerning what this particular remedy actually is or was.)
Whiskey and turpentine was used in a lot of toothache remedies as both seemed to be readily available. One simply mixed the two together and held them on the tooth. Drinking the white corn whiskey was also a favorite. And, finally, when all else failed, many times the tooth was yanked or pulled out by either a family member, friend, or the sufferer themselves.
An easy way to help reduce the infection in a tooth is to use goldenseal extract. Before going to bed apply some to a cotton ball and hold it on the tooth while sleeping, this can also be done during the day of course, but may not be as uncomfortable as use through the night. Follow this treatment for at least 3 days or nights in a row and you should get relief.
A few drops of oil of cloves can be placed onto the affected tooth to relieve pain. If the taste of the oil is to strong, just dilute it with a little olive oil to weaken the taste.
Catnip isn’t only for cats! It can also relieve a aching tooth. Take some of the catnip herb and chew it, try to chew it in the area where the painful tooth is to get the best results.
The roots from plantain, a weed commonly found growing in most yards, can be mashed to make a poultice. Wash the roots thoroughly and mash them to a fine pulp, add a small amount of salt to the pulp and then place it between the aching tooth and the gum.  Â
Fresh yarrow root or leaves are great to use for a tooth ache. Yarrow grows wild and is easy to find, aside from aiding in healing wounds and stopping bleeding, the plant is known for it’s anesthetic abilities and will help stop the pain.
Tea tree essential oil aids has many uses, one of those is for tooth aches. You can get quick relief from tooth ache pain by diluting some in water and using it like a mouth rinse. This herb has very potent antibacterial abilities and can kill the bacteria causing the infection!
Most of us already have ground cloves in our spice racks, either ground cloves or pure grade clove oil can be applied to the tooth to stop pain. Just apply a few drops as needed until the pain is gone. Some dentists even use this miracle herb as a pain reliever and anesthetic!
A ginger compress is still yet another solution to tooth ache pain, but the spice is hot and may not be the remedy for you! Add enough water to the powdered spice to form a paste, soak a cotton ball with the mixture and squeeze out the excess. Try to apply the cotton ball directly to the tooth without touching the gum.
Willow bark is chemically related to aspirin and contains a lot of pain relieving power. Cut a small piece of bark from a branch and chew on it, a tea made from the herb will produce the same affect.
Sesame seed is a herb used by the Chinese to alleviate tooth ache, this remedy dates back to the 4th century! Mix one part sesame seed with two equal amounts of water, boil the mixture until about half of it has boiled away, apply directly to the tooth.