Toothaches are a very common issue that causes a lot of pain and discomfort. It also has the ability to affect your ability to perform normal daily activities significantly. An aching tooth also means prohibiting the consumption of certain foods that can worsen the pain, which begs the question: what to eat when you have a toothache?
Eating foods that are either too hot or too cold are guaranteed to worsen a toothache. However, and lucky for us, there are also certain foods that will definitely help in soothing a toothache.
Before we share with you these foods, though, let us first get to the bottom of the issue and find out what caused your tooth to ache in the first place. In that way, you can also have an idea on how to best address it.
What Causes Toothaches?
A toothache is a common issue that affects everyone at some point or another no matter how healthy their teeth are. There are various symptoms and signs that are clearly more indicative of a much more serious tooth problem than a simple cavity or tooth decay, the most common being pain—serious, gut-clenching pain.
Aside from tooth decay, though, there are also other conditions that cause a certain kind of pain that we often mistake as a toothache. Among these issues include an earache, trauma to the jaw, sinusitis, and even a heart attack.
Then again, if you are absolutely sure that what you are feeling is a toothache, then we are more than happy to help you out. We are sure you have heard of foods that can soothe an aching tooth, but does it really work?
Does Diet Help Toothaches?
Choosing the right kind of diet can help relieve the pain caused by a toothache. You can consider a diet that is very high in raw vegetables and fruits. People who tend to eat such foods are certain to get the right kinds of minerals that are necessary to reduce the acidity present in the saliva.
It is imperative that you avoid foods that contain refined sugar, which include soda. It is also highly recommended to opt for foods that contain high levels of vitamin C and calcium as they prove to be beneficial in relieving tooth pain. Still can’t think of foods that might do the trick? Allow us to help you out.
What to Eat When You Have a Toothache
A toothache is not something that can just be ignored. Those who haven’t suffered from a toothache before does not know what real pain is. That being said, toothache relief starts from avoiding foods that can either harm or cause more sensitivity in your tooth.
We recommend choosing foods that require the minimal effort of chewing. Below we have listed some interesting foods that can ease the pain caused by a toothache.
As we have mentioned above, choose food that won’t require you to chew much. Therefore, a bowl of delicious soup definitely tops our list. However, you have to make sure that the soup is not too hot as it may actually make matters worse rather than ease your pain.
Another food that requires no chewing or biting is yogurt. This is also very healthy and quite satisfying too. You can combine yogurt with a soft fruit to make it a nutritious meal as well.
- Cottage Cheese
For some serious hunger pangs, opting for cottage cheese may be an excellent idea. This too requires barely any effort when it comes to chewing it. As a bonus, it also has the ability to make you feel full very quickly.
- Ice Creams
Ice cream is possibly the best food to have when you have a toothache. It is also recommended by dentists to consume when you have dental surgeries as the cold will ease the pain and the discomfort.
- Baked Potatoes
If you are looking to satisfy your hunger quickly without the need to chew aggressively, baked potatoes are a wise choice. This is also an ideal food to eat for those who have tender teeth.
Cloves are considered to be a soothing food that helps relieve toothaches because of the fact that it contains a good amount of omega-3 fatty acids, manganese, vitamins K and C, calcium, fiber, and magnesium.
In addition, cloves also possess anti-inflammatory properties that have been used historically to treat toothaches, tooth decay, and even intestinal parasites.
- Lime Juice
It is a well-known fact that lime or lemon juice contains very high levels of citric acid along with vitamin C. This acid is effective in killing different kinds of bacteria that cause a toothache.
Vitamin C also helps in boosting the health of the teeth and of the entire body. However, avoid this if you have wounds or ulcers in your mouth.
Raw onions may have a horrible taste, but its natural juice is known to help get rid of toothaches. You can either cut a small piece of onion, place it over the affected tooth, and bite on it or squeeze the onion to get the juice and put it on to the affected tooth directly.
For people who love drinking liquor, this is a perfect solution. Whiskey, or other hard liquors, are quite effective in cleaning the teeth, not to mention that it also numbs the mouth.
If you want to use whiskey to relieve yourself of the pain from a toothache, then all you need to do is rinse your mouth thoroughly with it, making sure that it reaches the affected area. This will help lessen the pain and clean the oral cavity at the same time.
- Vanilla Extract
While it is most commonly known as an ingredient that is heavily used in desserts, vanilla extract can actually help relieve toothaches. You can do this by putting a few drops of it onto the affected area.
So, were you able to try any of the toothache-soothing foods that we have shared above? Sure, knowing what to eat when you have a toothache would help you feel comfortable for a while. Then again, the relief is only temporary.
A toothache is an indication of a degenerative process that is occurring in your mouth. The foods we have mentioned are only meant for soothing the pain. The only way that you can stop it for good is if you pay your dentist a visit. In that way, he can find the underlying cause of the pain and have it treated right away.