The pain of a toothache is one of the worst pains there is, and when that pain hits, you want relief and you want it now. The best way to deal with serious tooth and gum pain is to see your dentist, but what do you do when that pain strikes in the middle of the night, on the weekend or on a holiday when your regular dentist is not available?

You could call the emergency number and pay for an expensive emergency visit, but you might want to try some natural remedies first. Toothache pain can be very severe, but there are things you can do to lessen the suffering. Using these natural remedies now can buy you time and allow you to wait until your dentist is open for business, saving you a lot of stress and a lot of money.

Here are five natural remedies for toothache pain. These emergency treatments should not take the place of regular dental care, but they can really help in a pinch.

The Warm Water Saline Rinse

One of the most effective treatments for toothache pain is also the simplest. Just place a teaspoon of kosher or sea salt in the bottom of a clean glass, fill it with warm water and shake it up. Gargling with the saline mixture can remove stubborn food particles and kill harmful bacteria

Salt and Pepper

Applying a paste of salt and pepper directly to the tooth and gum can provide excellent temporary relief. Both salt and pepper have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, making them excellent remedies for toothache pain. Just mix equal parts of salt and pepper with a few drops of water to form a paste, then place that paste directly where it hurts.

Garlic

Garlic is good for more than keeping vampires away. Garlic can also ease the pain of a toothache and make you feel better while you wait for the dentist. Chewing on a clove of garlic can bring you instant relief, and mixing crushed garlic or garlic powder with black pepper can be very effective as well.

Raw Onion

Chewing on a raw onion at the first sign of a toothache can eliminate the pain, or at least lessen the severity. If you are not able to chew the onion, just place a thin slice directly on the problematic tooth or set it between the tooth and gum

Vanilla Extract

Your probably have a bottle of vanilla extract in your kitchen counter or spice rack, and you can use it to soothe your toothache pain. Just dip a cotton swab in the vanilla extract and apply it directly to the hurting tooth.

You do not have to suffer with toothache pain while you wait for your dentist to return your call. The next time the intense pain of a bad tooth strikes, just reach into your medicine cabinet or kitchen counter and use these five home remedies to soothe the pain and buy time until you can see your dentist for a permanent fix.