Does Drinking Milk Soothe Toothache Pain? | Home Remedies

Understanding Tooth Pain and Potential Remedies

Tooth pain can be an extremely uncomfortable and even debilitating condition. From mild tooth sensitivity to acute toothaches, pain in the teeth can have a variety of causes and severity levels.

When faced with tooth pain, most people seek quick home remedies to alleviate their discomfort while they arrange more comprehensive dental treatment. Using readily available household ingredients is an appealing option for pain relief that doesn't require a prescription or trip to the dentist's office.

One common home remedy for tooth pain is using dairy products like milk. But does milk actually help relieve tooth pain? And if so, why and how?

Common Causes of Tooth Pain

Before analyzing whether milk can treat tooth pain, it helps to understand what causes tooth pain in the first place. Tooth pain typically stems from irritation in the nerve of the tooth or surrounding tissues.

Common causes of tooth pain include:

• Tooth decay
• Damaged fillings
• Gum disease
• Infection in the tooth pulp or gums
• Cracked or broken teeth
• Bruxism (teeth grinding)
• Loose teeth
• Sensitivity to hot or cold foods/drinks

The intensity of tooth pain can range from mild discomfort to severe and throbbing pain. The location, duration, triggers, and quality of tooth pain generally depend on the underlying issue.

Relieving Mild-Moderate Tooth Pain at Home

Many cases of tooth pain result from inflammation around the tooth and nerves. Using anti-inflammatory substances can help reduce this inflammation and provide relief for mild to moderate tooth discomfort.

Applying cold compresses to the affected tooth, dental hygiene measures like gentle saltwater rinses, over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen or acetaminophen, and numbness-inducing ingredients like clove oil or benzocaine gel tend to be go-to home remedies for mild toothaches.

Can Milk Help Relieve Tooth Pain?

When it comes to soothing tooth pain at home before seeing a dentist, many people reach for a glass of ice cold milk. But is there any science behind using milk for toothaches?

Potential oral health benefits associated with milk include:

• Providing enamel-strengthening calcium and phosphate
• Neutralizing mouth acidity
• Coating irritated tissues
• Numbing pain as a cold substance

So in theory, milk can temporarily relieve tooth pain in a few ways. However, the efficacy likely depends on the individual situation.

Milk May Help Certain Mild Toothaches

Cold milk could provide minor pain relief for sensitive teeth by reducing inflammation and numbing irritation in the nerves. The milk proteins may also act as a protective barrier over exposed dentin.

Sipping cool milk might therefore help sensitive teeth that hurt in response to hot/cold foods/drinks or other triggers like sweet foods. But this would only mask the pain temporarily.

Milk Does NOT Treat Underlying Causes

While milk may alleviate certain mild tooth discomforts, it does NOT treat the origin of the tooth pain itself. Conditions like infections, decay, cracks/damage in the tooth need proper dental treatment.

In these situations, milk can provide some surface-level soothing effects. But the pain relief would be short-lived without addressing the deeper issue.

Using Milk to Relieve Toothaches - Tips

If you have mild tooth pain and want to try using milk for temporary relief until you can see a dentist, here are some tips:

1. Use ice-cold milk straight from the refrigerator for maximum numbing and calming effects.
2. Take small sips and directly swish/hold the milk around the painful tooth.
3. Stick to no/low-fat milk since full-fat milk can coat the teeth and make pain worse.
4. Rinse your mouth with warm water after drinking milk to avoid residue buildup.
5. Combine milk with other home remedies like saltwater rinses or clove oil for added pain relief.
6. See your dentist ASAP if the pain lasts more than 1-2 days or seems severe.

Other Dairy Products Besides Milk

In addition to milk, some other dairy products may help temporarily numb tooth pain:

• Yogurt: The cool temperature and thick texture can coat and protect painful areas. Look for unsweetened plain yogurt.
• Cheese: Cheese has similar benefits to yogurt. Concentrate the cheese around the sore spot and let it slowly melt there.
• Ice Cream: The icy cold dessert can numb moderate tooth discomfort, although sugar content may worsen certain tooth problems.

When to Seek Emergency Dental Care

While milk, yogurt, cheese, or ice cream may relieve minor tooth sensitivity and pain for a short while, they should NOT replace professional dental care.

You need emergency attention from your dentist if you have:

• Unbearable or severe tooth pain
• Sustained pain lasting several days
• Tooth pain radiating to the jaw, neck, or ear
• Tooth pain when breathing air
• Bleeding, swelling, redness, or pus around the tooth
• Possible cracked or broken tooth
• A fever or feeling ill

Leaving dental infections or injuries untreated can have dangerous health complications. It's important to get prompt professional help for persistent, severe, or worsening toothaches.

When to Call Your Dentist

If over-the-counter pain relief and home treatments aren't working OR you develop worrying tooth pain symptoms, immediately call your general dentist for guidance, even after hours.

Based on your situation, they may bring you in for an urgent dental appointment, prescribe antibiotics, recommend seeing an emergency dentist for after-hours treatment, or advise going to the hospital.

The Takeaway

Can milk relieve tooth pain? Yes, cold milk can temporarily soothe minor tooth sensitivity or discomfort thanks to its numbing sensation, coating effects, and protective qualities.

However, milk DOEs NOT resolve the underlying tooth issue or provide lasting pain relief. It should not replace prompt dental treatment of infections, decay, injuries, or other tooth problems.

Use milk as a supplemental home remedy for mild toothaches while arranging urgent dental care. Seek emergency attention right away if your tooth pain persists or becomes severe despite home treatment.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.