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Remedios caseros: Cómo matar un nervio dental expuesto

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Revisado por Dr. Dennis Rollins, DDO |

Julio de 2025 - 6 min Leer

Reviewed By Dr. Dennis Rollins, DDO | Julio 2025 - 6 min Read

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If you’re experiencing pain from an exposed tooth nerve, the first thing to do is make an appointment with a dentist. There is no home cure, but there are some methods that can help you manage while you wait for that appointment. 

These include:

Over-the-Counter Pain Relievers
Use ibuprofen or acetaminophen as directed to reduce pain and inflammation.

Cold Compress
Hold an ice pack, bag of frozen peas, or cold cloth to the outside of your cheek or mouth near the affected tooth. Keep it on for up to 15 minutes at a time, with 10-minute breaks in between. This will help numb pain and reduce swelling.

Saltwater Rinse
Combine 1/2 teaspoon of salt with 8 ounces of warm water. Use that solution to rinse your mouth gently. This will help clean the area and reduce bacteria.

Temporary Filling Material
Many pharmacies sell dental wax or other temporary filling materials, which you can use to cover the exposed area, shielding it from air, food, and drink.

Diet Restriction
Hot, cold, spicy, or sugary foods and drinks can intensify pain, so stick to soft, lukewarm, and nutrient-dense options. (Avoid chewing with the affected tooth.)

Keep in mind that while these methods can help relieve your pain, they will not solve the cause of that pain. For that, you’ll need to visit a dentist.

Home remedies for exposed tooth nerve with icons for meds, cold compress, saltwater rinse, filling, and soft foods

What NOT to Do

The pain and stress of an exposed nerve can make you want to try almost anything for relief, but some so-called remedies can actually make the situation worse. 

  • Do not apply alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, or bleach to the tooth. Any of these can make the sensitivity worse, damage your tooth enamel, and even burn tissue.

  • Do not place aspirin or any other painkiller on the tooth or the surrounding gum. Not only will this fail to relieve pain effectively, but it can also cause chemical burns.

  • Do not try to cover the area with glue, wax, or any other non-dental adhesives. Those products are often toxic and can damage both the tooth and the surrounding tissues.

  • Do not attempt to file, scrape, or drill the tooth yourself. Playing dentist can easily lead to infection, permanent tooth damage, and other severe complications.

  • Do not apply essential oils in concentrated form to the area. Although this can temporarily relieve pain, it can also cause burning and exacerbate the pain.

Four Reasons to Call a Dentist About Nerve Pain

  1. An exposed nerve usually means advanced decay, a broken tooth, or severe enamel loss. These are conditions that won’t heal on their own. In fact, they’re likely to get worse if left untreated. 

  2. Exposed nerve tissue is vulnerable to bacteria, which can lead to abscesses or even systemic infection. 

  3. Nothing you can do at home will relieve the pain for long. Painkillers, rinses, and cold compresses can provide temporary relief, but only a dentist can offer a long-term solution. 

  4. Dentists treat exposed tooth nerves all the time and have a variety of effective ways to ease your pain and save your tooth. After a visit to a dentist, most people experience rapid relief.

     

Si necesita ayuda para encontrar un dentista en su zona, haga clic en aquí o llámenos al (888) 597-3896.  

Signs of an Exposed Nerve

There are many different kinds of tooth pain, but an exposed nerve usually comes with specific signs, including:

  • Sharp and severe pain that flares up suddenly, often radiating into the jaw or head.
  • Extreme sensitivity to triggers like biting or chewing, hot, cold, or sweet food and drinks, or even cool air.
  • Pain that is slow to fade after a trigger.
  • Visual damage, such as a deep cavity, a broken or chipped tooth, or exposed inner tooth material.
 

If none of the symptoms above quite fit your experience, your tooth pain might have a different cause.

Other Possible Causes of Tooth Pain

  • If sensitivity triggers cause only mild pain that goes away quickly, you may only have a cavity that has not yet exposed a nerve.
  • If you feel pain at the gumline that’s zinging but not deep or lingering, you may have only gum recession or gum sensitivity. 
  • If the pain comes and goes and is only sometimes triggered by chewing, you may have a tooth with a chip that has not exposed a nerve. 
  • Intense pain along with swelling, pus, a bump on the gum, fever, and/or a bad taste can indicate an abscess.

Keep in mind that any of these issues is reason enough to call a dentist, who will be able to relieve your pain by treating the underlying cause.   

What to Say and Ask When You Call a Dentist

Be ready to tell them exactly where your pain is and how long the pain has been going on. Describe any factors that make it worse, such as chewing, heat, or cold. Let them know about any other symptoms you’re experiencing, such as swelling, fever, or trouble eating or sleeping. Notify them of any medications you’ve taken for relief and how effective they’ve been. 

Having these details ready helps the office understand the urgency and can increase your chances of getting a same-day visit.

You’ll also want to ask them if they offer same-day or emergency appointments. Get their recommendations for pain management in the meantime, and ask what foods, drinks, and activities they advise avoiding.

Lastly, ask if you should plan to have someone to drive you home after your treatment.

List of what to tell and ask your dentist about tooth pain, with tips on describing symptoms and key questions to ask

How Calming Down Can Help

It’s natural for tooth nerve pain and the prospect of dental treatment to cause stress and anxiety, and when you’re stressed, your body produces more stress hormones, which can make you even more sensitive to that pain.

Stress and anxiety can also lead to clenching your jaw or grinding your teeth, which can make nerve pain worse. They can also spike your body’s inflammatory response, further amplifying your discomfort. 

Try the methods below to relax, which can help reduce your pain. 

  • Practice slow, deep breathing, which tells your nervous system to calm down.
  • Try progressive muscle relaxation, relaxing your jaw and face muscles to relieve pressure around the affected tooth.
  • Seek distraction by listening to calming music, reading, or watching a favorite show or movie.
  • Think positively about the relief you’ll feel after your dental treatment.

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