Homeopathic medicines are a great addition to dental work whenever there are problems, to reduce anxiety leading up to an appointment and ease pain after being poked and prodded at the dentist. This natural medicine can even help manage pain while waiting for that trip to the dentist. While it cannot replace a filling just as the body cannot heal cavities or a broken tooth, there are plenty of situations when we need support alongside dental work, when we’re either waiting to get in to see our dentist or we have lingering pain after dental work.
Fear of the dentist:
Many people experience anxiety and dread at the thought of a dental appointment and homeopathy can help take the edge off. For fear of the dentist there are primarily two remedies to choose from, Aconite for terror and fear of choking and Gelsemium for dread and anxiety leading up to the event.
Gelsemium 30ch: In most cases, Gelsemium will be the best fit for anxiety leading up to a dental appointment, since it’s an excellent remedy for anticipatory anxiety, whether it’s an exam, an upcoming flight or that trip to the dentist. The emotions felt are all before the event, and usually once you’re there at the dentist having the work done, the unbearable excitement and dread is mostly gone.
Aconite 30ch: Aconitum napellis or Aconite has an entirely different set of symptoms: there is intensity and urgency here, with a fear of dying or fear of choking on the dentist chair. There may be heart palpitations and a sudden urge to run.
For anxiety, I typically recommend the 30ch potency taken the evening before, the morning of and then again right before the appointment. If intense panic arises, take a dose 15 minutes apart for one to three doses though usually if you take the three doses before the appointment, you’ll find the panic quite manageable.
Lingering pain after dental work
Sometimes we experience pain after a dentist visit. Below are some of the top remedies used to help manage pain after dental work and teeth cleaning, but if you can’t find a good fit, seek the advice of a homeopath for a more personalized remedy selection. Homeopathic medicines work best when they suit the symptoms you experience.
Arnica Montana 30ch: Arnica of course is the classic remedy after dental work when there is gum soreness and swelling. It can also be used for that sore achy jaw from holding the mouth open too long. But it’s not the only remedy to think of for dental pain.
Hypericum 30ch: If pain is intense after dental work, with either an electric-like nerve pain or just more pain than you’d expect after dental work, then a few doses of Hypericum will usually do the trick. Hypericum is known as the Arnica of the nerves because it’s so helpful for managing nerve pain and injury.
Ledum 30ch: If the pain is due to the needle and freezing, with coldness and numbness persisting, Ledum is the better fit. Ledum is the primary remedy for any type of puncture wounds. Chamomilla is other remedy to consider after freezing – see below – if it’s not due to the needle but sensitivity to the freezing. If you’re not sure when one to take, then try applying cold: take Ledum if you feel better with the application of cold and Chamomilla if you feel worse or are very sensitive to cold applications.
Chamomilla 30ch: Usually thought of for the teething pain of young children, Chamomilla can also be helpful for excessive pain in the teeth after dental work. The pain is so intense, it puts one into a panic, so that the person – or child – is very upset, to the point of despair, irritability and anger. The tooth is very sensitive to cold, and the pain may be pulsing or drawing. I remember my toddler screaming away in her car seat after being at the dentist. I had to stop the car, give a dose of Chamomilla and within a minute of two she was sound asleep. When she woke up she was back to her old happy self and the tooth was no longer an issue.
Dental surgery
Arnica and Hypericum are at the top on the list for dental surgery: As mentioned in a previous blog on homeopathy to speed recovery after surgery , Arnica and Hypericum are the best choice after any dental surgery, whether it’s periodontal surgery or removal of a tooth. To start, take Arnica 30ch and Hypericum 30ch every 2 hours for 3 doses and then continue three times daily for up to a week or until the healing is well underway. While I don’t often recommend that remedies be taken together, I think it’s fine in this case. Arnica helps the body repair the soft tissue damage, managing any swelling and bruising, while the Hypericum supports nerve recovery and helps ease pain. Homeopathic remedies do not conflict with the action of painkillers, so it’s fine to continue to take them if needed. According to research, homeopathy usually reduces the need for painkillers after injuries and surgeries just because the body recovers faster and with less complications.
For potential problems with dental implants or bone grafting, seek the expertise of a homeopath to guide you through the remedy choice as there are a number of other remedies that may be indicated.
Pain while waiting for the dentist
There are times when we are in pain while waiting for an appointment booked the next day – or worse, on the Monday after a long weekend. Homeopathy could help you survive in the meantime.
Plantago 30ch: This remedy made from plantain is one of the main remedies for a toothache that is unbearably painful and sensitive to touch. There are remedies to consider, but this one is by far the most common and it’s a near specific for tooth pain, although you likely won’t find it in your homeopathy first aid kit as it’s not a common remedy for anything other than tooth pain. The symptoms are boring, digging, intense tooth pain. The pain may shoot up inside the cheek like a facial neuralgia and the gums may bleed easily. The teeth may even feel like they are too long. Both heat and cold aggravate the tooth and only resting quietly may offer mild improvement.
Hepar sulphuris Calcareum 30ch: This Hahnemannian homeopathic calcium sulphide mixture can help ease the pain of a smarting abscessed tooth while waiting for your dental appointment. If you need Hepar sulph, then you’ll find the pain to be sharp, splinter-like, with stitches that may extend to the ears. You may want to hold the cheek with your hand to protect it against the slightest cold draft.
Silica 30ch: Silicea or Silica should also be considered for an abscessed tooth, but in this case the pain is bearable and the abscess develops slowly over days. In some cases, the only symptom is a lump at the base of the gums – I’ve seen Silica help resolve the lump while waiting to see the dentist.
General guidelines for dosages:
For intense symptoms, take a dose – usually 3-5 pills – and dissolve on the tongue every 1-2 hours for three doses and then three times daily as symptoms subside or every 4 hours if moderate symptoms continue.
For moderate symptoms, take a dose every 4 hours for three doses and then three times daily or as needed if symptoms are mostly better.
For mild symptoms, it is recommended to take a dose one to three times daily.
Note that to make a dose stronger, repeat more often rather than taking more pills at a time. For more information about dosages, see this previous blog.
Schuessler Cell Salts
The Schuessler cell salts are a wonderful addition to the homeopathic remedies above. They work more slowly but can be taken over a longer period of time to help strengthen the teeth and gums and keep them healthy. I always think of the cell or tissue salts as something between a supplement and a homeopathic medicines, ensuring the minerals go to where they are needed in the body.
Calc fluor 6x, Calc phos 6x and Silica 6x are all recommended if there is a tendency to cavities. Take a dose three times daily for at least three weeks and they can be taken on and off for a few months. For spongy gums that are unhealthy and bleed easily, take Kali phos 6x. Also remember Mag phos 6x to take the edge off any pain or dental neuralgia. When there’s pain, take frequently: hourly if needed – or dissolve in a 1/4 cup of water and sip frequently.
Of course none of the cell salts or homeopathic remedies can be a replacement for regular brushing and flossing, eating healthy and keeping yourself healthy and in a state of well being. If mouth breathing is an issue due to allergies, this can also lead to cavities, and should be addressed by a few regular visits to your local homeopath for a constitutional remedy.