Accidental dental damage

Posted on: 17 January 2019

If you've got a really bad toothache and your dentist isn't open, then you will be looking for ways to deal with the pain until you can get the tooth looked at. You may have tried painkillers and salt water washes, but your pain doesn't seem to be getting any better.

You're open to suggestions here, and your family or friends may have given you some tips on how to dull the pain. A shot of whisky seems to be a popular choice. You're told that this will stop the pain and fix the tooth. Is this true?

Does Whisky Fix Toothache?

Spirit alcohols like whisky may give you some short-term pain relief if you have a toothache. Alcohol can numb the tooth and give you a rest from its aching or throbbing.

Drinking a shot of whisky won't help at all — the alcohol needs to touch the tooth for a while. So, use it as a mouthwash. You also don't need that much of it. Take a decently-sized sip and then swish the whisky around the tooth that hurts.

The alcohol may sting to start with, but you'll typically find that the tooth and its gum go a bit numb quite quickly. Depending on the reason behind the toothache and its severity, this may stop your pain for anything up to a few hours.

It's up to you whether you swallow the alcohol or spit it out. If you're fully dosed up on painkillers, you may prefer to spit it out after you've used it. Alcohol and painkillers don't mix. Plus, you may want to repeat the process when the pain comes back, so spitting the whisky out at least keeps you sober.

Does Whisky Fix Problem Teeth?

If you've ever watched an old Western movie where someone needs medical help in the desert, say when a cowboy needs a stray Indian arrow removed, then you probably saw someone pour whisky over the wound as an antiseptic. While it is true that alcohol has antiseptic properties, it won't do much to fix your underlying tooth problem.

Using a whisky mouthwash may clean out the affected tooth a little. It may even stop an infection from getting worse. However, the whisky isn't a substitute for dental treatment. Even if your pain goes away and stays away, you still need to see your dentist as soon as you can.

If you have a problem with decay or infection, then it'll get worse later even if it stops hurting now. So, make an appointment to see your dentist as soon as they open again.