When someone is grimacing and holding his or her face in the general mouth area, it usually means tooth pain that just won’t quit. We use the following remedy to help soothe the pain after a tooth extraction, but you can try it on any toothache until your dentist can see you.

Mix one teaspoon of Epsom salts with one cup of hot water. Swish the mixture around in your mouth, and spit it out. (Do not swallow it—unless you need a laxative.) One cup should do the trick. But if the pain recurs, get the Epsom salts and start swishing again.

More tooth-care wisdom…

• Squeeze Away Your Toothache

• The Best and Safest Teeth-Whitening Techniques

• A Toothache Can Turn Deadly