Most toothaches are caused by either a cavity (tooth decay) or an infection under the tooth or next to the tooth in the gums. In any of these cases, you should be extra careful if your symptoms include fever; red, swollen, or bleeding gums; unusually bad breath despite thorough brushing and flossing; constant toothaches; or toothaches during or just after eating. If you have any of these symptoms, you should make an appointment with a dentist immediately.

Emergency care: In the rare case that a toothache is accompanied by pain in the lower jaw, neck, chest (in collarbone region) or upper arm, then seek emergency care immediately. Heart attacks and angina reduce oxygen supplies to the mouth, and this can manifest as a toothache. These may not be what you're suffering from, but it's better to err on the side of safety and be examined by a healthcare professional.

All remedies presented in this article aren't meant to replace proper dental care. A cavity is still a cavity and will need to be filled at some point. These remedies offer relief in the meantime and may prevent the condition from worsening. Even if one of the remedies works very well for you, it's still a good idea to consult a dentist about a toothache. Ignored pains can sometimes resurface as more painful ailments that are more expensive to treat.

• Your first step, not surprisingly, will be to take the pain reliever of your choice.

• Numb the pain. Apply an ice pack on your cheek--line it up with the aching tooth inside your mouth. Especially if you have an infection, this will reduce swelling and discomfort in the area. Some toothaches aren't caused by infection; they respond well to moist heat and worsen with cold. If cold seems to intensify the pain in the tooth (and doesn't just feel unpleasantly cold on your cheek) then try a hot water bottle, a heat pack, or a hot water bottle.

• Soak a piece of cotton with oil of cloves, and pack it on a tooth (works especially well for cavities). Avoid drinking or eating any substances that might irritate the tooth. For example, foods or drinks that are either very hot or very cold, or contain sugar, or require a lot of crunching or chewing. Gum is also best avoided, even if it's sugar-free. If you're seeing a dentist that day, consider not eating at all until you've had a chance to meet. No food?!? Unless it's baby-food consistency, any food is bound to irritate the situation and should be avoided if the pain is severe.

• Gargle; In the meantime, make a saltwater gargle out of a pint (.5 liter) of clean water and 1/2 to 1 teaspoon (about 10-15 mg) of salt. This will keep the area clean and may flush out any problem-causing bacteria.

• Chop up some garlic, place in cheesecloth, and apply to tooth;

• Crush garlic and apply to the wrist that's on the side opposite of the tooth. By the next morning the pain may have vanished! This remedy works particularly well for infections, since garlic is a potent anti-bacterial agent.

• Place several drops of vanilla extract directly on the tooth. If nothing else, the alcohol in the extract will serve as an antiseptic to an infection.

• Mix a half-teaspoon (about 8 mg) each of salt and alum. To relieve pain and swelling, pack the mixture in the tooth cavity and around it at the gumline.