6. Whiskey
The thinking: In addition to its inebriating effects, some people believe whiskey can help relieve tooth or gum pain.
"I suspect people think whiskey is something of an analgesic," says David A. Russell, DMD, associate dean at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine.
While adults could use their tooth pain as an opportunity to imbibe, people have also been known to use it on teething babies.
"When babies' teeth were coming through, I remember people recommending putting whiskey on your finger and then rubbing it on a baby's gums," says Russell.
What it actually does: "If the pain is in the tooth, and it's a nerve that is inflamed, there is no way whiskey will do anything," says Russell. "And, if it's gum pain, maybe there's some soothing effect of the actual alcohol against the gum tissue, but that's it. At the very best, this whiskey business just made people feel better if they used enough of it."
What to do instead: "Pain, especially in the tooth or gums, is a sign of some harmful process going on," says Russell. "The most immediate thing you should do is call your dentist."
Russell explains aspirin is another home remedy for tooth pain that doesn't work.
"Another myth is to put an aspirin tablet on the tooth or gum," says Russell. "This is dangerous because aspirin is very acidic -- you can actually see the round imprint of the tablet burned into the gum where the person put the aspirin tablet."
Aspirin should never be given to children or infants because it is associated with Reye's syndrome. To soothe teething pain, parents can give infant-formula ibuprofen or acetaminophen, rub their gums, and provide safe items for them to chew.
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