Dear Henrietta,
I’ve been super excited about Valentine’s Day this year, because I finally got a date with a beautiful girl that works at Baxter’s and I’m taking her to out to dinner for a romantic evening. I even have a special surprise for her: a ballroom dancing class. The only problem is that I’ve developed this terrible toothache, and I refuse to go to the dentist because they terrify me. Are there any home remedies that you can suggest to get rid of my tooth pain fast, so I can go out and have the night of my dreams?
Signed,
Tormented Romeo
Dear Tormented Romeo,
Oh, you poor dear. Toothaches really are miserable—but not as bad as the pain of a broken heart, so let’s get to work to make you feel better!
Here are some ideas:
• First, there are a couple of old-fashioned remedies that can help a toothache:
º Rinsing with salt-water or diluted hydrogen peroxide
º Creating compresses with either ice, peppermint tea bags, or crushed garlic
º Applying essential oils or extracts of clove, vanilla, or thyme
• Now, if you don’t feel better in a few days, you’re going to have to “bite the bullet” and go to the dentist—scared or not! If you have any of the following symptoms, get medical help right away:
º Fever, swelling in the face, pain when you bite down, red gums, or a metallic
tasting discharge
So there you are! Problem solved. I hope this helps, and Happy Valentine’s Day!
Enjoy your evening of fun, and don’t eat that garlic right before your date!
Love,
Henrietta
Henrietta Craven was born and raised in New Bern and enjoys gardening, hunting bears and improvisational dance. She is a self-proclaimed expert on a wide variety of subjects including (but not limited to) fashion, mixology, and cooking. Henrietta resides in a lovely Victorian home in downtown New Bern with her five cats: Graffenreid, Bethune, Devereux, Stanton and Carraway.