A tooth abscess is a painful condition caused mainly due to an infection between a tooth and the gum or at the root of your tooth. It is usually the outcome of severe tooth decay. Other causes are gingivitis, trauma to your tooth, such as when it is chipped or broken, and gum diseases. All these issues lead to an opening in the tooth enamel, which gives bacteria a chance to infect the center of your tooth.
The common symptoms of an abscessed tooth include throbbing, shooting, or sharp pain in your tooth, swollen gums, fever, and bad breath, etc. If left untreated, the infection can spread to your jaw as well as other areas of your neck and head, leading to life-threatening complications. It is important to see a dentist if you have an abscessed tooth. Your dentist will use a combination of pain relievers and infection-fighting substances to treat the problem, but you can also take self-care measures and try the following home remedies for abscess tooth to manage things on your own.
Home Remedies for Abscessed Tooth
Tea Bag
The presence of tannin in tea makes the tea bag suitable for treating infection and pain. It even absorbs pus from your tooth and helps relieve pain, swelling, and inflammation.
How to Use:
For instant relief, simply take a dry tea bag and sprinkle it with salt.
Place it besides the affected area or the infected tooth. Leave it in your mouth for about one to two hours for pain relief.
Garlic
Due to its anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties, garlic can work amazingly well to clear infections and inflammation. This tooth abscess home remedy also helps cleanse your lymphatic system and improves blood circulation.
How to Use:
Simply squeeze a raw garlic clove to get its juice and apply it directly on your affected tooth.
Alternatively, you can chew garlic clove and keep chewing until the pain subsides.
Clove Oil
Clove oil has antiseptic, anti-fungal, analgesic, and anti-bacterial properties, so it works amazingly well to clear infections and treat toothache. The presence of other nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids, manganese, and fiber makes it even effective in reducing pain and inflammation.
How to Use:
Brush your teeth with clove oil and be gentle on your infected tooth.
Massaging your gum or the infected area with clove oil will also help.
Chewing on clove is a good idea as well, but don't swallow too much of its juice or else it will cause hyperacidity.
Oil Pulling
Oil pulling is an ancient ayurvedic practice and definitely be one of the most effective home remedies for abscessed tooth. The oil contains lipids that will extract bacteria out of the walls in the oral cavity. It works great to relieve pain and swelling.
How to Use:
Place a tablespoon of organic coconut oil in your mouth and swish it nicely.
Be sure to spit it out after a while and never swallow it because it contains fungus, bacteria, and other organisms pulled out from your teeth.
Rinse off your mouth and repeat 2 or 3 times a day until the infection clears out completely.
Olive Oil
It is an effective home remedy because it contains a chemical called eugenol that eliminates bacteria and alleviates pain caused by your abscessed tooth.
How to Use:
Soak a cotton ball in a tablespoon of olive oil and place it over your infected tooth.
Repeat daily to reduce pain and cure your abscessed tooth.
Plantain Leave
The natural anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties of plantain leave make it great for healing wounds, relieving pain and inflammation associated with skin or tooth problems.
How to Use:
Crush a few fresh plantain leaves and apply the paste on your infected tooth.
Leave it for about 20 minutes. Then spit it out and rinse off your mouth thoroughly.
Repeat a few times a day for better effects.
Baking Soda
Baking soda improves pH level in your mouth and helps neutralize saliva to prevent further remineralization of your tooth. It also works as mechanical cleanser of gums and teeth.
How to Use:
Take 1/2 teaspoon of salt and baking soda and mix well.
Damp a cotton ball in it and place it directly over your infected tooth.
Leave it for a few hours until the pain subsides. Repeat as needed.
Turmeric
Turmeric has antiseptic, antibiotic, and anti-inflammatory properties, so it really helps clear the infections and promote overall oral health.
How to Use:
Make a paste by adding some water to a teaspoon of turmeric powder.
Apply it on your infected tooth using a cotton ball.
Leave it for about half an hour and rinse off with warm water.
Cold Compress
Cold compress will help alleviate pain by reducing swelling.
How to Use:
You can apply an icepack inside your cheek directly over the infected tooth or use a cold water bottle for this purpose.
Repeat whenever you experience the pain.
Salt Water
Gargling with salt water is always among the most effective home remedies for abscessed tooth and other oral problems. Go for lukewarm saline water because it relaxes your oral cavity and reduces pain and inflammation.
How to Use:
You can use Epson salt, unrefined sea salt, or ordinary salt for this purpose.
Just mix a teaspoon of salt in a glass of lukewarm water and let it dissolves completely.
Gargle with this sea salt water.
Note: Remember, you may experience more pain when you start gargling. It's perfectly normal. Keep gargling, and then you will feel better after that. Don't swallow any blood or pus that comes out of the abscess because of gargling.
- Consider drinking 1/2 glass of wheatgrass juice to find some relief from your abscessed tooth.
- Be sure to brush and floss your teeth regularly.
- Rinse your mouth regularly with an antimicrobial mouthwash to prevent infection.
- Buy toothpaste that contains fluoride because it reduces the risk of developing abscessed tooth.
- Quit smoking, limit alcohol and sugary items, and avoid chewing gum.
- Avoid caffeine when you're experiencing pain due to an abscessed tooth.
- Stick to a healthy diet plan and eat fewer grains when you're experiencing pain.
- Visit your dentist regularly to find and correct issues in the beginning.
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