Top 10 Home Remedies For Tooth Abscess That Really Work

Mix some turmeric powder with water to make a paste. Then apply this to the affected tooth using a cotton swab. Equally soothing will be an application of a tsp of asafoetida powder fried in butter, fresh garlic juice, or clove oil. Other numbing options include gargling with a mix of 1tsp dried crushed sage, 1t salt in water or swishing warm salt water or black tea for a while.

Are you suffering from an unbearable toothache? You might have a tooth abscess. A tooth abscess is a buildup of pus inside the tooth which forms due to a bacterial infection. An abscess can form when your tooth enamel is damaged either through a cavity or some other injury (say your tooth gets chipped) and bacteria find an opening to enter and infect the pulp in the center of the tooth. This infection is usually painful and can spread from the roots of your tooth to the bones supporting it and even to other parts of the body. If the pus and swelling caused by the infection is relieved then the toothache may stop but the infection may still be active and continue spreading.

Symptoms Of A Tooth Abscess

Here are signs that may indicate that you have a tooth abscess:

  • You experience a severe throbbing or shooting pain in the affected tooth continuously.
  • The pain may spread to your jaw, neck, or ear on the side of the face with the affected tooth.
  • A pimple-like swelling in your gums.
  • An unpleasant taste or bad breath.
  • Sensitivity to cold or hot food.
  • Swollen upper or lower jaw.
  • If the infection spreads you may feel unwell and get a high temperature and in severe cases have trouble swallowing or breathing.

How Do You Treat It?

We know that you don’t like going to the dentist (who does?!) but there’s no helping it. If you have a tooth abscess you need dental treatment as soon as possible. Untreated abscesses may lead to infection in the blood or spread to the jaw bone or other parts of the body and lead to serious complications like inflammation in your heart or brain abscess. Your dentist will remove the infection and drain away the pus. This might involve making a small cut in your gums to drain the abscess, a root canal treatment (where is the abscess is removed from the root of the tooth and it’s then filled and sealed), or removing the tooth. However, if there’s an unavoidable delay in going to the dentist you can try home remedies which can help you manage temporarily.

Home Remedies For Tooth Abscesses

Here are some natural remedies that can help you take care of your abscessed tooth:

1. Clove Oil

Eugenol, a compound present in clove oil has a numbing effect that can help with your toothache. It is also known for its antibacterial action. Add a drop of clove oil to a cotton swab and place it on your tooth cavity for relief. But don’t leave it in for too long, it can irritate your gums and even cause chemical burns, a couple of minutes should be alright though.

2. Garden Sage

This herb has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that can help soothe an aching tooth. It is also used to treat inflamed or bleeding gums (gingivitis). Mix a teaspoon each of dried crushed sage and salt in a glass of water and use it as a gargle. Gargle for at least five minutes and repeat the procedure 2 or 3 times a day till you get some relief from the pain. Camphor and a compound known as 1,8-cineole which are present in sage are thought to be responsible for its anti-inflammatory effect.

3. Ginger And Red Pepper

Both ginger and red pepper are natural analgesics and can be used separately for pain relief. Ginger has components like gomgerol and shogaol which reduce pain and decrease inflammation. and capsaicin which is found in red pepper blocks pain signals to the brain. A mixture of the two can be particularly potent- mix equal parts of both spices in water to make a paste and apply on the affected tooth with a cotton swab for relief. But make sure you keep it away from your gums to avoid irritating them.

4. Sesame Seed

Here comes an ancient remedy from China for your toothache- boil sesame seeds in double the amount of water till the water reduces by half. Wait for the paste to cool and make a pellet which can be placed into the cavity to treat your toothache. Now you should know that morn science backs up this age old remedy. Studies have found that sesame oil has analgesic effects and shows antibacterial activity against S. mutans, and L. acidophilus which are known to cause dental carries.

5. Garlic

Garlic has been traditionally valued for its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. Place a clove of garlic on the affected tooth and chew on it and you’ll find your toothache becoming less intense.

6. Asafoetida

Powdered asafoetida seeds have been used for ages to handle toothaches. So try frying a teaspoon of asafoetida powder in butter and applying it to the affected tooth. Researchers have suggested that sulfur-containing compounds present in asafoetida which can have a desensitizing effect may account for its use as a remedy for toothache.

7. Salt Water

We’ve known about the anti-inflammatory effects of salt water for a long time – the ancient Greeks used it over 2000 years ago! It can also work as a disinfectant and reduce bacteria found in your mouth. Dissolve a teaspoon of salt in a cup of water and swish it around in your mouth for about 30 seconds before spitting it out.

8. Black Tea

Black tea has anti-inflammatory properties too. Soak a tea bag and apply it to the affected part. Or prepare some strong black tea and swish it around in your mouth for a while and spit out.

9. Coriander

Boil 10 gms of coriander seeds in four liters of water till the water reduces to a liter. After the solution cools down swish it around in your mouth for about a minute. You should get some relief from your toothache. An infusion of coriander seed powder in water can also be used as a mouthwash to get rid of bad breath. Coriander has anti-inflammatory properties and has been found to have antibacterial activity against organisms that cause dental carries.

10. Turmeric

Turmeric can reduce inflammation and tackle bacteria. Mix some turmeric powder with water to form a paste and leave this paste on the affected area for about 20 to 25 minutes. This should help with your toothache.

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