What Is An Abscess Tooth?
A tooth abscess is a collection of pus which is formed by the body’s defense mechanism to trap and stop an infection from spreading into the bloodstream. The pus is made up of dead tissues, white blood cells and bacteria.
The infection spreads to the inner layers of the tooth when a tooth cavity or caries is left untreated. Cavity or caries are formed when foreign substances enter into the tooth through weak enamel, a chipped tooth, or a cracked tooth.
Neglected tooth abscess often leads to life-threatening complications. Analyze your tooth’s current infection stage to make the right decision towards healing it.
There are different home remedies for tooth abscess mentioned below that can help reduce your pain instantly. Not only that, if you are looking for a complete guide to improve oral hygiene and prevent tooth problems, I suggest you to keep reading!
What Causes Tooth Abscess?
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Many modern dentists and commercial tooth products blame bacteria for the infection. Yet it’s not exactly true. We cannot ignore the fact that bacteria are present everywhere and every time.
If bacteria are really the main reason then our teeth would have been decayed while we were still kids. Poor dental hygiene and weak immune systems are the main reasons behind tooth decay.
Such infection mostly takes place in wisdom teeth because they are in the farthest corner and tough to clean. Plus, they may have a decay or cavity that goes unnoticed.
Click below to find the best-selling toothbrush specially designed for hard-to-reach areas.
Tooth Abscess Symptoms:
- Persistent and severe toothache.
- Pain that spreads to the ear, neck, and jaw on the side of the affected tooth.
- Sensitivity to cold and hot temperatures.
- Pain while chewing.
- Redness and swelling of your face and jaw.
- Foul smelling and foul tasting fluid in your mouth.
- Discoloration of the tooth.
- Swollen lymph nodes under your jaw.
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Apart from the above if you are experiencing high fever, difficulty in breathing or swallowing it is recommended to consult a dentist immediately for proper tooth abscess treatment. If it is less severe please read on so we can help you become pain-free sooner rather than later!
Recommended Solution To Relieve Pain Quickly
Are you suffering daily from the pain of a tooth infection?
You are not alone.
I was dealing with the same an entire weekend before finally trying out all of the remedies below and eventually finding the magic trick to getting rid of the aching pain.
Trust me, you won't want to wait any longer than you have to in order to ease the throbbing pain. Your mouth and your sanity will thank you for going for the immediate solution. You don't even need to go to the dentist or take antibiotics to get the relief you are looking for.
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If you are wanting to experiment with homemade concoctions to try and help alleviate some of the pain, feel free to read on for some great ideas to utilize things you probably already have at your home.
However, if you are ready to take action right NOW with the most effective method to ease the pain I have great news for you - and there are no pain killers or dentists required!
To learn more about the best medication-free method to relieve an abscess tooth just click here.
Home Remedies For Abscess Tooth:
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If you choose to opt for self-care, note that the following methods will not completely resolve the abscess but can help control the painful symptoms temporarily until you see a dentist. So, try out these abscess tooth home remedies and thank me later!
1. Garlic
Garlic contains a sulfur-containing amino acid called allicin which is rich in antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. (2) It also contains natural anesthetic properties which provide relief from pain and sensitivity.
- Apply freshly extracted garlic juice or garlic paste or sliced clove on the infected tooth for few minutes and rinse off with water.
- You can also add garlic juice into a cup of water and gargle with it 2 – 3 times in a day.
- Add garlic to your cooking or salads to strengthen your immune system and combat the infection.
Caution: Avoid internal consumption of garlic 2 weeks before surgery as it can increase the risk of bleeding.
Note: Garlic application may cause slight burning sensation initially but it will reduce in some time. Avoid its application on the cheek for a long time as it can cause garlic burns.
Garlic Supplements:
Garlic supplements can also be used to treat tooth pain and discomfort. Crush the tablet, mix it with some water, and apply the paste on the infected tooth for few minutes. Rinse off with water thoroughly.
Related post - How to Use Garlic for Abscess Tooth
2. Clove Oil
The eugenol present in cloves contains powerful anesthetic and antiseptic properties which numb the aching nerve. (3, 4)
It also contains anti-fungal, antiseptic and bactericidal properties which wipe off the germs causing infection.
As per Atlanta Dental Group, dentists use clove oil to treat tooth pain temporarily until they insert permanent filling which helps to avoid a root canal. As per Germany’s regulatory agency for herbs has approved clove oil use in dentistry as a topical anesthetic.
Cloves can be used in three forms – oil, ground and whole.
- Clove Oil: Gently rub clove oil on the affected tooth. Or else dip a cotton ball in clove oil and place it on the affected tooth as long as possible. For some people clove oil can cause burning sensation, they can dilute it in olive oil and apply it to the infected tooth.
- Ground Clove: Mix ground clove and coconut/sesame/mustard oil. Apply a small amount of the mixture to the infected tooth.
- Whole Cloves: Chew on 1 - 2 whole cloves by placing them on the infected tooth. Let the juices stay there for few minutes and spit them out.
Whichever method you choose make sure to repeat it 2 – 3 times in a day to get relief.
Caution: As per MedlinePlus, topical application of clove oil should be used for treating dental problems only on a short-term basis.
3. Oil Pulling
- Take a tablespoon of coconut oil into the mouth. Swish or pull it around and through the teeth without swallowing it.
- You have to do this for about 20 minutes and spit it out. Now, you can observe that oil has turned into white from clear. This is an indication of right oil pulling.
- Rinse mouth thoroughly with water and pat dry.
- Repeat the process 2 – 3 times daily or as needed.
This was my favorite remedy when I was suffering from the same problem. Oil pulling is a great oral health practice that you can employ on a regular basis. If you're going to be doing this regularly, look around for coupons and deals when you buy your virgin coconut oil by bulk. For example, if you live in the UK, you can check out offers from Dealslands.
While oil pulling certainly helped wind down the aching pain in my mouth, it wasn't until I took the next steps before my pain was gone for good.
To get instant relief from a tooth abscess click here.
4. Peppermint Oil
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Peppermint oil contains antiseptic properties which help to combat the bacteria causing this problem. It also contains anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties. (5)
- Gently massage peppermint oil on the infected area using your fingers or a cotton ball.
- Repeat the application 2 – 3 times in a day or as required.
- Alternatively, you can apply crushed peppermint leaves on the infected area.
5. Warm Salt Water
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Salt contains antimicrobial and disinfectant properties which not only help to combat bacteria but also reduce pain, inflammation and other discomfort in the tooth and gums. (6)
Warm salt water also helps to drain the pus and prevent infection from spreading to other parts of the mouth. For this process, you can either use Epsom salt, unrefined sea salt or ordinary salt.
- Add 1 teaspoon of salt into a glass of warm water.
- Mix well until the salt gets completely diluted.
- Rinse your mouth with the solution and spit it out.
- Repeat the process at least 2 times in a day.
Note: You may experience increased pain in the first few washes before providing relief.
6. Herbal Tea Bag
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The tannins present in tea acts as astringent which clears the infection by absorbing the toxins and flushing out the pus. The caffeine present in tea contains analgesic properties which help to reduce pain and swelling. (7)
- Place a used wet tea bag on the infected tooth before going to sleep.
- Leave it overnight and remove it in them morning.
- Rinse with salt water.
- Repeat the process regularly to get relief from the tooth pain and reduce abscess.
7. Oregano Oil
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Oregano oil contains two powerful compounds called carvacrol and thymol. These compounds contains anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties. (8). Its application also helps to ease pain and reduce swelling effectively.
- Directly apply few drops of oregano oil on the infected tooth.
- Alternatively, you can add few drops of oregano oil into 1/4 cup of water and use it to rinse your mouth.
- Repeat any process 2 – 4 times in a day or as needed.
8. Potato
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The alkaline nature of potato has antiseptic properties effect on the infection. The acidic property of potato pulp sloughs off the dead skin cells and infected material. Potassium present in potato plays a major role in speeding up the healing process.
Though there are no scientific studies backing up the claim, many people got relief from this problem using the following potato remedy.
- Place a raw potato slice between the infected area and cheek before going to sleep.
- Leave it overnight and remove in the morning.
- Rinse with water thoroughly.
- Follow the method regularly as needed.
9. Sesame Seeds
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Sesame seeds are effective in treating this problem as they contain antibacterial properties. They also help to reduce pain and inflammation.
- Bring a cup of water to boil.
- Add 4 teaspoon of sesame seeds into it and simmer for 5 minutes.
- Remove from the flame and let it cool down to room temperature.
- Using a cotton ball, apply the water on the affected tooth.
- Repeat the application few times in a day or as required.
10. Apple Cider Vinegar
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Apple cider vinegar contains anti-inflammatory and disinfectant properties which makes it an effective remedy for your tooth problem. It also provides relief from tooth pain and some oral diseases related to bacteria (9)
- Dip a cotton ball into unfiltered apple cider vinegar.
- Place it on the infected teeth and leave it on for few minutes.
- Remove it and rinse your mouth thoroughly with water.
- Repeat the process as required.
For added benefits: Add 1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar into a glass of water and drink it.
11. Baking Soda
Baking soda normalizes the pH levels of the saliva in the mouth which in turn makes your teeth resistant to bacterial infections. The cleansing property of baking soda exfoliates any bacteria and other foreign particles present in the mouth. (10)
- Combine 1/2 teaspoon each of baking soda and salt.
- Roll a damp cotton ball in the mixture and place it in-between the affected tooth and cheek.
- Leave it on for 3 – 5 hours.
- Repeat regularly as needed.
Alternative Method: Apply baking soda directly to the infected tooth. Or else swish your mouth using baking soda (1 teaspoon) diluted water (1 glass).
12. Olive Oil
Olive oil contains antibacterial properties which help to combat with the infection causing bacteria. It also helps to provide relief from inflammation and pain.
- Using a cotton ball, apply olive oil on the infected tooth and sore gums.
- Or else you can take 1 tablespoon of olive oil into mouth. Swish for few minutes and spit out.
- You can repeat any process 2 – 3 times in a day.
13. Calendula
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Calendula and its extracts have been used since many ages to treat a wide range of ailments. It contains antiplaque and anti-gingivitis properties. (11) Its leaves help to provide relief from infection, inflammation and pain.
- Crush calendula leaves into a smooth paste.
- Using a cotton swab, apply the paste on the affected tooth.
- Leave it on for 15 – 20 minutes and rinse your mouth thoroughly with water.
- Repeat the process regularly as needed.
Alternative Method: Use oral gels or toothpastes containing calendula.
14. Hydrogen Peroxide
Being a natural disinfectant, hydrogen peroxide prevents bacterial growth and prevents it from spreading to other areas. It also helps to reduce inflammation and pain effectively.
- Mix 2 teaspoons of hydrogen peroxide and a tablespoon of warm water.
- Rinse your mouth with the solution and spit it out.
- Repeat the process regularly as needed.
Alternative Method: Using a cotton ball, apply the solution to the affected area. Leave it on for few minutes and rinse off with water.
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15. Plantain
Plantain contains anti-inflammatory and soothing properties which help to reduce swollen gums. They also help to combat the bacteria causing infection.
- Crush few plantain leaves into a smooth paste.
- Apply the paste on the affected area.
- Leave it on for 20 minutes or until the pain is gone.
- Rinse with water thoroughly.
- Repeat the method 2 – 3 times daily or as needed.
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16. Papaya
Papaya is a wonderful fruit which contains a repository of nutrients which helps to combat the infection. Apart from that, it also boosts the immune system to fight the infection from within.
- Place a fresh papaya slice on the affected area and gum tissues.
- Leave it on for 10 minutes and rinse with an antiseptic mouthwash.
- Repeat the method regularly as needed.
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17. Cold Compress
A cold compress is one of the first things you have to do while suffering from tooth pain. The coolness numbs the nerves carrying pain signals. It also reduce inflammation of the gums and face.
- Warp some ice cubes in a clean cloth.
- Place it outside the mouth on the infected area.
- Leave it on for 10 – 15 minutes.
- Repeat the method regularly as needed.
Note: Instead of ice compress, use a frozen bag of vegetables or a cold water bottle.
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18. Turmeric
As per a study, it confirmed that turmeric is very helpful for treating gingivitis. As per Indian Journal of Dental Research, it is effective in treating most of them including tooth infection by reducing swelling pain and bacteria. (12, 13)
- Combine 1 teaspoon turmeric powder and water to make a paste.
- Apply the paste on the infected tooth.
- Leave it on for 15 – 20 minutes and rinse off with water thoroughly.
- Repeat the process 2 times in a day.
Alternative Method: Add 1/2 teaspoon of turmeric powder and 1 teaspoon of salt into a glass of water. Using this solution rinse your mouth. Repeat the process regularly.
19. Tooth Infection Healing Recipe
Last but not least, this recipe helps to provide effective relief in stopping tooth infection and throbbing pain related to it. This a raw food dish so try it only if you are ok to consume it.
- Into a glass jar, add 4oz yellow butter, 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper and 1 tablespoon raw honey.
- Close the lid and immerse into a bowl of hot water.
- Once the ingredients are melted, add ground bison/beef or lamb.
- Stir well and consume it.
Luckily I never had to resort to the raw food recipe above since my pain was already resolved by the time I found out about it - shout out to my friend Becky for the recipe!
[Please Read] - Help is Right Around The Corner
If you have tried one or more remedies on this list and still have some throbbing pain in your mouth, there is truly only one more thing you need to try.
This next solution is bound to be your go-to protocol for overcoming an tooth infection.
All you need to do is click here to rid yourself of that pesky pain once and for all!
Tips and Precautions to Prevent or Treat Tooth Abscess
In addition to home remedies or doctor’s treatment, these tips help to speed up recovery and more importantly prevent you from having an abscessed tooth in future.
1. Reduce Intake Of High-Sugar Diet
Consuming a high-sugar would eventually causes tooth decay which further leads to an abscessed tooth as bacteria can quickly thrive on sugar. If you are thirsty, drink healthier thirst-quenchers instead of sugar-rich drinks.
2. Avoid Acidic Beverages
Examples of these beverages include lime juice, lemon juice, and cranberry juice. The acid content in these beverages are high enough to erode teeth enamel if consistently consumed. Below are some tips to note when you drink these beverages
- Sip acidic drinks with a straw rather than drinking them, to avoid tooth enamel erosion.
- Rinse mouth with water after drinking acidic beverages.
- Wait for about 30 minutes before brushing your teeth after consuming acidic beverages, so the toothbrush does not rub acid on the teeth which further damage your teeth.
3. Good Oral Hygiene
Good oral hygiene is the first defense you can create to prevent tooth decay. A regular dental routine to maintain a good oral hygiene includes brushing, flossing and rinsing. Apart from dental routine, it is also important to choose toothpaste with some natural ingredients.
Replace your toothbrush once in every 3 months of use or when it gets blunt or frayed. Ensure you engage in routine dental flossing. Dental flossing does not only help remove plaque and particles of food, but it also reduces the risk of tooth decay, tooth abscess and other gum diseases. Using a medicated mouth wash can also help remove bacteria and prevent plaque buildup.
Brushing
It is recommended to brush twice in day (in the morning and night) for 2 minutes. Below are few tips you should follow while brushing.
- It is recommended to use a tooth brush with soft bristles. Brushing with hard bristles can lead to enamel erosion.
- It is very important to change your tooth brush once in 2 – 3 months as they wear out quickly and become less effective in removing tartar or plague on the teeth.
- Brushing your teeth in circular motions is the best cleaning practice which ensures maximum clean up.
- On an average, tooth decay is mostly observed in molars (grinding teeth) so clean them with extra care.
- Don’t consume anything till 30 minutes after brushing.
- Don’t brush immediately after consuming carbonated drinks because the alkaline level in the mouth will be increased. The saliva needs sometime to reduce the alkaline level, so it better brush after 30 minutes of consumption.
- Brushing your tongue not only refreshes your breath but also cleans the bacteria present on it.
- It doesn’t really matter whether you use a manual or electric tooth brush. Depending on your convenience you can use any of the two.
Flossing
Flossing is an important regimen of oral hygiene. It helps in removing the food particles and plague under the gum line and between your teeth. It is advised to floss your teeth at least once in a day ideally night time. Below is the detailed description of how to floss your teeth.
- Use about 18 inches of floss.
- Slide the floss gently in the area between teeth and gum.
- Gently stroke 8 to 10 times, up and down to dislodge the food and plaque.
- Avoid snapping the floss in between the gums.
If you have teeth very close to each other and find it difficult to slide the dental floss or not fan of dental flossing then you can use interdental brushes.
Mouth Rinse
Rinsing will help you remove food particles and debris from your mouth. Yet it is not alternative for brushing and flossing. There are many mouthwash products available in the market. It is good to choose alcohol free mouthwash with fluoride. If you want to avoid chemicals based mouthwashes then salt water is the perfect, safe and most effective alternative. Apart from rinsing, salt water also heals sore throat and gum sores.
Click below for a good medicated mouth wash to add to your dental routine.
4. Fluoride
Use fluoride toothpaste to brush teeth gently twice every day. You can also use an antiseptic or fluoride mouthwash. Fluoride keeps the teeth plaque-free and inhibits survival of bacteria in the mouth
5. Protect Mouth From Injury
If you participate in high impact sports such as hockey, basketball, football, and lacrosse then it is better to wear a mouth guard to protect teeth from injuries. If you have the habit of grinding teeth then you would need a mouth guard.
6. Regular Dental Visit
It is always advised to visit a doctor at least 2 times in a year for a check-up and cleaning the teeth. This helps to find out any cavities or infection in early stages thus your tooth gets saved.
7. Avoid Constant Snacking
Constant snacking means food and debris would always get stuck between your teeth, encouraging bacterial growth. If you feel like snacking, try healthy mouth-cleansing choices such as apple, celery, and carrots.
8. Avoid Pencil Chewing
Chewing pencil may cause the teeth to break, risking an infection. If you chew pencil out of anxiety, stop it and try chewing sugarless gum. This boosts production of saliva which helps to cleanse your mouth, flush off the toxins and food debris.
9. Avoid Caffeine
Coffee makes your mouth dry, this restricts the flushing of bacteria and food debris. This in turn would eventually decay your tooth.
10. Quit Tobacco Smoking
Smoking damages gums and teeth, attracting bacteria to infect them. Smoking also erodes the tooth enamel slowly.
11. Avoid Binge Eating
Binge eating may sometimes lead to vomiting. Since vomiting is acidic, it can cause erosion of teeth, and an eventual decay.
12. Analgesics
Use over-the-counter pain medications such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and diclofenac which helps to reduce the pain and swelling or make it bearable.
13. Stay hydrated
This keeps saliva flowing in your mouth freely. Saliva helps to cleanse the mouth steadily, preventing attachment of bacteria to your teeth.
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Other Causes Of An Abscessed Tooth
Here’s a detailed description of causes that lead to abscessed tooth. Understanding the causes helps to prevent tooth infections in future.
1. Tongue Piercings
Tongue piercings may cause teeth to break, leading to dental repair which may further increase the risk of infection. Additionally, tongue piercings encourage build-up of bacteria in the mouth, increasing the risk of a tooth infection.
Tongue piercings may also get infected, causing a potentially fatal situation which could obstruct your airway and causing death.
2. Teeth Grinding
This is also called bruxism and may be inherited or caused by stress. When you grind your teeth, you may break the teeth, chip it, leading eventually to loss of a tooth or two. Tooth loss increases the risk of having it abscessed.
3. Smoking
Smoking causes your mouth to dry out and also increase the amount of plaques and debris in the mouth. These factors encourage bacterial growth and cause tooth decay. Additionally, smoking causes gum disease and mouth cancer, both of which may cause tooth damage and loss.
Complications Of A Tooth Abscess
If left untreated, it may lead to serious complications including:
- Infection of the jaw bone
- Spread of the pus cells through some vessels to the brain which could be fatal.
- Spread of the infection to other areas of the mouth in a condition called Ludwig’s angina
- Death of the skin tissues around the abscess.
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How Do Doctors Cure Abscessed Tooth?
A dentist can easily tell if you are having a tooth abscess just by examining it and asking some questions. However, if the abscess is very large or your symptoms such as fever and facial swelling are so severe, he might ask to undergo some tests to determine the nature of the abscess and rule out complications.
Some of these tests include:
- Complete blood count and blood culture: To check if the infection has spread to blood stream and to detect the bacterium causing it.
- Needle aspirate: Here a sample of the abscess is collected with a needle and the sample is analyzed to detect which bacterium caused this issue.
- Imaging studies: A plain X-ray of mouth helps to provide information on the level of teeth damage and surrounding structures.
The primary treatment for a simple tooth abscess involves draining the abscess with a needle and syringe also known as root canal treatment.
However, if the damage done to your tooth is extensive, the tooth may be extracted at once. Sometimes, he would suggest that your wisdom tooth be removed as well since it is common to get infected and abscessed.
So the extent of the infection and the severity of your signs and symptoms determine the course of treatment your doctor would recommend for you.
Urgent treatment is needed when drugs or home remedies have failed to resolve symptoms, or if the infection has spread to the head or neck, or when breathing becomes difficult. Then the doctor would place a tube through your mouth or via an incision in your neck into your throat to keep air flowing in.
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Medicines that cure tooth abscess
Antibiotics are prescribed if the abscess is localized to tooth alone. They help to stop the growth of the offending bacteria and kill them as well.
Common antibiotics your doctor would prescribe penicillin, metronidazole, azithromycin, or amoxicillin-clavulanate.
Stages of Abscess Tooth
Understanding the exact infection stage can help to deal with the tooth abscess effectively. Let us see a detailed description and stages of tooth abscess here.
A tooth is a calcified structure which contains three layers – enamel, dentin and pulp. Enamel is the hardest and protective layer surrounding the tooth.
Beneath the enamel, dentin consists of living tissue and tubules which communicate with the teeth nerve. Pulp is the innermost layer of the tooth which contains nerves, blood vessels and pulp cells.
Stage 1 – (Enamel Decay):
Though enamel is the hardest part of the tooth, it can chip, crack and wear away. Accidents, acid refluxes, excessive soft drink consumption and alcohol consumption can lead to enamel erosion. When food particles or foreign substances enter in to the enamel, cavity is informed. You can observe discoloration of the tooth in this stage. Proper hygiene, balanced diet and topical healing applications can help you restore to tooth.
Stage 2 – (Dentin Decay):
The cavity tunnels its way in to the tooth and reach the inner dentine layer. At this level, tooth becomes sensitive to the cold and hot temperatures. At this stage doctor suggests restoration that includes drilling, cleaning and filling with composite.
Stage 3 – (Pulp Decay):
Further to the dentin layer, the cavity now reaches its way into the pulp causing infection. The blood vessels, nerves and pulp cells slowly die. In this stage the pain becomes severe and constant. At this stage doctor suggests a root canal treatment.
Stage 4 – (Infected Pulp or Tooth Abscess):
When the pulp is completely destroyed, the body defense mechanism develops pus to trap the infection from spreading into the blood stream. This pus filled swelling is referred as tooth abscess. The pain becomes severe and you can observe swelling and redness on the jaw and neck. At this stage a dentist recommends a tooth extraction.
If tooth abscess is neglected or ignored, the infection spreads to the bone and jaw which can cause serious life threatening complications.
How Does a Weak Immune System Result in Tooth Decay?
An imbalance in hormones leads to a weak immune system. When the endocrine glands (hormone secreting glands) function improperly, hormone gets imbalanced. Due to improper diet, stressful lifestyles and less physical exercise will make endocrine glands function inappropriately. Understand which foods affect the functioning of endocrine glands. Below is the detailed description of which glands and how they affect tooth decay.
Pituitary Gland: Pituitary gland is also known as master gland, has two sections – anterior pituitary gland and posterior pituitary gland. The main role of posterior pituitary gland is to work with pancreas to control blood sugar. Imbalanced blood sugar levels can lead to tooth decay. If the posterior pituitary gland cannot regulate blood sugar properly, an imbalance takes place and phosphorous will be pulled out from bones and teeth. The main reason behind the imbalance in functioning of posterior pituitary gland is white sugar. The posterior pituitary gland can be brought back to normal by reducing sugar consumption.
Thyroid Gland: The thyroid gland works with anterior pituitary gland to maintain the calcium levels in the blood. If it does not work properly then blood calcium levels get imbalanced. To maintain the balance, calcium from boned and teeth are drawn out which leaves them weak.
Sex Glands: When testosterone and estrogen levels increase, phosphorous levels in the blood also increase. This results in inflamed gums.
Hypothalamus: Hypothalamus works with parotid gland (largest salivary gland present in the jaw). When hypothalamus communicates with parotid gland, it generates parotid hormone. This parotid hormone triggers a moment mineral rich fluid. This mineral rich fluid is transported to teeth through dental lymph (microscopic channels) in our teeth. This mineral rich fluid is responsible for remineralization of the tooth. Remineralization makes teeth stay strong and defend it from external damaging properties. If the hypothalamus stops signaling parotid gland to release the hormone, the mineral rich fluid will not generated and transported to the teeth. Over the time, teeth get weak and lose its capacity to defend itself, thus leads to tooth decay.
Glands can be brought to proper health by consuming proper diet. With proper working glands, one can even reverse tooth decay.
Can You Save an Abscessed Tooth?
It depends on the severity of the infection. If the infection is not spread to root of the teeth then doctor will drain out the infection and fill the gap with dental fillings. If the infection has spread beyond then the tooth will have to be extracted to avoid further complications.
Who are More Prone to Abscess Tooth?
- Anyone who avoid getting treated for a cracked, chipped and deep cavities.
- People with diabetes and who are undergoing chemotherapy, radiation cancer treatment
- People with weak immune system, auto-immune diseases are also at the risk.
Conclusion
Tooth abscess is an infection of teeth and surrounding structures with a collection of pus inside it. You could have an abscessed tooth and show no symptoms at all or you could experience symptoms like pain and swelling in the affected area and jaw.
Factors which lead to infection and abscess formation are high sugar diet, coffee, dehydration, tooth injury, smoking, alcohol intake, and poor oral hygiene.
Depending on the severity of damage, you may need just home remedies or dental help. In mild cases, home remedies, surgical drainage of abscess and antibiotics are prescribed. In severe cases where the tooth is extensively damaged, it is totally removed.
For those of you currently in pain due to your tooth infection, there is still hope!
I was in your shoes and know there is an easy way out of it.
So don't fret, and know that you can click here for abscess tooth pain relief.
References
Last Updated:
Hi everyone, this is Rajee!
I live the beautiful city of Baltimore, where my husband works.
I’m from India. I have been visiting India on and off for past few years and my mom was an inspiration for me to start this site. She has a wealth of knowledge on home remedies for a large number of health problems, and we grew up in an environment where frequent visits to the doctor just wasn’t logistically or financially feasible.
Despite this, she managed to raise a family of healthy kids, and my goal here at Home Remedies for Life is to pass on some of her knowledge of natural remedies.
Tried the garlic solution and wow i’m just so relieved on how fast it work. Thank you so so so much! GOD BLESS
Thanks for your appreciation.
Can the dentist actually not drain the entire infection of a tooth worked on?
A dentist can remove the infection through root canal process.
I have this infection due to a root canal, dentist filled hole in tooth after root canal and filling kept falling out, he should have just pulled the tooth rather then do root canal I wouldn’t be in this horrible pain
Can i use garlic granules, do i just rub it on affected area??
Yes, you can use. Blend garlic granules with some water to make a paste. Apply the paste on the affected tooth. Leave it on for few minutes and rinse off with water. Repeat the process 2 – 3 times in a day.
Can i chew garlic with that teeth and keep in my mouth for minutes.will it relief?
Yes, you can.
I did the proxcide and it burned normally it work I did salt water still no relief I still got at least 5 days till I can go to dentist I have fresh mint in my garden can I use that and if so how it is leafs I’m on antibiotics the Dr gave me a inflammatory called naproxen 500 mg but it won’t stop please any advice it is causing my face ear and throat to hurt not to mention the bad headache please hrlp
i had a tooth that broke. it has been bothering me for a while. appreciate these remedies that i have around my house. this has helped until i can come up with the money to get the broken tooth fixed. thank u
I used one clove cut it in half, of garlic. OMG! BURNING sensation, feels instant relief! Amazing, it’s like it ducked the bases right out , because I had to spit 3 time bubbling thick I guess puss like?Pulled the puss, infection right out.
What did u do with the garlic
How did you use it. Also how fast was the relief.
What did you do because I have it right now I ha apportionment on Tuesday the 10th but the swelling haven’t gone down and I’m still taking the pill like I was told . what can I do for the pain I wake up in the middle of the night and sometime I just can’t sleep ? help me plz
Apply garlic juice or chew a garlic clove to get relief from the pain and swelling.
Hi my partner has a huge abcesss swelling in his jaw. Will raw garlic help?
Yes, garlic contains anti-inflammatory properties, it will help to reduce the swelling and pain.
Hello!
I’m currently on antibiotics until Monday, when my tooth will be extracted. I have a horrible, battery acid-like taste that I just can’t seem to get rid of. I was wondering if I could use the peroxide mouth rinse to help with the taste problem? This is the first time I’ve ever had an abscessed tooth and I’m just trying to hang in there until it’s out of my head! Thanks! 🙂
My suggestion is to use peroxide as a LAST solution for anything. It’s foul. It’s indescribable to how awful it is. It’s my mums solution to any oral problem so I grew up with a peroxide gargle. A huge warning about it; It WILL leave a taste in your mouth and throat. And not a good one. It will make everything taste foul and off. Makes dairy taste sour, meat tastes coppery, and you can SMELL it nonstop for up to a month after gargling. And you never forget the taste and smell. Ever. My last gargle was 3 years back and even at this moment I can taste it clear as day. Honestly it’s better to keep the nasty anti-b taste than it is to get the semi-permanent peroxide foulness in your throat.
So you’d recommend it then? 🙂 To be fair I tried a version of it once. It does taste off.
I’ve never had that experience with hydrogen peroxide. The taste isn’t pleasant, but it’s gone a few minutes after I’m done gargling.
I have used it for years as it is or mixed half & half with mouth wash. As you said it doesn’t taste good but never had a problem with it lingering either. I never gargled with it full strength, I swish it around in my mouth.
I have heard lately peroxide kills also the good bacteria in your mouth or on your skin. not a good thing???? not sure? but i know orthopedic surgeons in my area no longer allow patients to use after hip, knee or any joint replacement.
I have used peroxide with no water for like several times a day for like 2 days and the pain goes away and it want hurt for a long time, but rite now for some reason it’s not helping it usually bubbles but it’s not this time but for anyone that has not tried it before it will probably will help. It does not really taste like anything and after you spit it out and rinse your mouth to rinse out any taste that is left. I recommend it if anyone is in it of pain, you just hold it in the spot that hurts for a second. Good luck!!
if its not bubbling try putting some on a q-tip and rolling it around the infected area, it will definitely bubble then!
Yeah, just like Amy said, I’ve never had a problem with the Hydrogen Peroxide taste either. I mean it wasn’t like delicious or anything. In fact, it was almost tasteless to me. I guess everyone’s different. Or maybe it’s because you grew up with the taste and probably didn’t like it then either, so having to use it reinforced it? IDK. I’m not trying to sound like a psychologist. Sorry lol!
But I do think everyone’s tastes are different. I *loved* broccoli when I was growing up, as did all my siblings and most of my friends, but I know a lot of people can’t stand it even as an adult.
On a side note, the Hydrogen Peroxide didn’t taste that bad or leave an aftertaste, and in fact got rid of the nasty puss-like acrid taste from the infection, so I’m grateful to it. But ironically it didn’t help the pain much. I have low pain threshold when teeth are concerned, though, so that’s probably why lol! =) Thanks for the tips everyone, especially the article’s author, and God bless!
Just wanted to say there is a food grade of peroxide that can be found at a health store and that is the only peroxide recommended to go inside the body. The kind of peroxide you buy at the grocery or pharmacy is not recommended for any opening to the body.
just add a drop of peppermint oil and the taste transforms. Peppermint oil also AIDS in killing bacteria.
It comes from when u take pills they have a metalic-like taste……..
they couldnt save the tooth ? i wonder why does that mean anyone who has an abscessed tooth have to have tooth pulled omg i will not go out ever then cause its my front 2 teeth on top it is totally depressing me and i cant stand the thought of it just started antibiotics today wow this is freaking me out all these comments ugh good luck to all
No, don’t worry, Sam! As with most things in life when it comes to an experience, no two cases are alike, just as no two people are. Just because someone else had the bad luck to lose their tooth (I’ve lost many unfortunately, but not very visibly ) doesn’t mean you will. Chances are it’ll be fine. I’m not a dentist or anything, so don’t quote me, but technology’s pretty cool, and dentists go to school and study just as hard as doctors, so I wouldn’t worry too much about it. And if you still can’t help worrying, talk to the dentist about it before they start poking around in there. You can always change your mind and say no if you *really* don’t want to lose the tooth, although almost everyone will end up losing teeth over their life, some in the front, and there are many ways of replacing them with permanent (non-wooden) ones that work, look and feel the same. The point is, it’s not worth dying of an infection over a tooth that can be replaced or even over a little embarrassment, but that’s just my humble opinion. Anyway, good luck and I hope your pain stops! I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you, although you probably resolved the issue before I even posted this haha! Time’s a trip. B)
Luv Ur little humble opinion 🙂
I have an abscessed tooth in the front also but on the bottom. No worries, you shouldnt have to get them pulled. Your dentist will most likely give you a root canal and you should be good to go. I think the tooth has to be pretty far gone before they have to pull it. Also, it never hurts to get a second opinion from another dentist if need be. Not an expert but this has been my experience so far, i wouldnt stress yourself too much. Good luck
doctors r always telling to get the tooth out..I once had this problem..dentst kept pushing me for extraction…but I was adament to save it…so she gave in …she first open my tooth…rrained the infection…did a root canal….n filling …I still have my tooth. if it is only infection …it can b treated….read from net ..to get rid of it……give ur tooth time to heal.
They did a root canal without a crown? They always pushed crowns on me . The cost a fortune.
Some Dentist Will push for an extraction because then they’ll try to convince you to get a root canal,more money for them.All you have to do is just say no!!
I use the peroxide i usually swish a cap full of it or mix it with water as described on the bottle but its the fastest way to get rid of it. Or i use a green tea bag i wet it then place it where the swollen gum is and it sucks out the infectiin and pops it
How do I i use the tea bag can it be any kind of tea bag cuz all my dad and mom have is classic tea
Any kind of tea bag will be helpful.
Can u use a regular tea bag
Thanks a bunch! My mom has an abscess and she was in agonizing pain, you could just see it in her face. I tried salt water first, and that didn’t really work, so I decided to try the garlic method. Crushed the garlic, and when she applied it and she said, “I think it worked!” I didn’t actually believe it! Thanks again, I just can’t stand seeing people in pain.
I was in agonizing pain no more than 15 minutes ago. It felt like contractions pains but worst hitting my two like every two minutes.the tooth that’s bothering me is cracked to the root and I know I have to get it pulled. I came go me and tried the apple cider vinegarvand I feel no type of pain. It really does work. Thanks.
Did she put it on the tooth or on the side of the cheek the abscess was on?
I used the garlic at first in was burning my mouth but it finally went away… now a trip to the doctors 🙂
As if my luck hasn’t been ruff enough these past 4-5days.. I’ve got a abcess so severe that my face is distorted & my neck is swelled as well as my eye!! I’ve read every and all remedies and the only thing I have out of all these ideals is salt and pre-roasted diced garlic. I don’t think I could stand anymore effects of pain…So my question is…. Will the garlic still help being roasted diced and in the fridge???
Hi Priscilla, it is recommended to use raw and fresh garlic.
Oil pull with coconut oil, Echinacea capsules, oil of oregano capsules, vitaminc capsules with amoxicillin worked. Finally tea bag on gums overnight pulled the pus out. Thanks!
What kind of tea bags
You can use green tea bag or chamomile tea bag.
Can it be pure chamomile
Yes, it can be.
I was told black tea bags. Didnt work for me.
I cant believe theyre saying to use flourinated water when it is known that flouride causes cancer.
Hi Mark, we are just using fluoridated water for swish purpose while brushing. Even if you ingest few amounts of water, it is not going to harm that much.
Fluoride builds up in your body and calcifies the pineal gland, which is horrible. Dentists will say that it makes teeth stronger however the opposite is true. Ingesting fluoride in any form does nothing for your teeth. In cases of “rampant” tooth decay, applying a topical fluoride can improve dental health, but only very minimally and damages teeth in the long run. Fluoride molds to the tooth’s enamel. So while it will aid in preventing decay, it can also make teeth brittle and causes fluorosis, those white and brown streaks and spots on your teeth. Fluorosis can damage not only your teeth but also your bones and other tissues. It is simply more visible on your teeth. Countless studies have shown the damaging health effects of fluoride, from brain damage and lowered IQ, to hyperactivity to impaired thyroid function, and even cancer. No matter what the reason you should avoid fluoride altogether and look for other ways to improve oral health.
I love you buddy thank you I’ve said this multiple times I’ve been laughed off thrown out of 3 dentist office demanding I give my autistic children fluoride tablets!
Its good for the teeth but don’t swallow it. Spit it out after brushing, etc.
Is it OK to use dieters green tea bags, those are herbal and used for detoxification? I have no pain but a smelly access,
Yes, you can.
fluoride does not cause cancer. They’re doing research on different methods that causes cancer. In the 90’s they were saying that milk caused cancer too and it was proven wrong
fluoride is literally rat poison
Processed milk is very very unhealthy for you! Only fresh, Raw milk is good for you. That’s coming straight from a dairy farmer and they don’t drink anything but raw, not processed.
how ignorant you and that stupid farmer are.., so many people have, and still continue to die from drinking fresh milk because it is FULL OF BACTERIA, that’s why the government have made laws that all commercial milk must be boiled before it can be sold., and it is illegal to sell unboiled milk for human consumption……. also fluoride is harmless if used as directed, but remember people this web site is about tooth help and not milk, fluoride or other things, best not keep to the subject
This post is Golden! The Oil of Oregano, Cloves, and Coconut Oil is a burning nightmare to push through, but after the sensation begins to soothe, wow! The swelling was almost completely gone. This is the second round. Exciting stuff when you watch your body heal itself!
Thanks for sharing your experience.
I applied peppermint oil externally and immediately experienced a cooling sensation and pain relief. Next I rinsed with Siberian pine nut oil as I had no coconut oil available. Then I remembered I had some oregano oil and applied a few drops directly. Oregano oil is very strong and wasn’t necessarily pleasant at first but also brought about relief and a soothing sensation almost immediately.
I was surprised at how fast they worked and how soothing it was. Thanks for the great tips.
Seeing the dentist later.
Good to hear your experience. Keep visiting our website.
Could I use garlic salt
Yes, you can. Make a paste combining garlic and salt. Apply on affected tooth. Leave it for 20 minutes and rinse off.
How do I make a paste? I do not have fresh garlic but I have garlic salt and garlic powder. Which could I use? My husband is in a lot of pain with an abscess tooth and cannot sleep. I’m wanting to try home remedies to try and ease some of his pain.
Mix garlic powder and water to make a thick paste. Apply it over the abscess tooth. If this method doesn’t show any relief then try other remedies like clove oil.
When you use warm salt water and use of vinager for sore gum and tooth ache and how can you tell when abscess burst or when gum starts burning
Hi Zira,
You can actually feel slight burning sensation inside of your gum/tooth.
Peppermint oil worked perfect!
Will the baking soda work
Yes it works as Baking soda improves pH of saliva to a normal level and works as mechanical cleanser used to drain abscess naturally.
Cracked a tooth on pizza crust. Abcessed 2 days later.
Yup. Garlic worked great. I carved an indented disk shape from the clove and placed it directly on the abcess. Stung a little at first. 20 minutes later, all pain was gone. Made my nose run like crazy. Lol.
After doing this 4 times in 4 hours, my gums softened enough to push some of the abcess through. Ick! No more pressure. Much better.
Gonna throw a teabag over it tonight. Dentist in the AM!
Good to hear your experience with garlic.
My infection is from a failed root canal. I’m not in pain but I have a lump on my gum which dentist says is a sign that there is bacteria at the root. He says I need the tooth extracted but as I’m not in pain in trying to rid the infection naturally.
I’ve done 3 weeks no sugar except natural, no caffeine or sweetners, the lump has shrunk a little.
Just wondering if any of these would work if infection is at the root as I’m unable to treat by directly applying.
Thanks in advance
As topical application is not possible, you have to treat it with food changes. Vitamin D, A and K can be of a great help to strengthen your body’s fighting system and control the infection. But to prevent the recurrence of infection, it is important to drain out or remove the infection from there.
Also Consult your dentist for the same and maintain a nutritional diet to prevent infections in future.
Did you find anything to help? I have the same problem! Bad root canal big knot on gum. Thanks
Same here! I would love to hear if you have a solution.
I have the same problem also….how have you all dealt with it?
i have the same problem. is there natural remedy for this?
I eat a clove of garlic when mine acts up. It helps some but I will have to get the tooth out. Apple cider vinegar seems to help as well.
I have an abscess and I can’t get it out til Wednesday I am more swollen the. Yesterday I am on antibiotic and anti inflammatory til then this swelling is making it look like I am chewing tobacco and I am not lol god if the swelling could just go down the pin is relieved for the most part just some throbbing any ideas?!? Please and thank you I have a six month Old to take care of also on top of this abscess
Try garlic, salt water or clove oil methods to control the pain.
Going to get my husband to try the salt and garlic methods but can I just ask does the tea bag have to be a herbal one?
Thanks
If you don’t have herbal one, you can use green tea bag.
Just had a tooth pulled and dentist found I had an abscess. What will help it since I can’t put anything on the area after just having it pulled?
I recommend to follow dentist advice in your case.
Oregano oil is the best!
How does using fluoride toothpaste & mouthwash help w/the pain and inflammation?
Tooth is made up of calcium. When fluoride meets calcium, it makes tooth stronger. It helps to restrict bacterial infection from spreading.
I have a burning pain like frequent blows on my abscessed tooth actually it aint a tooth anymore its parts because the tooth is barely half….has even caused problems in my relationship because am moody,,,have seen the garlic prescription has helped many..i will try it
Thaaanks
Let us know your experience.
My partner is in real pain, she has only taken panadol as our budget it’s very limited, any great suggestions to help relieve pain and to try ease the tooth?
Try garlic, clove oil, hydrogen peroxide or other methods mentioned in the above article. They should provide relief from pain. But it is also recommended to visit a dentist.
I tried peppermint oil and clove oil before on my cracked accessed tooth and it worked. Now the tooth is bothering me again and neither have any effect on it. What home remedy can I try next to relieve the pain.
Hi Mike, use garlic, hydrogen peroxide or turmeric methods to deal with the pain. But it is recommended to consult a doctor for to know the exact reason behind the pain.
Superb results from garlic..just had it raw for a minute
Thanks for sharing your experience.
I have sering pain from my molar wat can i do
Use any of the above methods you are comfortable with and consult a dentist to find out the exact reason behind the severe pain.
At NO time should these remedies replace dental care/intervention. someone i know went this route and would just gobble garlic every time something was wrong was his teeth. As a temp in a low wage job and no benefits i understand the need to deal with pain quickly. PLEASE for the love of god see a dentist ASAP. abbesses untreated can travel into the blood stream and create sepsis. which requires a lot more than a dentist and in worst case scenario a few nights in the ICU
Yes. The above methods are to control the pain and infection until you consult a dentist.
My whole left side of my face has swollen, eyes and all. How do I get the swelling down.?looks like I was in a boxing ring.help.it’s embarrassing.
Hi Lynn, Please consult a nearest doctor for immediate medical help. It is good to get diagnosed and find out the reason behind the swelling.
Hydrogen Peroxide should be a 3% dilution in water (You can buy it this way). This is very effective, and does not give bad side effects. Use Peroxide too strong and you may end up dissolving your teeth.
Thanks for your suggestion Jo anne
Hi, I’ve been in real pain, I tired the salt method and it really hurt. Then all of a sudden the pain went. It now feels numb.
Thanks
Good to hear that you managed to reduce the pain. But make sure to consult a dentist to find out the reason behind the pain.
I have gumboil and very pain please give me solutions
Use clove oil methods mentioned in the article.
Hi , I have bad back side head pain from 2 months , and breakage of the teeth for 7 months , it’s very painful ,a sore in the gum , does my headache was created by this tooth sore ?
It is possible that your broken teeth is causing headache. Our face contains many interrelated nerves between every part sending out messages to each other. In the same way, when a tooth is damaged or infected, the nerve connecting it sends pain signals to the nerves present in the head. That might cause headache.
I took a cosmetic cotton pad, (ran out of cotton balls) and mixed the salt and baking soda together and spread it on the pad. SInce the pad is bigger in size, I wrapped it over the tooth and down both sides of my gums. It actually worked great the pressure was gone, and I didn’t need to take any ibuprophen for 12 hours! As well it filled with pus and I kept replacing it with a new one and the infection around the tooth is still there but not as bad, but I can get by now till I get in to get some antibiotics tomorrow, and see the dentist on Monday.
Can i use garlic powder i have a abcess cant afford to go to the dentist and out or peroxide
Yes, you can but it is also important to consult a dentist to understand the stage of the abscess. An untreated abscess can lead to other serious medical conditions.
What do I do after I make the paste with the garlic powder? I need to get rid of this pain and I can barely open my mouth right now. The gum above my two front teeth is that swollen and I’ve tried salt water, mouthwash, tooth paste on the bubble which made it worse bc it has peroxide and baking soda in it. I also tried clorseptic spray and baby orajel but I’m now out of those.
Apply the paste on the swollen areas. Leave it on for few minutes and rinse off. Repeat the process 3 times in a day to get relief from the swelling and pain. Make sure to consult your doctor to get diagnosed.
Ive had an absess for several wedks now and was just doagnosed amd givsn Penicillin three days ago. Just woke up with lots of swelling and tenderness. Cant get back to dentist for two weeks becaise of finances. Is it safe to wait that long under these conditions? Going to start a couple of these home remedies this morning.
It is good to consult the dentist as soon as possible. If is not possible, then try the above mentioned remedies to control the inflammation and pain.
I think I have an abscess tooth but I can’t go to a dentist till next week since I’m leaving for California tomorrow is there anything I can do till I’m able to go to the dentist?
Try garlic or clove oil method mentioned above.
OMG! Have had a horrible toothache four days tried garlic powder and sea salt applied with a q-tip and got immediate relief!! Amazing thanks for the advice!!
Our pleasure. Thanks for sharing your experience Carly.
How long does it take for the antibiotics to work I’ve got an abses and the pain is really bad
Usually antibiotics will take around one hour to show its effect, however it will again depend on the dose of the medicine.
I have a really bad pain from abscess. Been like that for weeks. My head is starting to hurt now. I just took some pills c 158. But still in a bit pain. Any thing else that will help.???
Try remedies mentioned above. These remedies are help you get relief from the pain but make sure consult your doctor immediately.
I FINALLY broke down and went to my local Wal-Mart and asked the pharmacist for Clove oil, it was only $5 for a tiny vial. But oh the relief!! The taste us horrid! But only lasts for about a minute or two. Best advice I ever took!
Had a bad abscess recently and i got the tooth extracted almost a week ago. I’ve been taking antibiotics and the face swelling has literally reduced. But then there’s still this hard lumpy, painful residue under my chin that makes it hard to swallow and i still cant open my mouth wide, i still taste that foul taste in my mouth and feel like throwing up. i finished my dose of antibiotics yesterday.
Please what’s the remedy?
Sounds like your lymph nodes are swollen because your body is still trying to rid itself of infection. Try massaging the area lightly and take vitamin c or Echinacea if you are not allergic to help rid your body of infection.
Sounds like your lymph nodes are swollen because your body is still trying to rid itself of infection. Try massaging the area lightly and take vitamin c or Echinacea if you are not allergic to help rid your body of infection.
I really in pain with a tooth that is cracked I don’t have the money to go to a doctor or dentist my face is starting to swallow up please help me what would be the best for me and will work fast I have five kids to take care of so I can’t be in pain
Try garlic or clove oil methods mentioned in the article for temporary relief from the pain. But visit the doctor as soon as you can to fill the crack of the tooth.
Does tumeric capsules work as well for inflammation?
Yes, remove the contents of turmeric capsule and apply them on the inflammation. Rinse off after few minutes.
We have a peppermint plant, would chewing the leaves help?
Yes, it can. After chewing the leaves for few minutes, spit them out.
I have tried the Garlic and it works fast. I noticed the bump in my gums were gone. But then few hours later, I felt again the bump. I think I need to apply again until hopefully it will be totally gone. Thanks for this article.
My father has periapical abscess .Dentist has done root canal surgery but the abscess is still not healing and pus still comes via sinus . what should I do.??
You should see a different dentist and ask for a root canal treatment. It is the only way to drain out the pus immediately.
Clove oil worked great! Will get me by thru the weekend until the antibiotics kick in. Very great full for the info was skeptical but pleasantly surprised!
Good to hear from you.
My story.
It started like this
Day 1 & 2: No sleep.
Day 3: I started looking up remedies.
Day 4: That morning rolling into I tried the onion, few times a day. That night I got some rest.
Day 5: My mouth got swollen I just did the hydrogen peroxide and it help a little bit
Day 6: I did the garlic cloves method, now it burns pretty bad but I need to sleep so I tried it. For me it worked few minutes, the same night I tried vinegar, omg now that did wonders i felt so much relive, I did every 30 minutes to a hour until I felt nothing the more you use the longer it last.
Day 7: I start on my meds I woke up and I have whole in my gums & the pus is coming out . I don’t know what to do .
Thanks for sharing your experience. Rinse off the pus with water. And continue using the remedy. Consult a doctor to find out if you need any further treatment.
Thank you so much for providing such an extensive list of remedies. I have always used garlic steeped in warm olive oil and then used the oil to treat earaches for my kids. That has worked 100% of the time.
Well, the garlic recommendation for my toothache brought immediate relief. Later I tried the oregano oil, and that was not as effective, in fact after about 2 minutes of a numbing sensation my initial relief went away and the pain started back. So I sliced a piece of garlic and applied it to my tooth & immediately the pain subsided. A definite winner in my book!
The only downside of using garlic is, well, now I have garlic breath- ugh! Thinking about trying some of the other recommendations. Will report back.
Hi I’m an ICU nurse and I urge you to correct this; “Apart from the above if you are experiencing high fever, difficulty in breathing or swallowing it is recommended to consult a dentist immediately.”
In the above scenerio the person needs to call 911 because these are symptoms of a compromised airway and calling a dentist and waiting on a dentist to call back could cost someone their life if the airway swells shut. The secondary scenario would be sepsis where the infection had entered the blood stream and that as well warrants a call to 911 and likely a trip to ICU. Both are life and death situations.
Thanks for sharing your suggestion.
Is there anyway of getting rid of a abscess without going to the dentist?
We can remove the infection and reduce the pain with home remedies. But it is very important to consult a dentist as well. The pulp and root of tooth gets damaged when tooth abscess is developed. The dentist removes the tooth, cleans the area and places a crown to avoid bacteria build up in the gap.
I am on an antibiotic. I am having the tooth out Monday that 2 days from now. I have swelling in my cheek. What is good for swelling? I am also taking Motrin. Do I use heat or cold packs and will the tea bag help?
THanks a bunch.
You can use heat or tea bags for the swelling. Tea bags work fine as well. You can also try garlic or clove oil to provide relief.
Gudmorning, I have a abscess and I been taking medicine for a week now and the pain hasn’t let up yet so I was wondering if garlic powder will help my problem….
Yes, it can help you reduce the pain and inflammation.
When I have a toothache I make a paste of salt,pepper,and water. Apply directly to the tooth and surrounding gums. Works wonders and can be reapplied as needed.
I used the Apple Cider Vinegar for my son. It helped to get rid of his infection around his tooth. I pray that it won’t return but we’ll continue this method for the next few days until I can come up with the funds to get his teeth fixed.
Have an abscess but won’t go 2 dentist as I’m petrified of them try using raw garlic but started 2 burn my gum so tryed rinsing my my mouth with garlic and water n wow felt relief pritty much straight away but my girlfriend won’t come near me now lol
I’m 3 months pregnant, a couple of weeks ago I went to the dentist because of pain and swelling. They were able to see me the same day as a walk in. I was ready to get my tooth pulled out. The dentist said I’m too young to be losing anymore teeth and recommended I get a root canal. Unfortunately I wasn’t able to get it done that day because I had no dental insurance and the credit they offer patients was not approvingme. They called a different credit place, I was approved, but they did not want to give the credit information over the phone so I can get my root canal that same day. I left the dentist with an antibiotic and pain prescription. I followed taking the entire bottle of antibiotics as directed for ten days. My entire left side of cheek and eye was very swollen. By the end of the antibiotic s it had reduced in swelling but not gone….I waited and waited for my card to arrive in mail to schedule an appointment and finallyget the root canal over with. I went in with minor swelling and they proceeded with the root canal. But one thing they told me was that I will be ok as far as the antibiotic situation. .and swelling should go away in a few days….I left the dentist with swelling in my cheek. The next day it’s swollen again…..my eye and cheek….feels very hard and I don’t know what to do as far as not letting the infection spread…dentist said I’dbe fine….I need to go back tomorrow because I don’t think the abscesswill go away especially since I just had my root canal the pus won’t have anywhere to go…
u_u
I just want to know if I can use any of these remedies to reduce or remove pus from my infection before I go see the dentist. Any advice? Please help.
While performing root canal treatment, the dentist will remove the infection completely. The selling is normal after a surgery like root canal. So you don’t have to worry about it. It is just our body’s way of healing. The swelling will reduce go down in few days. You can try hot or cold compress to get relief from the pain and inflammation.
Hi, so currently I have an abscessed gum/tooth & it had been pretty annoying I’ve tried the salt water an it seems to be working. I also taken pain killers 2 X’s I previously had an abscessed tooth about 5 yrs ago VERY PAINFUL!!!!!!!!!!! I had to get it surgectly removed form thee emergency room!!! after about 5 days of pain the infection began to spread to my jaw and neck doctors stated had i not came in that day I could have died. In my personal opinion I would suggest to anyone the very best thing to do in regards to any kind of tooth pain is to just get it removed. You can always replace it later if you wish but it’s truly not worth the agonizing excurating pain of a tiny tooth.
Yes, it is important to consult the doctor as soon as possible to get the abscess removed. The above remedies are just temporary solutions to control the pain till you reach the doctor.
I have an absessed molar, i have had it for over a year now as my dentist will not properly treat it. After i discovered my tooth had chipped and made an emergency appointment they gave me one 3-5 months later&all they did was put a filling in. They told me i would either also have to get the tooth pulled out, or have a root canal treatment&as i asked about having a root canal treatment they said ‘no’ and wouldnt talk about it anymore to me. Im only 16 and i am in soo much pain, every couple of months i get swollen gums and i normally can treat it with home remidies, such as gargling salt water, doing my toothbrush alot&gargling mouthwash, but this time nothing is working and the pain has now travelled to my ears and causing headaches, i have experienced this all before, but i want to know what to do about my dentist, they fail to treat me and whenever i phone them, they never speak and always end up putting the phone down on me before i have even said anything, help me! I dont want to have this pain forever, i have had it for over a year and a half now and i have had enough! 🙁
It is better to consult another certified dentist immediately. As the pain already spread to ears and head, book your appointment as soon as possible.
Can you have an absess gum and your tooth be fine
Yes, it is called gum abscess or also called periodontal gum abscess. You can apply garlic juice or clove oil to it. Rinse off the application after few minutes. This should provide relief from the pain and drain out the pus until you reach out a dentist.
A throbbing pain upper right teeth under a bridge woke me up at 3:30 this morning. I don’t know why I was inspired to look up “home remedies for abcessed teeth” but here you were!!
I started with the coconut oil rinse, then switched to the garlic chew, then back to the coconut, then back to the garlic chew. I think I was panicked. Here it is Saturday and I hadn’t picked a dentist since I moved.
Should I stick to one method or is it ok to jump around. The pain has subsided considerably.
If the process is working for you then continue it. Both coconut oil and garlic are effective in treating the pain of abscessed tooth. Make sure consult the doctor as soon as possible to get the infection removed completely.
I have a broken tooth that has gotten worse over the last couple of months. 2 days ago I woke up with pain that felt like someone kicked me in the mouth and swelling to go along with it. I have a dental appointment but it is not for a couple weeks. My face is super swelled and pain so bad that I can not even function properly. How can I get the swelling to go down in my jaw and the pain to go away so that I can function properly I home school my son and have 2 other children as well and the last couple days have been a nightmare with this tooth. What can I do that will take the swelling away in my jaw?
Try clove oil or garlic methods to get relief from the pain and swelling. But for complete relief from the infection or abscess, you have to consult the doctor as soon as possible.
What can I use to reduce the swelling of my cheek? I’m not in so much pain it’s just very uncomfortable to feel and see my cheek swollen..
As per your description, we are unclear of why your cheeks are swollen. If it is due to abscess tooth try clove oil or garlic method mentioned in the article. It will give your relief from the pain. Make sure to consult a dentist as early as possible to remove the abscess.
Hi everyone! I feel everyone’s pain literally! This is what always worked for me and it’s instant! If you have and can take ibuprofen start with one of those! next take a glass of lukewarm water and add salt just a half a teaspoon or so and fill your mouth with it and leave it there a few moments the longer the better! then spit into another cup and start over again! leaving the salty drink in your mouth also take a big enough mouthful so the tooth is submerged in the salty drink! It relieves the pain instantly after a while the ibuprofen will start to kick in and you can get some rest from the horrible pain! This also works without taking the ibuprofen sometimes but I suspect if you are on here looking up home remedies you have past that point of salt water only! also gently brush your teeth after every drink or meal you don’t want any sugar or food debris to get into your already infected tooth! also please consult your dentist or make a trip to your emergency room where they can start you on antibiotics and you have time to come up with the payment! also shop around for a dentist there are ones out there who are sympathetic to your needs and will work out a reasonable payment plan! It’s worth a try anyhow! also garlic is nature’s antibiotic! cut a piece of the raw clove place it by the infected or painful tooth and chew it gently to release the juice onto the infected area and spit out! this should help keep the infection down and drain the puss! feel better everyone! Annie
can you get rid of an abscess completely using these methods because i dont have a very good experience with dentists and id rather just be able to get rid of it all at home.
The above remedies help you get relief from the pain and swelling but you can visit a dentist to get the infection removed to get complete relief from the abscess.
Hi, I had swelling in front tooth gum and noticed slight lump under jaw(Lymph nodes possibly)! Looks like I have abscessed tooth. I have no pain though, it just bleeds while brushing.
I tried Garlic method and Clove Oil remedy. Also at every 3-4 hours I am applying paste of honey and cinnamon powder. These methods are really working. My swelling is completely gone and so the lump under the jaw but my gum still bleeds. I am not sure what should I do next and what could be the problem because this happened suddenly and I noticed when I checked in the mirror!
I hope I don’t need to go for teeth extraction or something! I freak out thinking about dentist and right now financially I won’t be able to go for higher dental treatment if required. Kindly help me what should I do? Would the plaque clean up work?
I highly appreciate you for all the tips 🙂 Thank you
Good to hear your experience. Even though the pain has reduced, it is better visit a dentist to extract the dead fungus. If it is not removed, it can lead to other discomforts.
I have a little bubble like thing on my gun with pus I think I use the warm water and salt and it’s going away but do I still need to go to the dentist
yes, even after using the remedies, you have to visit the doctor. He can remove the pus or dead infection. The remedies only help to get relief from the pain and infection from spreading.
Thanks for this site/info. I have had ano cracked abcessed tooth for a while now. The pain was unbearable but I tried the garlic method and thano you sooo much!!
Thanks for sharing your experience.
My mom is sufring from mouth swalling and she have to much pain can u pls sugest me wat should I do for her
Choose any one method like garlic or clove oil and try it regularly as mentioned in the article. These remedies are only to provide relief until you reach out a doctor. So book an appointment as soon as possible and get it diagnosed.
I have an abscess on my bottom tooth that is spreading to my upper gums can’t even wear my dentures head neck and ears and throat hurts really bad I have done the peroxide no help wanted to know if minced garlic in the jar would help /if I could use it please help ??
As per your description, the pain has already spread to gums, head and ears so it is recommended to consult a doctor immediately. You can try garlic method for pain relief but the results won’t be long lasting as the infection has already spread to gums.
Dear arthor, you are a Godsend! I am so thankful for finding this blog! The baking soda method truly works!! I applied it twice and the abscess drained after the second application. Follow it to the letter! Take note, the baking soda/salt combo will make you drool, so put tissue or a towel underneath your mouth. I wish that I found it sooner. Suffered for 5 days. This method took a little over 10 hours (two 5 hour rounds of the application ). The pressure and constant pain is gone. Waiting on the last bit of swelling and slight pain to leave. What a difference a few hours makes!
Thanks for sharing your experience.
I’m currently 5 months pregnant and now have an abscessed tooth and my dentist said he won’t do anything until after I have healed from having the baby. If I continue some of these methods every day, will the baby and I be okay? I’ve got about 6 months wait.
Yes, you can use garlic method mentioned in the above article. Use only garlic topically and don’t consume it in large amounts.
Hi, I have recently noticed an abscessed tooth and my face is a little swollen and this morning I’ve noticed my upper lip is a little swollen. Can’t afford the dentists at this time.
Wanted to know is this cause for real concern and is there something I can do about it.
I plan to try some of the methods above in the mean time.
I’ve already been using salt and warm water, Holding straight peroxide in that area for 5 minutes twice a day for the past 3 days. Taking Motrin and Advil for the pain as well.
By the way is the tea bag method best to make the puss drain?
Thanks
Yes, it helps to drain the pus. But it is better to consult a doctor in near time to your tooth examined.
Thank you so much for your advice on here… I used fresh garlic around the infected tooth and applied a teabag overnight last night. More fresh garlic cloves today and been walking round with a teabag in my mouth too…Success..The abscess has just drained…..Pain from the swelling has disappeared and I don’t look I just done 10 rounds with Tyson…Dentist Tuesday to spend my hard earned..Thanks again
Thanks for sharing your experience.
I have a swollen left side of my face due to a tooth access what is the best home remedy to
Bring down the swelling fast?
I am on antibiotics
Try garlic or clove oil methods. They help to drain out the abscess which will reduce the swelling gradually.
Thank you so much forvall the good idea’s at the moment im about to sleep with a piece of potato in my mouth and the pain is already fading! I plan to buy some fresh garlic in the morning. I daily do oil pulling and rinse my mouth with baking soda (in warm water). It truely works. I have to disagree on the use of fluoride it shouldnt be used in any kind of way (my mother got me fluoride free toothpaste aswell ) so please dont use fluoride its not going to help you now nor in the future.
Im now saving money to get my infection fixed but if possible id like to overcome it in another kind of way!
I have a bad abscessed tooth, No one is open today being December 26th. Not sure if your their due to that. My Jaw is so swollen and I’m in alot of pain, Had to call out of work for tonight.
Try using garlic or clove oil methods to get relief from pain and swelling. Consult a doctor once you get an appointment.
My tooth broke just over a year ago and instead of just pulling the tooth that had broke he did a root canal and filled in the hole, well the filling fell out three times and they decided to leave it out and said they would eventually pull out what is left of my tooth, well its been a year and they haven’t had any openings to put me out and now the area where the root canal was done is black and killing with pain and I can’t take any kind of opiates for pain due to drug dependentsy issues what can I use to help rid this infection and pain? (I have used salt and warm water and its not working)
Try garlic or clove oil methods to get relief from the pain. If the pain doesn’t reduce even after trying these two methods, then consult a doctor.
Hello everyone!! I tried the apple cider vinegar first and it took away the pain but not the swelling. So I decided to do the garlic and it worked wonders. It took the swelling and pain away to where I can eat now.
The hydrogen peroxide and water worked great for me. The pain went away after a very short while, and overnight I was all but pain free. I can eat (not on that side yet) but my infected upper molar touching the lower molar is no longer causing me severe pain.
Just swish it around the abscessed tooth, spit it out when the bubbles get too much, and repeat until you’re no longer in misery. Do that a few times, or as long as you like, and then dip a piece of folded gauze into the peroxide water mixture, (squeezing out most of liquid so the liquid or the resultant bubbles don’t run down your throat or make you gag), and place the soaked gauze or cotton over the infected area and leave it..
Keep spitting out the bubbles and adding another couple of drops or a small sip to just the area that’s infected, replacing the gauze as needed. DO NOT FALL ASLEEP WITH OR LEAVE THE GAUZE IN YOUR MOUTH OVERNIGHT.
For me the pain and swelling was greatly relieved within a very short period of time. The swelling has remained down and less bubbles are coming with the peroxide applications. It’s been a day and half of doing that whenever I thought of it, and the pain has all but disappeared while the infection is almost gone. I’ll keep doing it until it’s completely gone.
I used Colloidal Silver the same way for the first couple of weeks and that kept the ache from turning into an infection for awhile. I recommend that as well, but the hydrogen peroxide completely saved the day and the tooth!!
You don’t necessarily need to give up an abscessed tooth but you do need to get rid of the infection as soon as possible or it will spread, and that can be a very big deal indeed, so don’t delay. Good luck ~!~
Will Garlic powder work..
Yes, it works. Garlic powder contains anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties which are helpful in reducing pain, swelling and infection.
What about kosher salt? Will that work better then table salt?
Yes, you can use kosher salt for abscess tooth. It will provide the same results as table salt.
My mother is suffering from gum infection, i.e she is getting pus from her gums and teeth started getting lose.so what can I do for it.
Use warm salt method few times in a day. This should help to prevent the infection and also act as antiseptic. Consult your doctor as soon as possible to get an oral examination.
Don’t quite get why you are saying to leave things in your mouth over night. While you are sleeping its dangerous. Maybe I misread.
Can you tell us which method you are exactly speaking. This helps us to provide right answer.
Warning…do not put off a visit to your dentist! If the abscess drains and you should happen to let the bacteria get into your lungs it could be life threatening! Call your dentist ASAP!
Hi , i have an unfinished root canal that’s causing me a bad smell … I brush my teeth daily and bacteria is taking over the tooth .. I haven’t visit the dentist for 3 months because I been unemployed .. what can I doo? I tried to make an appointment this week but it’s closed due to spring break ..
You can try salt water gargle and clove oil to get relief from bad smell and other discomforts causing by the tooth infection until you get an appointment with dentist.
This is nice website, i like it very much!
We are glad you liked it.
I found that chewing one betel leaf with pinch of salt relieves tooth pain ,bad breath and and aides in digestion immeadiately! you can store the leaves in fridge for 2′- 3days in fridge
I have two bumps in my mouth. One is from an old root canal and the other is under a tooth implant. For two weeks I’ve tried chewing garlic. It burned and my mouth tasted like garlic for a week. I swish with coconut oil two times a day. I put clove oil with a q tip on the bumps. I swishes with salt water twice a day. I even tried colidal silver. The bumps and the infection is still there. Please help!
The home remedies only provide relief from pain and swelling until you reach out for a dentist. To clear the infection, you have to consult a dentist as soon as possible.
Hii, i was done my root canal and put crown on my tooth before 2month but know i feel pain and pus in my tooth .. give me some suggetion please
We recommend consulting a dentist to get the crowned teeth checked. If there is any infection, the dentist will clear it.
i have no money or insurance, and I didn’t want to spend another 30 hours in the er for THIS tooth infection, so i watched videos of dentists draining abscesses online (thankfully i had the right tool, but presumably anything needle or hook-esque will work as long as it’s thoroughly sterilized) and did it myself after numbing the area with orajel. SO much of the infection came out when i massaged down from the gumline, it was disgusting and satisfying. the deeper pain was relieved almost instantly, and it bought be a little time to find a free dental clinic.
rinsing frequently with saltwater, mouthwash, and hydrogen peroxide and taking anti-inflammatories.
Ohh! Thanks for sharing this article, one of my friend really needed this. Abscess tooth can really be hurting. You can try out these remedies. These are really effective.
This article and comments are great! I would like to emphasize what the ICU nurse said about infection and when to call 911, and urge the moderators to in fact say ER/911 more often.
In addition, watch your nutrition! I’ve had great results just today by taking three different freshly juiced green drinks (raw, and immediately consumed).
Absolutely stay away from sugar or fried food or chips or junk food. These foods do not aid in healing. If you are consuming alcohol coffee or soda you’re countering the good foods that are accelerating healing. In addition these food choices will INCREASE INFLAMMATION and DECREASE your body’s ability to heal.
Greens contain chlorophyll which is powerful in strengthening your immune system which aids in fighting infection. Chlorophyll also helps to allalize your body.
As mentioned above you can add ginger and turmeric to assist with reducing systemic (overall) inflammation.
This way of eating will also give a sense of wellbeing.
Good luck to you all. Even armed with knowledge I still need help when healing myself. (We all need a little help sometimes)
Thank you for this blog. Keep doing good.
Does this actually help to remove the abcess? I have it and I had it before when my teeth was removed, I don’t feel pain right now but I’m scared of it causing problems in future or spreading the infection? Do those methods actually remove the abcess?
These methods don’t remove the abscess. They help you to handle the symptoms and prevent the infection from spreading. In order to remove the abscess, we recommend consulting a dentist.
I was on two antibiotics to cure an abscess on one tooth. It turned out that I was allergic to the one antibiotic which I stopped.
When the tooth was extracted the swelling of the abscess was not completely cured. Now I do not have much pain but the swelling does not seem to subside. I have only been rinsing with warm salt water.
Is there any home remedy that could solve this problem or must I revert back to the expensive antibiotics. ?
Try garlic method mentioned above in the article.
The tea bag worked wonders! The abscess got so bad the puss was going below the jaw. I decided to use our black tea bags and left it in my mouth with a heating pad while watching a movie, and by the end the puss managed to go back up above my jaw and draw some of it out!
Thanks for sharing your experience.
I’ve had this abscess since May 2017. I tried salt water and it did nothing. I’ve tried peroxide and it did nothing. I went into the dentist office August 15, 2017. She prescribed me 24 caplets of amoxicillin to take. I took them til they were gone but my abscess is still there. I’m still waiting on a phone call from the dentist. I’m freaking out because I don’t know what else to do. I really don’t want to lose my tooth nor do I want to get sick or die from this abscess. Please help.
I can’t BELIEVE you recommend fluoride… Infuriating!
I think I have abbess right below left side my nose feels like it’s goin up side my nose really hard right above my lip how
I was prescribed antibiotics two days ago for an abscess. my jaw lip and chin is swollen and stiff.. I have been on the antibiotics since Monday taking 2 pills a day morning and night the swelling has gone down some what but I’m wondering how and when the puss will release I see no sign on my gums of it releasing.. any ideas on how to get rid of the puss…my chin and jaw are stiff .. the centre of my chin and along my jaw is where the abscess is located any suggestions for any home remedy to particulary get the puss to drain ??? Thanks for your advice ..in advance
I was prescribed amoxicillin and clavulanic acid
I have an abscess tooth that has a crown on it but no root canal they want to do a root canal I do not want a dead tooth in my mouth what are my options all I can get my dentist to talk about is a root canal. if the tooth is extracted and it is the second from back molar don’t I have other options so that my teeth will not shift as far as restoration later on?
I thought this was an incredibly well-researched & information article… UNTIL I read your recommendation to use flouride toothpaste. Moron.
I had an abscess under my molar and the gum was swollen. It hurt so bad that I wanted to pop it with a needle. The infection caused pain in my face, it made my right sinuses close, and my right ear was stuffed up. I tried applying heat, then ice to the gum. Ibuprofen reduced the swelling and allowed me to sleep. But I have no dental insurance, and did not want to pay for a root canal, so I searched and found this site, thank God. I tried the Oregano Oil, which I happened to have in the kitchen from Swanson Vitamins for cooking. I applied it to a Q-tip then dripped it on top of the tooth and applied more all around where the gum meets the tooth. After 1 week, the pain is gone, my sinuses opened, my ear is normal and no facial pain! I don’t have to take ibuprofen either. Thank you so much for this website!
Hi. Thanks for your article and info. I found the apple cider vinegar really good and salt water. I am going to also try colloidal silver. What has healed my abscess, besides these things is a dose of 4-5 capsules of probiotics in one day. Take 3 in the morning and 2 later. And 3 the following day. Continue to take smaller doses. This provided me with phenomenal relief very quickly. What also works really well is to hold a capsule of probiotics in your mouth literally on the affected area/tooth. So it slowly dissolves in your mouth and sits there. I use a probiotic with potency of 50billion which has approx 12 strains of bacteria. One strain in particular tnat I figure is useful is the salivarius. As it’s for the saliva. I use the Nutralife brand which I get in NZ. So something with similar strains. I have healed a kidney infection very rapidly with probiotics as this is what the body is designed to do – ie flood the infected area with good bacteria as I understand it. Yet often we are lacking sufficient stores of good bacteria. Definitely worth trying. No antibiotics required.
How would a dentist extract a tooth if it’s ground down to the gum? I don’t think I’ll ever convince my husband to go to the dentist unless they promise to put him to sleep for the procedure. He is beyond stubborn! Or terrified. He has previously pulled 2 or 3 of his own teeth With needle nose pliers. He has an abscess now, and I have no doubt he will clear it up for a bit. Then the process will restart..
Please help! I’m tired of eating soft food for dinner, 😉
I have a no pain gum absence..plz help me to get rid of it…
sir
I have checked my teeth , dr said it infected and suggested root canal treatment but i am not ready to done this treatment, please give me some suggestion to relief pain and infection.