An abscessed tooth is a common term used to describe an infection at the root of a tooth or between a tooth and the gums.
It is typically caused by bacteria that enter the tooth through either a dental cavity, chip or crack and spreads all the way down to the root tip. This leads to pain, inflammation and pockets of pus.
In most cases, an abscessed tooth is caused by severe tooth decay or gum disease (gingivitis). In addition, poor dental hygiene and a diet high in sugar, carbohydrates and sticky food increase your risk of developing this problem.
A throbbing and sharp toothache is a common symptom of an abscessed tooth.
Other signs and symptoms include pain when chewing food, increased sensitivity to hot or cold food and drink, change in taste senses, bad breath, swelling in your cheek, red and sore gums, difficulty opening your mouth, difficulty swallowing food, swollen lymph nodes under your jaw, fever, and general discomfort.
If left untreated, the infection may spread to the bone that supports the tooth and may result in severe life-threatening complications. Even if the abscess ruptures and there is a significant reduction in pain, you will still need dental treatment.
At times, as a result of infection, the pulp in the root of the tooth dies, thus decreasing the pain. This, however, does not mean that the infection has healed as it will still continue to spread and destroy the tissue.
If you notice signs of an abscessed tooth, consult a dentist as soon as possible because it will not get better on its own. As an adjunct treatment, you can also try some natural home remedies to help fight the infection and alleviate symptoms.
Here are the top 10 home remedies for an abscessed tooth.
1. Garlic
Garlic has anti-inflammatory and natural antibiotic properties that make it highly effective for treating an abscessed tooth.
It helps relieve pain and prevent the spread of the infection.
- Put a fresh garlic clove in your mouth and crush it with your teeth. Chew it until the pain subsides. Spit it out and rinse your mouth with warm water. To reduce the residual odor, you can add a few drops of clove oil to the warm water.
- Another option is to mix ½ teaspoon of garlic powder with a pinch of table salt and apply it directly on the affected tooth. Allow it to sit for 10 minutes, then rinse your mouth with mouthwash.
- You can also rub garlic oil on the affected tooth.
Repeat any of these remedies 3 or 4 times a day for a few weeks.
2. Oil Pulling
Oil pulling, an ancient Ayurvedic practice, can also be used to treat an abscessed tooth or painful gums. This age-old practice helps reduce the amount of bacteria present in the mouth. It helps draw toxins from the mouth and, in fact, the entire body, which promotes both oral and overall health.
- Put 1 tablespoon of extra-virgin coconut oil in your mouth.
- Swish the oil inside your mouth for at least 15 minutes. Do not swallow it.
- After 15 minutes, spit it out and rinse your mouth with warm water.
- Repeat the process twice daily for about a month for positive results.
Note: Do this on an empty stomach.
3. Clove
Clove is one of the best remedies for any kind of dental issue, including an abscessed tooth.
It has antiseptic, analgesic and antibacterial properties that help alleviate toothache, inflammation and soreness in the gums.
- Dip a cotton ball in clove oil and hold it on the painful area for a few minutes.
- Another option is to place a whole clove between your infected tooth and your cheek. Chew it from time to time to release its juice. Allow the juice to remain in your mouth for at least 30 minutes. Then rinse your mouth with warm water.
4. Black Tea Bag
A black tea bag is another good home remedy for an abscessed tooth. It has tannins that help reduce pain and inflammation. In addition, it contains antioxidants that help fight infection and promote good oral health.
- Soak a black tea bag in warm water for a few minutes.
- Remove it from the water, wring it out and put the tea bag on the affected tooth.
- Leave it there for few hours or overnight.
- Rinse your mouth with a warm salt-water solution.
- Repeat once daily for a couple of weeks.
5. Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide has disinfectant and antibacterial properties that help kill the bacteria that cause an abscessed tooth.
It also helps reduce inflammation and pain. Moreover, it helps get rid of yellow teeth. For oral health, use food grade, 3-percent hydrogen peroxide solution only.
- Mix 2 teaspoons of hydrogen peroxide with 1 tablespoon of warm water. Use this solution to rinse your mouth and spit it out completely. Follow this remedy 3 times a week.
- Mix 1 teaspoon of baking soda with enough hydrogen peroxide (about 1/2 teaspoon) to make a paste. Apply this paste on the affected area for a couple of minutes and then rinse your mouth thoroughly with warm water. Follow this remedy a few times a week.
6. Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar is another very effective home remedy for an abscessed tooth. It has anti-inflammatory and disinfectant properties that help reduce pain and inflammation while disinfecting the affected area.
- Swish 1 tablespoon of raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar in your mouth for a few minutes. Spit it out completely, being sure not to swallow it. Rinse your mouth with warm water. Repeat this process a few times a day.
- Another option is to mix 1 teaspoon of raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar in a glass of water and drink it twice daily.
7. Salt Water
Salt has antiseptic and antibacterial properties that can help reduce inflammation, ease pain, draw out any infection and prevent the growth of bacteria in the mouth.
- Add 1 teaspoon of salt or refined salt to a glass of lukewarm water. Mix it until the salt dissolves completely.
- Rinse your mouth with this solution.
- Do this 2 or 3 times a day to clear the infection and reduce discomfort and pain.
8. Turmeric
As turmeric is rich in antibiotic, antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties, it can help reduce pain and inflammation caused by an abscessed tooth. It also promotes oral health.
- Mix 1 teaspoon of turmeric powder with a little water to make a paste. After brushing your teeth, apply the paste directly on the affected area. Allow it to sit for 15 to 20 minutes, then rinse it off with warm water.
- You can also mix 1 teaspoon of salt and ½ teaspoon of turmeric powder in a glass of lukewarm water. Use it to rinse your mouth a few times daily.
- Another option is to mix ¼ teaspoon of turmeric powder with 1 teaspoon of olive or mustard oil. Apply this mixture on the affected area. Allow it to sit for 15 minutes before rinsing your mouth with warm water.
Repeat any of these remedies a couple of times daily.
9. Oregano Oil
Oregano oil contains antibacterial and antioxidant properties, making it a good remedy for an abscessed tooth. It also boosts immunity and helps the body fight tooth infections and speed up the healing process.
- Apply a few drops of oregano oil directly on the affected tooth and gums and leave it for at least 15 minutes.
- Prepare a mouthwash by mixing 3 to 5 drops of oregano oil in ¼ cup of warm water. Swish this solution in your mouth for about 10 minutes, then spit it out completely.
Repeat either of these remedies 3 or 4 times a day.
10. Peppermint
Peppermint works like a miracle when it comes to pain due to an abscessed tooth. It has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that help reduce inflammation as well as prevent the spread of infection.
- Rub a few drops of peppermint oil on the affected area using your fingertips for a couple of minutes.
- Also, extract fresh peppermint juice from the leaves and apply it on the affected tooth.
Follow either of these remedies a few times daily.
Additional Tips
- Apply a cold compress on your cheek near the aching tooth for a few minutes to get pain relief.
- Drink ½ glass of wheatgrass juice daily on an empty stomach to get relief from abscessed tooth discomforts.
- Brush and floss your teeth twice daily.
- Always use toothpaste containing fluoride to reduce the risk of developing an abscessed tooth.
- Use an antimicrobial mouthwash to rinse your mouth properly to prevent infection.
- Change your toothbrush every 3 to 4 months to ensure proper cleaning of the teeth.
- Stop using tobacco and quit smoking.
- Avoid chewing too much gum.
- Limit consumption of sugary items and rinse your mouth properly after eating sugary items.
- When suffering from an tooth pain or infection, avoid caffeine.
- Follow a healthy diet.
- Visit your dentist for regular checkups and professional cleanings.
Love this site very interesting never heard of these remedies I will try some of them especially the remedy about tooth pain.
thank u so much…
it really hlps alot to me &
w/ my family.
more power..
God Bless!
Really pleased that a friend referred me to this site.
Be careful with the clove or clove oil. I burnt my gums because no one informed me of a time period of the clove oil being on the tooth/gum. Always check what the result might be.
@Dave: Thanks for the comment. Using the clove myself and i plan to learn from your mistake.
Dave The instructions say “a few minutes” with the clove oil or 30 minutes if you use the whole clove.
Hey i tried it with chewing on a raw onion. The pain is relieved instantly.
I have done the clove before….it works really well. I also love using peroxide when I brush my teeth, and it helps get rid of germs and keep your mouth clean, plus it helps keep away bad breath odors…I know this is a tooth site but if you also have a foot odor problem, soak your feet in water with about a cup of mouthwash…works awesome and now I dont have to smell my husbands feet…lol
Good and useful tips.
Useful and valuable tips for me and my family.
thnxx for giving me some & I apply this remedies regularly & hope for the best..
I have an abscess tooth and I used the salt water but I added vinager to it. This worked very good the pus pocket popped and relieved a lot of the pain and that helped until I could see a dentist.
I love this site .
one trick have discovered is natures very own antibiotic and that is buy a root of ginger and chop of about an inch and skin it then chop it up and put into a pan of water and bring to the boil then simmer for 5 minutes. in a mug put in at least a table spoon of raw honey and pour the ginger tea into mug and stir and then top up the water in the pan and leave for about four hours when you can then bring the pot to the boil then empty contents and restart. you need to drink this at least 4 times a day and after third day you will feel a lot better and no pain and abyss will have gone.
I would love to try this method but I’m finding the directions difficult to follow. Is there any way someone could clarify them for me. Thank you!
Currently have an abcessed tooth, and while it doesn’t have sharp pain, it aches like no other. I’m going to try the oil pulling, salt water, peppermint oil tips to see how well it works. I’ll post back in a couple weeks to give y’all an update.
I have severe pain and it goes up to my ear and my jaw hurts as well any helpful ideas for this severe tooth ache will be greatly appreciated
A Dental Professional informed me that I have several tooth infections. I deduced it was due to a previous “dental student’s” botched work. Fortunately for me none of those resulted in excessive pain! I’ve run the gamut from flossing w/Oregano Oil to Oil pulling and even usin dropper of Cannabis Oil, which may have been extremely effective, t(us far. I will attempt the Clove Oil. I’m also swishing w/ ACV, Turmeric , Himalayan Salt, Black Pepper & warm Distilled Water, feels as if it is working!
I also applied Bacardi or DonQ 151 Rum. And trust me it really help!!!
I used the baking soda and Hydrogen peroxide solution and it took away my pain immediately! I also brush my teeth with baking soda and it makes my teeth look whiter and my mouth feel clean and fresh.
Woke up with abscessed toothache at 1a.m. in the morning. Pain was really bad and gums and face swollen. I took 3 ibuprofen immediately. At 1:30 still a lot of pain and discomfort. Researched home remedies for abscessed tooth and immediately tried hydrogen peroxide with baking soda paste at 1:45. At 2a.m I am feeling a lot better now. Pain is almost gone it seems like swelling has shrunk a little also. Time to get some sleep. Thank you
Thank you so much. I had immediate relief from rubbing salt on gums. Swelling instantly going down!
If you can get ahold of some bovine colostrum capsules you can break them open and dump the stuff on the tooth and chew. Don’t wash it away. Best to do right before bed after you’ve brushed your teeth.
If you are getting an upset stomach from swallowing the stuff that weeps out, half a shot of clear alcohol like vodka, rum, or tequila really helps the digestion.
After taking Aleve, rinsing with salt water, rinsing with baking soda, rising with apple cider vinegar, using a bc powder mix, I chewed on a fresh half garlic bulb which instantly stopped the throbbing and aching. The garlic burns a little and of course there is the odor but I am at home today so I don’t care. Will repeat this or try garlic powder mix until I can make an appointment for the dentist. Thanks for these tips.
Thank you for sharing, I tried ginger though it was awful but the pain was instantly turned into relief. I was thinking about hydrogen peroxide but found it a bit difficult as compared to ginger so I went with the ginger and it worked.
Thanks for the tips, going to try rubbing salt on, if that fails a garlic clove, &/ bicarb soda, as do not have others ave a big bubble in top gum so cannot eat, tried wine no go! Paracetamol no hope, dentist open tomorrow so shall be the 1st one there, many thanks for hopefully a good night’s rest
I had excruciating pain last night, abscess grew today so large I looked & sounded deformed! Thank you for your posts used salt 4 times salivating into a tissue, pain free a decent night’s sleep for me! A poet didn’t even know it. Finding a dentist Monday so thanks guys for your wisdom & knowledge, saves a dentist the next dreary visit!!!!
I have a chronic root inflammation caused by bacteria living in roots after badly done root canal.
None of the above worked for me. Last two extremely painful episodes (throbbing pain, unable to even touch the tooth!) I was given antibiotics by doctors and usual painkillers worked max 4 hours. Had to use maximum does too which was not safe at all.
This time I did something different after reading an article about starving bacteria infected mice.
I stopped eating sweets, pasta, white bread, fruits and so on. It is called low glycemic diet. I also drank a few shots of whiskey or vodka too. Apparently it also lowers glucose too.
The pain was meanegable by low doses of ibuprofenum on the 2nd day!
On the 4th day I did not have to take any painkillers. The tendernes around the tooth is almost gone.
I hope this helps someone.