Treat tooth abscess effectively with apple cider vinegar and clove oil

A tooth abscess is a common term which is used to describe an infection at the root of your tooth or between your tooth and gums. This infection is usually caused by bacteria that enter your tooth through the crack, chip, or dental cavity and spread all the way down to the root tip. This leads to pockets of pus, inflammation, and pain. Gum disease (gingivitis) and severe tooth decay are the most common causes of an abscessed tooth. A diet high in sugar, sticky food and carbohydrates, and poor dental hygiene are factors which can increase your risk of getting an abscessed tooth. A throbbing and sharp toothache is the most common symptom which is associated with this infection. Other signs and symptoms of abscess tooth are: general discomfort, fever, swollen lymph nodes under your jaw, difficulty swallowing food, difficulty opening your mouth, red and sore gums, swelling in your cheek, bad breath, change in taste senses, increased sensitivity to hot or cold food and drink and pain when chewing food. If you let this condition untreated, then it can spread to the bone which is supporting your tooth and this can result in severe life-threatening conditions. Even if the abscess ruptures and you notice decreased reduction in your pain, you still need to have proper dental treatment. There are some cases in which as a result of infection, the pulp in the root of your tooth dies which is decreasing the pain. But this does not mean that the infection is healed. It will continue to spread and destroy the tissue. If you have noticed some of the mentioned symptoms, then you should talk with your dentist. You can try some of the mentioned home remedies to help fight the infection and alleviate symptoms.

9 Home remedies for tooth abscess

Apple cider vinegar

This is an effective home remedy for an abscessed tooth. It has disinfectant and anti-inflammatory properties which can help you to reduce inflammation and pain while disinfecting the affected area [1]. You should swish one tablespoon of raw and unfiltered apple cider vinegar in your mouth for a few minutes. You should spit it out completely and you should be sure not to swallow it. Then, you should rinse your mouth with warm water. You should repeat this natural treatment a few times per day. Also, you can mix one teaspoon of raw and unfiltered apple cider vinegar in one glass of water and you should drink it two times per day.

Black tea bag

This is also a very effective home remedy for tooth abscesses. It contains tannins which can help you to reduce pain and inflammation. Also, it has antioxidants that can help fight infection and will promote good oral health [2]. You should soak a black tea bag in warm water for a few minutes. You should remove the tea bag from the water, wring it out and you should put the tea bag on the affected tooth. You should let it stay there for a few hours or you can let it stay there all night. You should rinse your mouth with a warm saltwater solution. You should repeat this natural treatment once per day for a period of a couple of weeks.

Oregano oil

This type of oil has antioxidant and antibacterial properties which are making it a very effective home remedy for an abscessed tooth. It can boost your immune system and also it will your body fight tooth infections and it will speed up the healing process [3]. You should apply a few drops of oregano oil directly to the affected tooth and gums you should let it stay there for at least fifteen minutes. Also, you can prepare a mouthwash by mixing three to five drops of oregano oil in ¼ cup of warm water. You should swish this home remedy in your mouth for ten minutes and then you should spit it out completely. You should repeat some of the mentioned tooth abscess home remedies three or four times per day.

Clove

Clove is one of the best natural cures for any kind of dental issue including tooth abscesses. It has antibacterial, analgesic, and antiseptic properties which can help you alleviate soreness, inflammation, and toothache in your gums [4]. You should dip a cotton ball in the clove oil and then you should hold it on the painful area for a period of a few minutes. Also, there is another option which you can make and that is to place a whole clove between your infected tooth and cheek. You should chew it from time to time to release its juice. You should allow the juice to remain in your mouth for at least thirty minutes. Then, you should rinse your mouth with warm water.

Oil pulling

This is an ancient Ayurvedic practice which can be treated as a natural treatment for painful gums or an abscessed tooth. This natural treatment can help you to reduce the amount of bacteria which is present in your mouth [5]. Also, it will help you to draw toxins from your mouth and into the entire body which can promote oral and overall health. You should put one tablespoon of extra–virgin coconut oil in your mouth. You should swish the oil inside your mouth for at least fifteen minutes. You should not swallow it. After fifteen minutes you should spit it out and then you should rinse your mouth with warm water. You should repeat this natural treatment two times per day for a period of one month until you notice positive results. You should not do this natural treatment on empty stomach.

Garlic

Garlic has antibiotic and anti-inflammatory properties which are making it one of the best home remedies for treating tooth abscesses. It can help you to get relief from the pain and it will prevent the spread of the infection [6]. You should put a fresh garlic clove in your mouth and then you should crush it with your teeth. You should chew the garlic until the pain subsides. You should spit it out and then you should rinse your mouth with warm water. If you want to reduce the residual odor, then you should add a few drops of clove oil to the warm water. Also, you can mix a pinch of table salt and ½ teaspoon of garlic powder. You should apply this mixture directly to the affected tooth. You should let it stay there for ten minutes and then you should rinse your mouth with mouthwash. Also, you can rub garlic oil on the affected tooth. You should repeat some of the mentioned home remedies three to four times per day for a period of a few weeks.

Turmeric

This is also a very effective home remedy for tooth abscesses because it has anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, and antibiotic properties [7]. These properties will help you to reduce the inflammation and pain which are caused by this condition. Also, turmeric is promoting good oral health. You should mix a small amount of water with one teaspoon of turmeric powder to make a paste. After you have brushed your teeth, you should apply this paste directly to the affected area. You should let it stay there for fifteen to twenty minutes and then you should rinse it off with warm water. Also, you can mix ½ teaspoon of turmeric powder and one teaspoon of salt in a glass of lukewarm water. You should use this natural cure to rinse your mouth a few times per day. There is a third natural cure that you can make from turmeric. You should mix one teaspoon of mustard or olive oil with ¼ teaspoon of turmeric powder. You should apply this mixture to the affected area. You should allow this home remedy to stay on the affected area for fifteen minutes before you rinse your mouth with warm water. You should repeat some of the mentioned natural cures a couple of times per day.

Saltwater

Salt has antibacterial and antiseptic properties which can help you to prevent the growth of bacteria in the mouth, draw out any infection, ease pain and help reduce the inflammation. In one glass of lukewarm water, you should add one teaspoon of salt or refined salt. You should mix it until the salt dissolves completely. You should rinse your mouth with this natural cure. You should do this natural treatment two or three times per day to reduce pain and discomfort and clear the infection.

Peppermint

This is one of the most used natural treatments for pain which is caused by tooth abscesses. It has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties which can help you to reduce the inflammation and they will prevent the spread of infection. You should rub a few drops of peppermint oil on the affected area using your fingertips for a couple of minutes. Also, you should extract fresh peppermint juice from the peppermint leaves and you should apply it to the affected tooth. You should follow some of the mentioned home remedies a few times per day for tooth abscesses. [8]

References:

[1] Tijare M, Smitha D, Kasetty S, et al. Vinegar as a disinfectant of extracted human teeth for dental educational use. Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology. 2014;18(1):14-18.

[2] Akiyama H, Fujii K, Yamasaki O, et al. Antibacterial action of several tannins against Staphylococcus aureus. Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy. 2001;48(4):487-91.

[3] Thosar N, Basak S, Bahadure RN, Rajurkar M. Antimicrobial efficacy of five essential oils against oral pathogens: An in vitro study. European Journal of Dentistry. 2013;7(Suppl1):S71-S77.

[4] Kumarswamy A. Multimodal management of dental pain with focus on alternative medicine: A novel herbal dental gel. Contemporary Clinical Dentistry. 2016;7(2):131-139.

[5] Shanbhag VKL. Oil pulling for maintaining oral hygiene – A review. Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine. 2017;7(1):106-109.

[6] Ajay Rao HT, Bhat SS, Hegde S, Jhamb V. Efficacy of garlic extract and chlorhexidine mouthwash in reduction of oral salivary microorganisms, an in vitro study. Ancient Science of Life. 2014;34(2):85-88.

[7] Chaturvedi TP. Uses of turmeric in dentistry: An update. Indian Journal of Dental Research. 2009;20(1):107-109.

[8] Haghgoo R, Abbasi F. Evaluation of the use of a peppermint mouth rinse for halitosis by girls studying in Tehran high schools. Journal of International Society of Preventive & Community Dentistry. 2013;3(1):29-31.