Abscessed tooth home remedy

A tooth abscess formation has a lot to do with personal oral hygiene, meaning that the cleaner you keep your mouth, the less chance you have that an abscess will form. An abscess is an infection that develops between a tooth and the gum. It can be very painful and a huge annoyance. The best remedies often come from the dentist, particularly if the infection is bad, but there are home remedies that can at least ease the pain, and sometimes cure the abscess.

What Causes a Tooth Abscess?
Many things can contribute to the formation of a tooth abscess. Such as:

  • Damage to the tooth that may have occurred years ago.
  • Orthodontic treatments, such as braces, that stretched the teeth and gums.
  • Fillings in the tooth that may have caused damage to the tooth.
  • Old or leaking fillings that bacteria get underneath; they may damage the nerve fibers and pulp of the tooth.
  • Poor fitting crowns.
  • An allergy to cheap crown metals.

Symptoms of a Tooth Abscess
Before you can treat an abscessed tooth, it is important to be able to recognize the symptoms. They might include:

  • Swelling and redness in the mouth
  • Pain in the mouth, particularly when chewing
  • Bleeding gums
  • Bad/bitter taste in the mouth
  • Bad smelling breath
  • Sensitivity in the mouth to hot or cold
  • Swollen neck glands
  • Swollen upper and/or lower jaw
  • An open, draining sore on the side of the gum
  • Fever
  • General discomfort

How to Treat a Tooth Abscess at Home
Although many times it is necessary to see a dentist to cure an abscessed tooth because it needs to be drained, home remedies can be useful as well. Home remedies include:

  • Gargle warm water and salt in your mouth. The salt aids in getting rid of the bacteria and prevents the spread of infection. Do this several times a day and always after meals. It can also help get rid of the bad taste in your mouth.
  • Apply a cold compress to the area along your neck and jaw line. This will help get rid of the pain and swelling in this area. An ice pack will work or a very cold wet washcloth. Don’t use a warm compress because it may stimulate more bleeding.
  • Do not eat spicy foods.  This might aggravate the pain and increase the swelling to the area. Also, avoid drinking hot drinks like tea and coffee. Drink plenty of water.
  • Herbal remedies may be useful. Try boiling a cup of water with 3-4 cloves and a piece of ginger. Boil the water until it is reduced by half (it will turn light brown). Let the water cool and gargle it in your mouth. Another attempt might be to pack your tooth with a used tea bag to help relieve some of the pain, due to the antioxidants present in the tea.
  • Do not rinse your mouth with mouthwash because it might cause more pain.

Don’t Prolong Treatment for Too Long
Since the abscess is filled with bacteria, it is important to not let the infection go on for too long because the bacteria can enter the bloodstream and cause heart problems. This is known as endocarditis, or an inflammation of the lining of the heart. The best thing to do is prevent a tooth abscess from happening in the first place if you are able (some things can’t be prevented, such as tooth trauma). Prevention consists of practicing good oral hygiene. If your teeth do experience any sort of trauma, see a dentist as soon as possible.

Last updated on Aug 20th, 2010 and filed under Dental Health. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

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