If you have a tooth abscess, you may likely experience a great deal of pain and swelling within your mouth and jaw. A tooth abscess occurs after your tooth has been cracked or broken and bacteria enters into the tooth. It can also occur after your gums have become infected or you have advanced gum disease, and also if you have not received treatment for a cavity. It is important to see an emergency dentist if you have a tooth abscess, as the infection can spread to other parts of your body and become life-threatening. In the meantime, you can take some steps to help treat the pain while you are waiting to see your dentist or doctor.
Pull Coconut Oil
Oil pulling with coconut oil, which you may have in your kitchen, is a great way to help relieve the pain associated with your tooth abscess and to help reduce some of the toxins and infection present in your mouth. When you see your dentist to treat the abscess, they will remove the infected tissue within your tooth and gums, but this pulling process will begin to help reduce it and the associated pain before you get to your dentist.
Place one to two teaspoons of coconut oil into your mouth and let it melt. Swish the oil around inside your mouth, moving it under your tongue, and between your teeth. As you do this, the oil traps and pulls toxins from inside your mouth that are part of your tooth abscess and infection. Continue swishing the oil for up to 20 minutes, then spit it into the trash. It is important not to swish it longer than the recommended 20 minutes because after that time your body will begin to reabsorb the toxins in the oil. Rinse your mouth with water, then brush your teeth.
The oil pulling traps and remove bacteria responsible for oral decay and infection, and cleans your teeth of plaque. Coconut oil pulling also reduces inflammation in your gums, and helps reduce your bad breath associated with your oral infection. Oil pulling helps your body's overall health in addition to helping reduce the abscess pain and pulling out toxins. Coconut oil contains medium chain triglycerides, which have great health benefits, and is high in lauric acid, which kills harmful pathogens in your body, such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi.
Because it is important to see your dentist with a tooth abscess as soon as possible, you may not be waiting several days for treatment. But however long your wait, you can use this oil pulling process a couple times each day to help relieve the associated pain and pull out infection and toxins from the infection.
Use Black Tea
A tea bag of black tea can also be helpful for treating the pain of a tooth abscess. The tannins contained in black tea help reduce pain and swelling from the infection and the antioxidants help to fight the bacteria infection. Soak a black tea bag in some warm water for a few minutes to saturate all the tea. Squeeze out the excess water and place the tea bag on your infected tooth. You can leave the tea bag there for several hours or overnight to help reduce the pain and swelling.
Apply Garlic
Another food item you may have in your kitchen to help with your tooth abscess is garlic. Garlic contains a sulfur amino acid, allicin, which reduces swelling, and is an antimicrobial agent to help reduce the level of infection until you can see your dentist. Garlic is also a natural anesthetic to help reduce the pain and any sensitivity that your tooth abscess causes while you are waiting.
Crush up a garlic clove and press it onto the infected tooth. Let the garlic paste sit on the area for a few minutes, then rinse if off with water.
