Home Remedies for Abscess Tooth with Swollen Face That Work Like a Miracle

Have you ever gone to sleep with a throbbing pain in your teeth and woken up with a swollen face? If yes then here’s a tiny bad news for you: it could be an abscessed tooth. It is more serious and usually more painful than a normal toothache.

It is a bacterial infection spread to the root tip of your teeth. People with poor oral hygiene, broken teeth and tooth decay are most susceptible to abscess tooth.

Enough with the bad news. Here’s some good news to ease your mind: you can relieve the symptoms of tooth abscess using some easy home remedies.

Please understand that these remedies are not an alternative to professional treatment. You should use them only as a temporary fix for the excruciating pain and swollen face. You can also pair them up with your dentist prescribed medicines to get faster results.

Before I start listing out the remedies, here’s a quick overview of tooth abscess for you. Understanding the problem and what causes it will help you prevent it in the future.

So What the Deal with Abscessed Tooth? How Does It Occur in the First Place?

Basically, tooth abscess is a sophisticated and more fearsome version of regular toothache. It is an accumulation of pus deep inside your teeth. You must be wondering how can there possibly be a pus buildup inside a tooth?

The short answer is that when your tooth loses its immunity, it cannot fight bacteria and germs anymore.

Tooth abscess, medically known as periapical tooth abscess, is a result of tooth trauma, decay or damage. Improper oral hygiene makes way for dental plaque buildup. Plaque is basically a collection of bacteria.

When your teeth lose its ability to fight off the bacteria, and germs, these can easily attack the inner chamber (pulp chamber) of your teeth, causing an infection.

The infection from the inner chamber eventually spreads to the root of the tooth. It leads to pus buildup which ultimately reaches your jaw bones through the root tip.

Apart from a mind-numbing pain, dental abscess can also cause swollen face. In medical terms, this condition is referred to as facial cellulitis. It usually occurs when the infection is left untreated. It is a serious condition and should be taken care of immediately.

Important Note:

If the infection is causing high fever or difficulty in breathing, instead of visiting your dentist right away, you should go to the emergency room. The doctors will drain the abscess pus and put you on antibiotics to ease your pain.

Easy Home Remedies for Tooth Abscess You Can Find in Your Kitchen Cabinet

If the pain and swelling aren’t too serious or you are unable to visit the dentist, you can try these home remedies to deal with the situation. While cannot cure the abscess, it can definitely help you get temporary relief. I have made sure that all the ingredients required for this are already there in your refrigerator and kitchen.

So here goes a list of the best home remedies for abscess tooth with a swollen face:

 Cold Compression to Ease the Swelling

A cold compress will give you a quick relief from the pain and reduce the swelling and inflammation. Just take the ice pack out of your freezer, wrap it with a piece of cloth and lightly press it against the affected area for around 15-20 minutes.

If you don’t have an ice pack, crush a few ice cubes in a bag, again wrap it in a towel and use. If 20 minutes of cold compress doesn’t ease your pain, wait for 20 more minutes before re-applying. Also, do not apply the ice cube/ ice pack directly on to your skin. It can make things worse.

 Clove Oil Treatment for a Full Mouth Detox

Clove oil is a powerhouse of antioxidants. It contains eugenol that is loaded with antibacterial, analgesic and antiseptic properties. Applying clove oil on the aching teeth and around the inflamed gum lessens the severity of the infection. It also a mild natural anesthetic, therefore, it will numb the affected area for a while as well.

Pour 3-4 drops of clove oil on a cotton ball and gently dab in on the target area. Make sure not to overuse the oil.

You can also brush your teeth with it twice a day.

If you don’t have clove oil readily available, just put some whole cloves in your mouth and keep chewing it slowly to release the juice. Leave the juice in your mouth for around 30 minutes and rinse it off with tepid water.

Saltwater Rinse for the Rescue

Now, this has to be the easiest tooth abscess home treatment of all time. You need 1 tablespoon of table salt and 1 cup of warm water for this. Mix the salt in the water and rinse your mouth thoroughly for 2-3 minutes. Doing this two to three times a day will naturally drain out the pus-filled abscess.

Sodium Chloride (NaCl) in salt is a natural disinfectant and will prevent the further growth of bacteria in your mouth.

Its antiseptic and antibacterial properties will weaken the existing bacteria in your mouth, reducing the intensity of your infection in the way. Its anti-inflammatory properties will provide instant relief from sore and inflamed gums.

Baking Soda to Disinfect

Baking soda is a common component of many over-the-counter toothpastes. It has been used as a home remedy for various oral problems since time immemorial. Baking soda blocks the formation of plaque, one of the main culprits of abscess tooth.

Sodium bicarb prevents tooth damage caused by the overconsumption of acidic and sugar-loaded foods as well. It also has antibacterial properties that will fight the bacteria responsible for the abscess.

For this remedy, you need to mix ½ tablespoon of baking soda and a small pinch of salt in ½ cup of lukewarm water and make a paste. Apply this paste on the affected area and keep it on for about 30 minutes. Was it off with warm water afterward.

For best results, you should brush your teeth with this toothpaste twice a day.

Hydrogen Peroxide to Kill the Nasty Bacteria

Now, this may not be present in your kitchen cabinet but you can easily buy it from the store. Hydrogen peroxide is a medically approved disinfectant that kills the bacteria that cause tooth infection. In addition to this, it also soothes swollen and bleeding gums. The trick to get the most benefit out of this ingredient is to dilute it properly.

To prepare a hydrogen peroxide antibacterial mouthwash, mix 3 equal parts of peroxide with room temperature or tepid water. Swish it around your mouth for a few seconds and spit it out. Do this 3 times a week.

Alternatively, you can also make a paste using ½ teaspoon of peroxide, 1 teaspoon of baking soda and a little bit water. Apply the paste on the infected area, leave it for 5 minutes and wash it off with warm water. Repeat it 3 times a week,

The Garlicky Solution

The study published in AYU magazine in 2013 suggests that garlic can remove the pathogenic bacteria responsible for oral infections. Its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory nature makes it an excellent natural remedy for tooth abscess.

For this, just crush a few cloves of garlic to make a paste. Garlic can leave a horrible smell in your mouth. To get rid of it, add a few drops of clove essential oil in it.

Apply the paste on the target area and let it rest for 10 minutes. Rinse your mouth with mouthwash afterwards. Do this two times a day to relieve the pain and reduce the swelling.

Power of Peppermint Oil

Peppermint oil works as a natural antibiotic, reducing gum tenderness and swelling. It also detoxes your mouth, eliminating the harmful bacteria that leads to plaque buildup. It has a nice cooling effect that soothes your inflamed and swollen gums.

Just soak a cotton swab in peppermint oil and lightly press it onto your gum and aching teeth. Let it sit for 15 minutes and then rinse it with lukewarm water. It will also leave you with a minty-fresh breath for hours.

Oil Pulling Technique To Banish the Toxins

Oil pulling is an ancient ayurvedic technique to get rid of swollen gums, intense toothache, infection, and bleeding gums. According to a study published in the Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine in 2017, oil pulling is an effective way to ensure good oral hygiene.

You can use extra virgin coconut oil, olive oil, clove oil or sesame oil for this method. Take 1 tablespoon of your choice of oil. Swish it around your mouth continuously for around 15 minutes and then wash it off with warm water. Repeat this every morning on an empty stomach for best results.

The Goodness of Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar can effectively disinfect the affected area with its amazing antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory properties.

You can rinse your mouth with raw, 100% organic ACV for a few minutes. Spit it out and rinse your mouth with warm water afterwards.

Fenugreek for a Quick Relief

The antibacterial properties of fenugreek can work wonders on tooth abscess. It also speeds up the process of pus draining to reduce the swelling.

The easiest way to use this spice is to make a tea out of it. Buy some freshly ground fenugreek. Pour 1 tablespoon of this powder in one cup of boiling water. Keep stirring the mixture for a minute. Let it cool and soak a cotton ball in the tea. Apply in on the infected area. Do this two to three times a day.

Better Be Safe Than Sorry: Additional Tips to Prevent Abscess Tooth in Future

A good dental care regime provides the ultimate protection against dental diseases. Follow these simple tips listed below to keep your teeth and gum strong and healthy for years:

• Maintain a proper oral hygiene. Brush your teeth twice daily, followed by flossing and mouthwash rinsing.
• Avoid drinking caffeine when the symptoms of tooth abscess show up.
• Avoid overconsumption anything too hot or cold
• Try to avoid chewing gums.
• Quit smoking.

The Bottom Line

If even the pain and swelling reduce after using one of the above remedies, you should still consult a dentist as soon as possible. Home remedies only alleviate the symptoms; it doesn’t cure it. Medicines and home remedies are great, but nothing beats the goodness of a wholesome dental care routine. Keeping your mouth clean every day and you will never have to worry about infections in the first place.

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