A tooth abscess can happen to anyone. Having a tooth abscess can become very painful and frightening since your face can swell as a result of the abscess. This is why it’s very much recommended that you make a dental appointment with a dentist.
More complications can also happen like the spreading of an infection. Fortunately, there are many safe, temporary treatments that you can try at home. These methods will not completely solve your problem but they will provide you with some relief for your tooth abscess until you can visit your dentist.
What are the Symptoms of a Tooth Abscess?
- Throbbing pain in and around the affected tooth and severe pain on touching, biting and chewing
- Red, tender swelling of the gum over the root of the tooth and loosening of the tooth with abscess
- Release of foul-tasting pus into the mouth
- If the infection spreads, your face may become swollen and fever can develop
Having a damaged tooth, an untreated cavity, or gum disease can cause an abscessed tooth. If a cavity is left untreated, the inside of the tooth or pulp can become infected. Bacteria can spread from the tooth to the tissue around it creating an abscess. Gum disease or periodontal disease causes the gums to pull away from the teeth, leaving open pockets.
If food builds up in one of these pockets, bacteria can and will grow, and an abscess can form. Over time an abscess can cause the bone around the tooth to dissolve which causes severe pain.
You can easily prevent having an abscessed tooth by preventing bacterial infections in your mouth. The best way to do that is to take good care of your teeth and gums by:
- Brushing your teeth at least 2 times a day, in the morning and at night, with fluoride toothpaste
- Using dental floss to clean between your teeth every day and not picking your teeth with other foreign objects
- Seeing your dentist for regular checkups and dental cleanings
- Eating a healthy diet and limiting between-meal snacks
What are some Home Remedies for Tooth Abscess?
- You can place an ice cube inside your mouth to relieve pain. Placing the ice cube will numb the area, and temporarily mask the pain.
- Put a couple of drops of hydrogen peroxide on a cotton ball and place it on the affected area.
- Another tooth abscess home treatment is applying salt to the area since it helps in killing the germs, thus giving tooth pain relief.
- The simplest tooth abscess home treatment is washing and brushing your teeth with tooth abscess antibiotics available in pharmacies.
- Place a warm or cold teabag in your mouth. Try to keep this in your mouth for 15 minutes and then gargle with baking soda or peroxide solution.
- Try applying grape fruit seed extract. It has antibiotic effect and so can also be used for healing tooth abscess.