There are two main types of tooth infection, one being the more serious bacterial tooth infection and the other being viral. Bacterial tooth infections can be excruciatingly painful and cause serious damage to your teeth if not treated quickly and properly. The treatments can vary but you’ll want to make sure that any home remedies you try are safe and effective before attempting them on your own teeth. In this article, we’ll cover what some of the best home remedies for tooth infection are, how to treat each one, and how to prevent them from happening in the first place!
Take an Aspirin
Research has shown that aspirin helps prevent headaches, and studies have also linked it to reduced incidence of gum disease. If you have a severe toothache or dental infection, take an aspirin before going to bed—this will help lessen pain and swelling while you get treatment. Aspirin isn’t recommended for children under 18 years old, those with certain medical conditions, or women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Talk to your doctor about whether aspirin is right for you. Also be aware that some people develop side effects such as nausea, vomiting, stomach upset, heartburn and diarrhea when taking aspirin regularly; talk to your doctor if you experience these symptoms while taking aspirin as they could indicate that your body has become accustomed to it (and thus no longer needs it). It’s important to note that research shows that taking an aspirin every day can increase your risk of gastrointestinal bleeding, especially in combination with other NSAIDs like ibuprofen.
In addition, research shows taking an aspirin daily may slightly increase your risk of having a stroke or heart attack compared to not taking one at all. However, both risks are extremely low even in those who take regular doses over long periods of time. And despite recent headlines, there’s no clear evidence showing that low-dose aspirin reduces overall cancer risk or prolongs life when taken on a daily basis.
Salt Water Rinse
Using warm salt water to rinse your mouth after you floss and brush is a great way to help prevent cavities. Make sure it’s only salt and water that you use, though—diluted mouthwash or products like Listerine will actually kill healthy bacteria in your mouth and aggravate an infection. To create a simple salt water rinse, add about 1/2 teaspoon of non-iodized sea salt to an 8-ounce glass of warm water. Gargle with it for about 30 seconds before spitting it out, but do NOT swallow. Repeat once per day until symptoms subside.
If you have access to fresh garlic cloves, crush them up and rub them on your gums where they hurt. The enzymes in garlic help fight off infections naturally without causing any pain or discomfort. If possible, try applying clove oil directly to your gums as well (you can find clove oil at most health food stores). Cloves have natural antiseptic properties that can reduce swelling while also fighting off infection. For more immediate relief from pain, try rinsing with a 50/50 mixture of hydrogen peroxide and water (be careful not to get any of it in your eyes!). Hydrogen peroxide helps reduce inflammation quickly by killing off harmful bacteria.
How to remove a tooth without an extraction
If you’re in a lot of pain and can’t afford to go to a dentist, there’s still hope: Taking care of an infected tooth at home may be an option. Depending on your specific circumstances, your doctor may also be able to pull out your tooth by cutting it from below rather than numbing it and pulling it up from above. This procedure is called same-day extraction, because you don’t have to wait a day before scheduling surgery—you can typically schedule surgery immediately after deciding that an extraction is necessary.
In both instances, make sure you call in advance to make sure your dentist or oral surgeon offers same-day extractions. If he or she doesn’t, consider finding another provider who does. While waiting a day to get treated will help ease some of your discomfort, it’ll only exacerbate your overall situation if you’ve got a serious infection going on. Your primary concern should be getting treatment as soon as possible.
Painful Remedies for Tooth Infection: For milder cases, over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen (Advil) or acetaminophen (Tylenol) can help with some of your symptoms while they clear up; just remember not to take too much medication at once, since overdosing on acetaminophen can cause liver damage and other health problems. Just avoid aspirin if possible—it could actually irritate existing inflammation and make things worse.
Get Antibiotics
If you don’t have an urgent care or a dentist you can see, get antibiotics from your doctor. You should also call your dentist to set up an appointment. The longer it takes to treat a toothache, whether due to lack of dental insurance or just not having time to get in with a dentist, the worse it will get. If you wait too long and cause permanent damage that required a root canal, which is expensive and painful, it might be cheaper in the long run to just go ahead and have that same day tooth extraction near me done right away. Luckily, .
Use Anti-Inflammatory Medicine
The pain from a toothache can make you want to bite down on anything and everything, but it’s important not to do that—especially if you’re dealing with an abscess. Antibiotics alone won’t get rid of an abscess, so talk to your dentist about getting an anti-inflammatory medication like ibuprofen or aspirin. Those will ease pain and swelling while antibiotics work their magic. Just be sure not to overdo it—too much anti-inflammatory medication can weaken your immune system and prolong healing time.
Take a Painkiller
The most obvious way to deal with a bad toothache is taking painkillers. Not only will you get some relief, but you can also start rinsing your mouth out and treating your toothache with more specific methods. A common ingredient in over-the-counter pain medication is ibuprofen; while it won’t kill an infection, it can be incredibly effective at dulling a toothache.
Another option is to take aspirin. This can help reduce swelling and ease discomfort caused by gum disease or tooth decay. Be sure not to take aspirin if you have stomach ulcers or a bleeding disorder, however! Finally, paracetamol has been shown to be just as effective as ibuprofen at reducing inflammation and relieving pain. However, because of its possible side effects (such as liver damage), it should not be taken regularly or without consulting your doctor first.
Place a Cold Compress on your face
One of my favorite home remedies for toothache is to place a cold compress on your face. Many people recommend applying a cloth soaked in water to your face and neck, or even putting an ice pack under your cheek. Applying pressure with a cold object can actually be quite effective at reducing inflammation and pain—no one really knows why. It might have something to do with blood vessels constricting in response to temperature changes, which helps reduce inflammation and swelling in tissues around painful areas like teeth.
Whatever it is, it works! Try placing a cold washcloth over your face while you lie down and rest. If you don’t have access to a washcloth, try freezing some water in an ice cube tray and then placing that directly on your skin. The coolness will help numb any sensitivity or discomfort you’re feeling from swelling or inflammation.
