How to Treat a Tooth Abscess

A tooth abscess can be identified with a number of painful symptoms like severe toothache that refuses to go, tenderness of the gums, painful biting and chewing, etc. You experience so much of pain because there is pus accumulation in the tooth. This pus collected under the tooth exerts a lot of pressure on its surroundings every time the tooth is touched and it gives a throbbing pain. The main cause of a tooth abscess is bacterial attack in the dental pulp or the innermost part of the tooth. The bacteria enters deep into the pulp of the tooth either through a dental cavity or a broken tooth caused by traumatic injury. When the bacterial infection turns severe, it may affect tissues of the adjacent area and more severe symptoms can be observed. They are: excessive gum inflammation that may lead to swelling on one side of the face, fever and swollen lymph nodes. If a tooth abscess ruptures, a foul taste can be felt in the mouth.

How to Treat a Tooth Abscess

When you visit a dentist with severe toothache, they will conduct a physical examination of the tooth by tapping it gently. Then an x-ray is done to check the severity of the infection. The first step of treatment is elimination of the infection with the help of oral medicines. Antibiotics are prescribed for destroying the bacteria causing the infection. It is accompanied by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to relieve the pain and gum inflammation. Do not stop taking the antibiotics as soon as you get relief from pain and inflammation. You have to continue with the dosage of the antibiotics as per the instructions of the doctor even if the signs of infection subside.

Then there are different dental procedures that are used for treating a tooth abscess. One such procedure involves draining out of the accumulated pus from the tooth abscess. For this, a surgical incision is made on the abscess and the pus is released. If there is a severe infection, then doctors have no other option but to extract the infected tooth and drain out the pus. As a result, you will lose the tooth. An abscess formed in the root of the tooth can loosen the tooth and has to be treated with the help of root canal therapy. The main aim of this treatment is to remove the infected part and restore the tooth. During this treatment, dentists drill small holes on the top of the infected tooth and take out the infected dead tissues of dental pulp. The dental pulp chamber and root canals are then cleaned up and sealed. Finally, it is covered with a porcelain or gold crown. The tooth thus restored can last lifelong.

How to Treat a Tooth Abscess at Home

Home remedies for a tooth abscess actually does not resolve the actual issue. However, the painful symptoms can be controlled temporarily till the time you get an appointment with your dentist. Some options of tooth abscess home treatment are as follows:

Saline Water: This is an age-old treatment for tooth abscesses. Put half teaspoon of salt in a glass of lukewarm water and use it for gargling 2-3 times a day. This is an antiseptic solution that kills the growing number of bacteria inside the mouth and controls the infection. If the tooth abscess ruptures, then also you should continue with this saline water treatment as it ensures faster healing of the tissues.

Baking Soda and Salt: This is a great combination used for draining out the abscess naturally. Mix half teaspoon of baking soda with the same amount of salt. Take a damp cotton ball and coat it with this mixture. Now, place it in between the infected tooth and cheek and leave it untouched for few hours. Repeated application of this mixture helps in releasing the pus.

Raw Potato: Keep a small piece of raw potato inside the mouth near the sensitive tooth overnight. Next morning, you will find that the pain and swelling around the affected tooth has gone down. It also helps a lot in eliminating the infection.

Potassium Carbonate Mouthwash: When the toothache is unbearable, you can prepare a potassium carbonate mouthwash at home and use it to reduce the pain. Dissolve one-fourth teaspoon of potassium carbonate in half a glass of water. Rinse your mouth with this solution 3-4 times in a day and the pain will go down within few hours.

Sesame Seeds: Sesame seeds have excellent natural pain relieving qualities that can provide relief from toothache. Add 4 teaspoons of sesame seeds in a cup of water and boil it for 5 minutes. Let it cool down for some time. Dip a cotton bud into this liquid and rub it all around the sensitive tooth a number of times throughout the day.

A tooth abscess treatment should not be delayed as the infection can spread to other areas like the jaw, head and neck which may lead to a more serious health complication. You can prevent such serious problems with the help of good oral hygiene and a regular dental check up.