At Home Remedies That May Help Temporarily
These at home remedies can help reduce tooth pain and manage symptoms of tooth infections while you arrange professional dental care. They provide short-term comfort for an abscessed tooth, not a cure. Natural remedies and over-the-counter options work best when used together rather than relying on a single approach.
Salt Water Rinse
Dissolve half a teaspoon of regular table salt in a cup of warm salt water. Gently swish the warm salt water around the affected area for 30 seconds, then spit it out. Repeat 2 to 3 times per day. A warm salt water rinse can help draw the infection toward the surface, reduce bacteria in the mouth, and provide temporary relief from abscess discomfort. This is one of the simplest home remedies and a widely recommended first step for an abscessed tooth.
Cold Compress
A cold compress is one of the most effective remedies for reducing swelling from an abscessed tooth. Wrap ice or a cold pack in a thin towel and hold the cold compress against the outside of your cheek near the painful area. Apply for 15 to 20 minutes on, then 15 to 20 minutes off. A cold compress may help reduce swelling and has a mild numbing effect on tooth pain. Avoid placing ice directly on the skin. You can repeat this several times a day to help reduce inflammation while waiting for professional dental care.
Over-the-Counter Pain Medication
Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) is especially useful for abscessed tooth pain because it helps reduce inflammation and tooth pain at the same time. Follow the dosage directions on the label. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) can be taken in addition to ibuprofen if one medication alone is not enough for pain relief. Do not exceed the maximum daily dose of either medication. Over-the-counter pain relievers may help manage symptoms of tooth infections, but they offer only short-term comfort and do not treat the underlying infection.
Avoid aspirin for dental pain if there is any chance you may need a procedure soon, as aspirin thins the blood and can increase bleeding. Always see a dentist for professional care before relying solely on pain medication.
Clove Oil (Eugenol)
Clove oil is an essential oil that contains eugenol, a compound with natural anesthetic and antibacterial properties. It has been used in dentistry for decades as a temporary pain relief option. Apply a small amount of clove oil to a cotton ball and hold it against the painful tooth and gum for a few minutes. You can reapply every 2 to 3 hours as needed. Clove oil may help numb the area around an abscessed tooth and provide temporary relief.
Clove oil is available at most pharmacies and health food stores. Use it sparingly, as undiluted clove oil can irritate the gum tissue if used excessively. While clove oil can ease discomfort, it cannot treat the tooth infection itself. You still need professional dental treatment to address the underlying abscess.
Garlic
Garlic contains allicin, a compound with antibacterial properties that may help fight bacteria associated with tooth infections. Crush a fresh garlic clove to release the allicin, then apply the crushed garlic to the affected area for a few minutes. Some people mix crushed garlic with a small amount of salt. The evidence for garlic as a natural remedy for an abscessed tooth is limited, but it has a long history of traditional use and is unlikely to cause harm when used briefly.
Other At Home Remedies That May Provide Relief
- Tea bag compress: Steep a peppermint tea bag, let it cool slightly, then hold the tea bag against the sore area. A peppermint tea bag has mild numbing properties that can ease discomfort. Some people also use black tea bags, which contain tannins that may help reduce swelling.
- Hydrogen peroxide rinse: Mix equal parts 3% hydrogen peroxide and water. Swish the hydrogen peroxide solution gently and spit out. Do not swallow. A hydrogen peroxide rinse can help reduce bacteria around tooth infections and reduce inflammation in the gums. Hydrogen peroxide is widely available at pharmacies.
- Elevating your head while sleeping can help reduce throbbing by decreasing blood flow to the area.
- Avoiding very hot, very cold, and sweet foods that may trigger or worsen discomfort from an abscessed tooth.
Aloe Vera Gel
Aloe vera has natural antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that may help soothe irritated gum tissue around an abscessed tooth. Apply a small amount of pure aloe vera gel directly to the gum area near the infection. The gel can help reduce inflammation and provide comfort while you wait for professional care. You can find aloe vera at most pharmacies and health food stores.
While aloe vera gel is generally safe for topical oral use, it is not a substitute for professional dental treatment. Only a dentist or endodontist can treat the underlying abscess. Use this remedy as one part of your at home remedies while you arrange to see a dentist.
Other Essential Oils
Beyond clove oil, several other essential oils have properties that can help manage abscessed tooth discomfort. Tea tree oil has antibacterial properties and may help reduce bacteria around the infected area when diluted and applied to the gum. Peppermint essential oil offers mild numbing due to its menthol content.
Always dilute essential oils before applying them to the mouth. Mix 1 to 2 drops with a carrier oil such as coconut oil before application. These natural remedies provide temporary relief only and are not a replacement for professional care. See a dentist for definitive treatment of your abscessed tooth.
What Does Not Work for a Tooth Abscess
Understanding what will not fix the problem is just as important as knowing which home remedies offer temporary relief. No natural remedy or home treatment can cure a tooth infection. Professional dental care is the only way to resolve an abscessed tooth.
Antibiotics Alone Cannot Cure an Abscess
This is one of the most important things to understand about tooth abscesses. Antibiotics can reduce the bacterial infection in the surrounding tissue, and your dentist may prescribe them to help control a severe infection before treatment. However, the core of the abscess is a pocket of pus and dead tissue inside the tooth or at the root tip. Antibiotics cannot penetrate this pocket effectively.
Without drainage (through a root canal, incision, or extraction), the abscess will return once the antibiotic course ends. Repeated courses of antibiotics without definitive treatment also contribute to antibiotic resistance.
Placing Aspirin on the Tooth
Holding an aspirin tablet directly against the gum or tooth is an old folk remedy that does not work and causes harm. Aspirin is acidic and will cause a chemical burn on the gum tissue, creating a painful white lesion. Aspirin only works as a pain reliever when swallowed and absorbed through the digestive system.
Waiting for It to Go Away
A tooth abscess will not resolve on its own. Even if the discomfort temporarily decreases (which can happen if the abscess drains on its own through a small opening in the gum), the tooth infection is still present. An abscessed tooth that seems to improve without professional care has not healed. The infection remains at the root of the tooth and will flare up again, often worse than before. See a dentist or endodontist as soon as possible rather than waiting and hoping home remedies will cure the problem.
Why Home Remedies Cannot Cure a Dental Abscess
A dental abscess forms when bacteria invade the inner chamber of the tooth (the pulp) through a deep cavity, crack, or injury. The bacteria multiply, and the immune system sends white blood cells to fight the tooth infection. This battle produces pus, which collects at the tip of the tooth root, forming an abscess. Understanding why tooth infections develop helps explain why at home remedies cannot replace professional dental care.
The inside of a dead or dying tooth has no blood supply. Because blood is the delivery system for both immune cells and antibiotics, neither your body nor medication can effectively reach the core of the infection. The only way to eliminate the infection is to physically remove the infected tissue through a root canal or remove the entire tooth through extraction.
Home remedies for an abscessed tooth work on the surface. Natural remedies like warm salt water rinses, aloe vera gel, and cold compresses can reduce bacteria in the mouth, numb pain receptors, and help reduce inflammation in the surrounding tissue. These remedies may help with comfort, but they do not address the trapped tooth infection inside the tooth. Only professional dental treatment through a root canal or extraction can eliminate the source of the infection.
When a Tooth Abscess Is a Dental Emergency
Most tooth abscesses are painful but not immediately dangerous. However, a dental infection can spread, and in rare cases, tooth infections can become life-threatening. Knowing the warning signs can help you decide when to stop relying on home remedies and seek urgent professional care instead.
Seek Emergency Care If You Have
These symptoms may indicate that the infection is spreading to deeper tissue spaces in the head and neck. In an emergency room, doctors can administer IV antibiotics and, if necessary, surgically drain the infection. You will then need follow-up dental treatment to address the source tooth.
- Fever of 101 F (38.3 C) or higher
- Swelling in your face, under your eye, or in your neck
- Difficulty swallowing or breathing
- Swelling under the tongue or in the floor of the mouth
- Rapid spread of swelling over a few hours
- Feeling generally very unwell, confused, or lightheaded
Treatment That Actually Cures a Tooth Abscess
Once you see a dentist or endodontist, the goal is to eliminate the source of the tooth infection and save the tooth if possible. While home remedies and natural remedies may help with temporary pain relief, only professional dental care can cure an abscessed tooth.
Root Canal Treatment
A root canal removes the infected pulp tissue from inside the tooth, cleans and disinfects the canal system, and seals it to prevent reinfection. An endodontist (root canal specialist) performs this procedure under local anesthesia. Despite its reputation, a root canal performed with modern techniques and anesthesia is no more uncomfortable than getting a filling. The tooth is then restored with a crown.
Incision and Drainage
If the abscess has formed a visible swelling on the gum, the dentist may make a small incision to drain the pus before starting root canal treatment. This provides immediate pressure relief and helps the antibiotics work more effectively. Drainage alone is not a final treatment; the tooth still needs a root canal or extraction.
Tooth Extraction
If the tooth is too damaged to be saved (severe fracture, extensive decay, or previous failed treatment), extraction removes the source of infection entirely. After extraction and healing, the missing tooth can be replaced with a dental implant or bridge. Your dentist or endodontist will discuss whether the tooth can be saved before recommending extraction.
Cost of Abscess Treatment
Root canal treatment typically ranges from $700 to $1,500 depending on the tooth. Molars with more canals cost more than front teeth. A dental crown to restore the tooth after a root canal adds $800 to $1,800. Extraction is generally less expensive, ranging from $150 to $400 for a simple extraction. Costs vary by location, provider, and case complexity. Most dental insurance plans cover a portion of both root canal treatment and extractions.
When to See an Endodontist for a Tooth Abscess
An endodontist is a dental specialist with 2 to 3 years of additional residency training focused on diagnosing and treating infections inside the tooth. While general dentists perform root canals, an endodontist handles the more complex cases.
You should see an endodontist if a previous root canal on the same tooth has failed, if the tooth has unusual anatomy (curved or calcified canals), if your dentist is uncertain whether the tooth can be saved, or if you want a specialist who performs root canals daily using surgical microscopes and advanced imaging. If you have been managing discomfort with home remedies, seeing an endodontist is the next step toward professional care and permanent pain relief for your abscessed tooth.
Find an Endodontist Near You
Every endodontist on My Specialty Dentist has verified specialty credentials. Search by location to find an endodontist in your area who can evaluate your abscessed tooth and discuss whether it can be saved.
Search Endodontists in Your Area