Dental abscess is signed by continuous throbbing and painful sensation. This is far beyond the sensation caused by an ordinary toothache. The problem is rooted on the tooth root and spread around it and to the tip of the tooth. When you experience a dental abscess, the blood vessels and nerves on the tooth’s inner chamber are infected by bacteria invading the tooth chamber. These infesting bacteria eventually multiply, causing the infection to spread through the bottom of the root. As a result, a collection of pus emerges in a form of an abscess. Treating dental abscesses is essential, since it does not only minimize the resulted pain, but also prevents the nerves and root from further damages.
How to treat dental abscess at home
Many people are reluctant to see a dentist for various reasons. Many of them thus, decide to take care of their dental health at home. If you are suffering from a dental abscess, medical help is definitely required, yet home remedies can also be performed in order to alleviate symptoms before getting the tooth observed medically. Do these at home to take care of the problem:
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Reduce pain
One most frequent symptom related to any tooth problems is continuous pain, which is not only felt around the tooth, but may also spread to the other body parts, such as the ears and head. To reduce pain due to a tooth abscess, use saline solution to gargle your mouth. You can make the solution at home by dissolving a teaspoon of salt into a glass of warm water. Use it for washing the mouth, gargling it in the affected area for several minutes before spitting it out.
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Bring inflammation down
Bacterial infestation in the tooth causes inflammation to the gum, wherein abscess is found. To heal this tooth abscess, it is essential to firstly improve the inflamed area. There are some treatments and remedies which can help you bringing down this inflamed gum. You can use warm water compresses, which will promote proper blood circulation to the infection site. Soak a cotton ball in warm saline water and apply it onto the infection site. Leave it for one minute and repeat the treatment several times a day. Another remedy is applying a damp teabag to the affected gum to reduce the inflammation. Leave it for several minutes and rinse the mouth with saline solution. Damp teabags contain antioxidants, which can improve an infected area.
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Kill infesting bacteria
Abscess inside your tooth is caused by bacteria overgrowth. Thus, to completely get rid of the problem, it is important to kill the infesting bacteria. Peppermint oil is the affordable and easy-to-find home remedy that can be used for eliminating bacteria residing in the tooth root. Dab a thin layer of peppermint oil onto the affected area and leave it for 5 minutes before rinsing it with water. Do this until the pain subsides and the inflammation vanishes, which are the initial signs that the bacteria overgrowth is inhibited. As a replacement to peppermint oil, you can use tea tree oil to do this. If possible, try to find food-grade essential oil, considering the fact than you will possibly swallow a little amount of the oil.
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Keep the mouth clean
Keeping the mouth clean is also a good practice to treat a dental abscess, since it prevent bacteria from re-infesting the treated site. Take a special care and treatment if you have got dental cavities, as these may be a harbor for bacteria that may end up causing some dental abscesses. Go see a dentist immediately once you notice throbbing pain that comes back after a dental abscess removal.
Preventing dental abscess at home
Tooth treatments are crucial and one of the benefits of treating your teeth properly is that you will be able to prevent dental abscesses from occurring at all. A couple of preventive things can be done in order to prevent the tooth from being infected and develops a tooth abscess.
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Good hygiene practices
Regular tooth brushing and flossing are very essential for preventing decaying tooth root. Brush the teeth in the morning and at night before bed with soft-bristled toothbrush. If your brush cannot reach the teeth at the back, wash your mouth with alcohol-free mouthwash for thorough cleaning.
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Regular dental checks
You also need to make sure your dental condition is regularly checked. This will let you know if problems with the tooth root appears before it is largely damaged.