Can a Tea Bag Help an Abscessed Tooth?
If you have ever has an abscessed tooth or tooth infection, you know just how painful this condition can be. Finding immediate relief is a top priority among those who are affected. But, as we know, dentists usually aren’t on call 24/7, which leaves you with time at home with what could be severe pain. This leads us to find home remedies that can provide temporary relief until a dentist can fully address the affected area.
One of the most common natural home remedies for tooth pain that comes from an abscessed tooth is a wet tea bag. This is because the properties of tea can be used to treat pain, inflammation, and infection in a dental abscess. It is important to note that this is a serious dental infection and a dentist appointment should be made to fully take care of the situation.
In this article, we will discuss what it means to have an abscessed tooth, what causes tooth abscess pain, and how to use effective at-home remedies to provide pain relief as a temporary measure for abscessed teeth.
What is an Abscessed Tooth?
An abscessed tooth is a pocket of pus that is caused by a bacterial infection. An abscess can occur in different areas of the tooth, such as the tip of the root of the tooth, called a periapical abscess, or in the gums, a periodontal abscess.
Some common symptoms of tooth abscesses are sore gums, severe toothache, shallow breathing, bad breath, burning throat, sensitivity to hot and cold, and fever.
This painful dental condition can be serious if left untreated. It is important to see your dentist at the first sign of an infected tooth. In most cases, your dentist will treat the affected tooth by draining the dental pulp to get rid of the infection. In some cases, a root canal or tooth extraction may be necessary. If left untreated, this condition can lead to other dental conditions such as gum disease, tooth decay, etc.
What Causes an Abscessed Tooth?
As we now know, an abscessed tooth is caused by a bacterial infection within our gums. An abscessed tooth usually occurs as a result of an untreated dental cavity, an injury, or prior dental work, such as getting your wisdom teeth removed.
The best way to prevent an abscessed tooth is through good oral hygiene. Brushing and flossing your teeth properly, along with routine dental appointments can all prevent you from ever having to deal with this serious pain.
How does tea help with an abscessed tooth?
Tea has been used as one of the best natural remedies for centuries to deal with infections because of its natural antibacterial properties and anti-inflammatory properties. It is a great option to provide short-term relief for infections such as abscesses, boils, and superficial cuts.
The antibacterial properties in tea work to actively fight off the infected area, while the anti-inflammatory properties help to reduce inflamed blood vessels and soothe sore gums. Each of these helpful properties combined to form a solution that provides pain relief and works to cure the cause of the infection. Some users have even stated that this remedy works better than over-the-counter pain relievers!
How to Use a Tea Bag To Cure an Abscessed Tooth
So, now that we are well aware of how great using tea bags to help an abscessed tooth is, let’s get into the proper steps to help treat this condition. Below are the steps on how to use a teabag to draw out an abscessed tooth. The best kind of tea to use is black tea and peppermint tea. This is because of the active ingredients such as antimicrobial plants and eugenol in these teas.
- The first step is to steep the tea just as you would for a regular cup of tea. You can heat water in a kettle or even the microwave and then place the tea bag into the warm water.
- Second, place the wet tea bag on the painful area. Get as close to the abscessed area as possible.
- Leave the warm tea bag on your abscessed tooth to let the tea work its magic! Anywhere between 20 minutes to 3 hours.
Other Home Remedies For an Abscessed Tooth
In addition to a tea bag, there are also a few other effective home remedies you can use to help relieve the pain of an abscessed tooth. Let’s take a look at some of the most popular ones below!
Clove Oil
Essential oil such as clove oil or even oregano oil has been used for centuries due to their antibacterial/antioxidant properties. Because many of these come as concentrated oil, you do not need a lot of clove oil to get the job done. Simply place a few drops of the clove oil along with a carrier oil onto a cotton ball or cotton swab and place it on the affected area, just like you would with the tea bag.
Saltwater Rinse
Just like many of these natural remedies, salt water rinses have been used for many years as well. This easy remedy can be made by mixing a teaspoon of salt with a cup of warm water to create a mouth rinse. Swish the rinse around your mouth for 60 seconds a few times a day to promote healthy gums.
Cold Compress
A cold compress is another simple and low-cost way to treat pain. You can use an ice pack or place ice cubes in a towel to create a cold compress. Apply to the painful area in 15-minute intervals to reduce pain.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen Peroxide is a great option because of the chemical compounds, which are considered one of the world’s natural antibiotics. Make sure you are using 3% Hydrogen Peroxide diluted with equal parts water. Swish this around in your mouth multiple times per day.
Summary
A dental issue such as an abscessed area on your tooth can cause serious discomfort. Finding relief seems like an emergency! Unfortunately, you may have to wait to be seen by your dental office. A natural home remedy can be a short-term solution until you can get an appointment with your dentist.
Tea bags have been proven as effective home remedies for their anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that work to provide pain relief and treat the source of the infection. Simply place the steeped tea bag on your tooth for some time to feel relief. Other natural remedies include hydrogen peroxide or a cold compress.
We hope this article, “Can a Tea Bag Help an Abscessed Tooth” was helpful! Stay tuned for more tea tips!
Sources :
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/tooth-abscess/symptoms-causes/syc-20350901
https://www.woodviewos.com/4-home-remedies-for-abscessed-teeth