Q: A couple of years ago someone wrote to you about tooth abscesses being cured by taking garlic gel caps every two hours. I can’t find the article on the internet and want to know if there was a brand name and a dosage recommendation. Thank you.
A: There’s little more annoying than a tooth ache, whether it be from a non-infected tooth, an abscess, a lack of proper dental care, or for other reasons. One big issue facing us is that a toothache never occurs at a good time; we awaken with a problem, one occurs over a long holiday weekend or when we are out of town and don’t want to go to a strange dentist. And believe me, a dentist is no more pleased to hear from us at 2 AM than we are in calling in total frustration. Generally speaking, infection that have not abscessed can be treated with antibiotics; however, once it forms an abscess, it must be drained since antibiotics will not cure a pus pocket. s such as an abscess are treated with antibiotics and extensive tooth maintenance, yet, as readers have found over the years, there may be relief found in your kitchen.
Garlic, as one product, has been used for many, many years to treat colds, hypertension, as a cancer preventive, and for tooth pain. The active ingredient in the product is an amino acid known as allicin that gives garlic its strong smell and antimicrobial properties. The product is strongest in its natural form that should have the skin removed and the clove (or slices if you prefer) placed in the mouth at the infection site. If this is offensive to some individuals, garlic is also available in tablet form which can be crushed and placed on the tooth or in capsule form. Some of the name brands that come to mind include Nature’s Bounty, Garlic Plus, Puritan’s Pride, Garlique, and others. Capsules should be readily available in pharmacies, department stores (for those of you old enough to know what an almost all-inclusive store was once called), or in health food facilities. This remedy may also work for those individuals who are having issues with wisdom teeth breaking through and the pain that ensues.
The National Institutes of Health states that garlic contains “broad antiseptic properties” that can pretty much kill germs and bacteria on contact. The agency urges users to discontinue large amounts of garlic about two weeks prior to any planned surgical procedures because of the increased risk of extensive bleeding.
Other possible home remedies include clove oil that contains anti-fungal, bacterial and analgesic properties. Clove oil can be applied by massaging it gently on the gum area near the pain site. As an alternative and one that I often recommend is to place two or three whole cloves in a small gauze square. Place the gauze/clove packet in the mouth between the inside of the mouth and against the painful tooth area for about 30 minutes.
Then there is also peppermint oil that can be massaged with your fingers directly on the infected gum/tooth area. Again, peppermint oil contains agents that will help relieve or at least greatly reduce the amount of pain. No peppermint oil in the house, you say? Try applying crushed peppermint leaves from your garden onto the site.
Lastly, don’t forget warm salt water gargles that are an old standby.
Garlic and other home remedies are a great way of getting past the pain temporarily. Remember, however, that an abscess is generally caused by poor dental hygiene. The abscess will not go away without treatment by a professional. Bacteria from an infected tooth can enter the bloodstream and wreak havoc so be sure to follow up with a visit to your dentist for a more permanent fix.
