Coconut Oil: A Natural Remedy for Painful, Infected Abscessed Tooth

Coconut Oil for Abscess Tooth: A Natural Remedy

An abscessed tooth is an extremely painful condition where a pocket of pus builds up in the tooth or gums due to a bacterial infection. Left untreated, an abscess can damage the tissues and bone surrounding the tooth and spread dangerous bacteria throughout the body. Antibiotics are usually prescribed to treat abscesses, but many people are looking into natural remedies like coconut oil due to concerns over antibiotic resistance and side effects.

What is an Abscessed Tooth?

An abscess occurs when an area of tissue becomes infected with bacteria. As your immune system tries to fight off the infection, pus - which contains dead tissues, immune cells, and bacteria - builds up in a small pocket called an abscess. Abscesses commonly develop in teeth due to advanced tooth decay, cracks or chips in the teeth, trauma to the mouth, or gum disease.

The signs and symptoms of an abscessed tooth may include:

Severe, persistent, throbbing toothache
Sensitivity to hot and cold temperatures
Sensitivity while chewing or biting down
Fever
Swollen glands in the neck or jaw area
Tender, swollen gums around the affected tooth
An earache on the same side as the infected tooth
Facial swelling, especially along the jaw line
A bad taste or bad odor in the mouth
An open, draining sore on the gums that oozes pus

Dangers of an Abscessed Tooth

It's crucial to treat a tooth abscess as soon as possible. An untreated abscess can lead to serious and even life-threatening medical issues such as:

Infection spreading to soft facial tissues, resulting in a facial cellulitis or swelling
Infection spreading from the tooth to the jaw bone, causing osteomyelitis
The infection spreading into nearby structures in the head or neck
Bacteria entering the bloodstream (bacteremia), potentially causing sepsis - a widespread infection with dangerous symptoms like extremely low blood pressure, rapid breathing, fever, and organ failure
Formation of a brain abscess if the infection spreads to the brain
Permanent damage to the tissues and bone surrounding the tooth, eventually leading to tooth loss

Convention Treatment of a Tooth Abscess

The standard medical treatment for a tooth abscess involves draining the pus and infection from the abscess pocket and eliminating the bacteria causing the problem with antibiotics. Here is the typical treatment process:

The dentist will numb the area with a local anesthetic before draining the abscess. This involves making a small cut in the abscess to allow the trapped pus and fluid to drain out.
The dentist will send a sample of the drained fluid to a lab to determine the type of bacteria causing the infection and which antibiotics will effectively treat it.
Antibiotics will typically be prescribed for 5-10 days to clear the infection.
The source of the infection - whether it's a cavity, cracked tooth, or gum disease - also needs to be addressed to help prevent another abscess from occurring.
In severe cases, the affected tooth may be so badly damaged that it needs to be pulled. Additional dental work like root canals or implants may also be necessary.

Risks and Side Effects of Antibiotics

While antibiotics remain an effective medical treatment for infections, there are some drawbacks to be aware of:

Antibiotic resistance - Over exposure to antibiotics makes once easily treatable bacteria more resistant to antibiotic drugs, leading to harder to treat "superbug" infections.
Destruction of healthy gut bacteria - Antibiotics kill good bacteria along with the infection-causing bacteria, wiping out the healthy gut microbiome.
Diarrhea or other digestive issues are common side effects.
Allergic reactions which can range from mild rashes to life-threatening anaphylactic shock.
Interactions with other medications such as birth control pills, blood thinners, etc.
Increased risk of candida yeast infections, especially vaginal yeast infections in women.

These factors have many people looking into natural remedies like coconut oil for abscesses and other infections to help avoid antibiotics when possible.

Can Coconut Oil Help Treat an Abscessed Tooth?

Coconut oil has powerful antibacterial, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties that may help fight abscess infections without putting your gut flora and overall health at risk. Here's a look at why coconut oil may work for relieving abscess pain and clearing infection:

1. Contains Powerful Antibacterial Fatty Acids

The medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs) in coconut oil like lauric acid, capric acid, and caprylic acid have proven antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal effects. Test tube studies have found coconut fatty acids effective against antibiotic-resistant superbug infections like methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

By disrupting bacterial cell walls and interfering with energy production, metabolism, and overall functioning, these MCFAs can kill troublesome bacteria and help resolve painful abscess infections in the mouth.

2. Oil Pulling Helps Draw Infection Out

Swishing or pulling' coconut oil through your teeth and gums uses the thick, slippery oil to help flush out bacteria, food particles, and toxins from between teeth, gums, cheeks and tongue. This helps dislodge infection from the abscess pocket to allow your body to slowly drain and heal the abscess.

Oil pulling is an ancient Ayurvedic oral health technique that deeply cleanses the entire mouth to prevent oral health issues like cavities, gingivitis, bad breath and more. Using coconut oil for oil pulling enhances the antibacterial cleansing effects.

3. Soothes Inflamed, Painful Tissues

The lauric acid and other fatty acids in coconut oil have anti-inflammatory effects to calm swelling and discomfort in the gums. This can provide relief as the abscess drains out. The analgesic or pain-relieving properties also help numb nerve pain from the infected tooth.

4. Stimulates Healing and Tissue Repair

Coconut oil supports faster healing and recovery of damaged tissues in the gums and teeth. It provides key building blocks for reconstructing healthy tissues while optimizing immune function.

This helps restore oral health after the abscess clears and prevents further degeneration or loss of the tooth.

How to Use Coconut Oil for an Abscessed Tooth

Here are some easy methods for harnessing coconut oil’s bacteria-fighting and healing powers to address a tooth abscess:

1. Oil Pulling

Swish or pull 1 tbsp of extra virgin coconut oil in your mouth for 15-20 minutes each morning on an empty stomach. Work the oil thoroughly between teeth and along the gum line before spitting out (don't swallow). Finish by thoroughly rinsing mouth with warm water. Oil pulling helps clear bacteria from the oral cavity - including the abscess site - while providing soothing relief.

2. Coconut Oil Rinse

Dissolve 2-3 tsps of coconut oil in 1/2 cup warm water and use as a soothing oral rinse after meals and before bed. Swish the solution through teeth for 5 minutes before spitting out. The warm, antibacterial coconut mixture provides relief while keeping the abscess area clean.

3. Apply Coconut Oil Topically

Rub a few drops of extra virgin coconut oil directly onto the swollen gum surface around the infected tooth to reduce inflammation and discomfort. Avoid poking directly into the abscess pocket though. Repeat 2-3 times per day until swelling goes down.