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Tooth abscess activated charcoal treatment.

| Modified on Nov 04, 2024
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Activated Charcoal.

Activated charcoal is a natural remedy known for its powerful detoxifying properties. It works by trapping toxins and bacteria, making it a highly effective treatment for various infections, including tooth abscesses. By drawing out impurities and reducing the bacterial load, activated charcoal can help alleviate pain, reduce swelling, and promote healing. Below, we explore how to use activated charcoal for a tooth abscess.

Benefits of Activated Charcoal for a Tooth Abscess

  • Detoxifying Properties: Activated charcoal is highly absorbent and can trap bacteria, toxins, and other impurities in its porous structure. This helps to detoxify the area around the abscess, reducing infection and preventing the spread of bacteria.
  • Pain Relief: By reducing the bacterial load and drawing out toxins, activated charcoal can help alleviate the pain associated with a tooth abscess.
  • Anti-Inflammatory Effects: Activated charcoal may help reduce inflammation and swelling in the affected area, providing relief from discomfort and promoting faster healing.

How to Use Activated Charcoal for a Tooth Abscess

Here’s how to effectively use activated charcoal to treat a tooth abscess:

  1. Charcoal Paste: Create a paste by mixing activated charcoal powder with a small amount of water or coconut oil. Apply the paste directly to the abscessed tooth and surrounding gums. Leave it on for about 20-30 minutes before rinsing your mouth with warm water. Repeat this process 2-3 times daily until the abscess begins to heal.
  2. Charcoal Poultice: For a more intense treatment, you can create a charcoal poultice. Place the charcoal paste on a piece of gauze or a cotton ball, then apply it to the affected area. Hold it in place for 20-30 minutes or longer if comfortable. This method allows the charcoal to draw out toxins more effectively.
  3. Mouth Rinse: You can also use activated charcoal as a mouth rinse. Mix 1/2 teaspoon of activated charcoal powder with a glass of water and swish it around your mouth for a few minutes, focusing on the affected area. Spit out the solution and rinse your mouth with clean water. Repeat as needed.

Precautions When Using Activated Charcoal

While activated charcoal is generally safe to use, there are a few precautions to keep in mind:

  • Activated charcoal can be messy and may stain clothing or surfaces, so use it carefully and clean up any spills promptly.
  • Charcoal can sometimes cause temporary tooth discoloration. This can usually be removed by brushing your teeth thoroughly after each treatment.
  • If you experience any irritation or worsening of symptoms, discontinue use and consult a healthcare professional.
  • As with any natural remedy, activated charcoal should be used as a complementary treatment. A tooth abscess requires professional dental care to fully address the underlying infection and prevent complications.

Final Thoughts

Activated charcoal offers a natural and effective way to manage the symptoms of a tooth abscess, particularly by detoxifying the area and reducing pain. However, it’s important to remember that while activated charcoal can provide temporary relief, professional dental care is essential for a complete resolution of the abscess.

Continue reading below for advice from Earth Clinic readers who have successfully used activated charcoal for a tooth abscess and please let us know if this remedy helped you!

Related Links:

Effective Natural Remedies for Tooth Abscess Relief

The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
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9 User Reviews

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Posted by PB (NC) on 04/23/2022
 ★★★★★

I had three abscessed teeth recently, thought I only had one. I still had to wait a week after getting a referral from the dentist before seeing an Endodontic specialist. I mixed up some bentonite clay and activated charcoal; then applied it to a strip of press n seal that I had cut to fit around the gums above my three abscessed teeth. I then applied the mixture of charcoal and clay paste it to my infected gum area and changed it with a fresh one every couple of hours. I also put a fresh one on before bed time and left it on my gums over night.

That mixture of clay and charcoal took out the pain and discomfort. I did not have any issues with the press n seal sliding around my gum area either. The trickiest part was getting the consistency right with the clay and charcoal paste. A little trial and error went a long ways. The right side of my face had swollen up so I put clay on it and then small strips of press in seal to keep it moist. The swelling in my face and gums continued to go down. I always keep a bottle of capsules of activated charcoal and bentonite clay handy especially when traveling.

Activated Charcoal
Posted by Ira (Zuid, Holland) on 09/23/2020
 ★★★★★

I had an infection under a tooth, where I already had two times a rootcanal treatment and I refuse to do a third one as more and more I start to think that this is just another business model for dentists. I applied a paste of activated charcoal and water on a cotton ball and left it overnight. The pain subsided. I also continue oil pulling, baking soda rinses and I apply lemongrass oil, but after nearly 12 hours the pain still has gone.

Replied by Jean
(USA)
11/04/2021

I had read about a procedure for an abscessed tooth in the Reader's Digest. I talked my dentist into doing it but he said there were no guarantees. $25 was the cost. It involved drilling through the tooth to the infection, flushing the infection out, then filling the tooth. I still have that tooth and it healed perfectly, nerves and all, according to the later X rays. - Jean

Lia
(US)
02/08/2024

Jean, What was the procedure called? I have tried to get a dentist to do this but they - larger practices in bigger towns - haven't.

Where is your dentist? Did they drill from the top or side?

Activated Charcoal
Posted by Karen (Mead, Wa) on 02/20/2018
 ★★★★★

This past Saturday, I developed an abscessed tooth. By Sunday, I was hurting bad enough that I went to the store and bought charcoal. Before leaving the parking lot, I mixed a small amount of with a couple drops of clove oil and used a paper towel to pack the gums with the mixture. within 45 minutes the pain was drastically reduced. Once I got home, I mixed up some more charcoal with cloves and olive oil. I soaked a cotton ball with the mixture and put it on my gums, left it there a couple hours. That night I took a heating pad and ice pack to bed, switched them out a couple times before going to sleep. Monday morning, the left side of my face was swollen, but there was no pain. Of course it was a holiday weekend so the dentist was not in that day, but I called and left a message on their answering machine. I did get a call back and scheduled an appointment for Tuesday morning.

All day Monday I was pain free. Monday night I slept with a charcoal pack on my gums. Still no pain the next day. The dentist looked at the x-ray and said I had two areas of raging abscess. He was shocked I was not in pain, so I told him about the charcoal. When he looked in my mouth, he was an area on my gums that was very swollen, red, and oozing. He was able to drain some of the pus out, but was surprised that the abscess had come to the surface. I asked him if that could be a result of the charcoal pulling the infection out and he agreed it might be. I am scheduled for a root canal on Friday. Until then, I will keep up with the charcoal packs.

Replied by Rosie
(London)
02/21/2018
★★★★★

Your message really helped. I have got a raging abscess under tooth and been using charcoal and the pain has dramatically dumbed down. I'm hoping it will help draw infection out too.

Replied by Kathryn
(Co)
03/17/2018

Why did you have to get a root canal if you had no pain. Was it not possible to heal?

Anonymous
(Ohio)
09/07/2020

Infections in bone are hard to heal and can spread to other parts of the body via LPS- Here is an explanation from Google search to clarify term.

Lipopolysaccharides (LPS), also known as endotoxins, are large molecules consisting of a lipid and a polysaccharide composed of O-antigen, outer core and inner core joined by a covalent bond; they are found in the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria. It will destroy the bone and your overall health left unattended.

Replied by Orh
(Ten Mile, Tn)
09/07/2020

OHIO, ORH here, boy howdy, you right on the money. You teeth control far more than most know. Each goes all over your body. I have told the story of my high dollar dentist in Knoxville and his wife. She was a model and did not want to have the tooth pulled. She died instead of breast cancer. He told her she would. He cries when he tells that story. We don't need doctors, we need Native American Medicine Men, that know what plant will help you get through your problem. EC is the best we have in the here and now.

====ORH====

Activated Charcoal
Posted by Knowtruth2014 (Charlotte, Nc) on 05/09/2014
 ★★★★★

Hi all....I am a sceptical about everything unless I have proof lol. I just have to share my story about last night. I lost a pretty good size filling about two months ago. Yeah yeah I went to the dentist and he said it either has to be pulled or you need a root canal and crown. I was thinking on the 2 because the 1st option is cheapest. I've been thinking on the issue for far to long now. Like its 2 months later. Well I started brushing my teeth with Activated Charcoal out of the little capsules that you buy at the drug store. (My smile is whiter now) hehe ok last night my tooth that I have been thinking about started throbbing ouch. 4am I am still awake hurting like $#%T. Throbbing tooth ache. I took some of the Act. Char. and mixed it with a few drops of brandy! Pain makes u try anything. I made a paste and soaked a very small piece of gauze in it. Kept packing the tooth and in 45 mins to an hour my pain was gone. How this happens I do not have a clue. But it happened and hey I'm all the better for it. I am going to call my dentist soon. I might just pay the 40.00 to get another x-ray just to see if the infection is gone before he pulls my tooth. Thanks everyone for listening.

Activated Charcoal
Posted by Laura (Sydney, Nsw) on 08/04/2012
 ★★★★★

First off I'd like to thank everyone for contributing to this site.

I had a severely abscessed tooth after eating too much sugar thereby depressing my immune system & had read about people putting bentonite clay on for treatment well I didnt have any so poured out an activated charcoal capsule between my gum & cheek & had instant relief from the pain.

I slept with it overnight & it greatly improved. I did it every night in the beginning, it just sucked out the infection but treatment must continue so even if you just do one night a week then once every 2 weeks then 3 & gradually downgrade it & keep up a dose for maintenence because an infection can still persist after the pain has gone.

good luck everyone.

Replied by Joy
(Battleground, Wash)
04/30/2013

An abcessed tooth is really a pain and the decision to have a root canal can be a thoughtless one since we trust our dentist. The dentist that created the root canal decided later that it was unhealthy and wrote a book called the root canal coverup.

Hope you make wise choices with your teeth.. I would make different choices... if I only knew then what I am dealing with now.

If you have denture questions a wonderful site for answers FREE denturepro.com

Implants are also very dangerous as they are a point of impact for a potential crack or infection in your jawbone.

Naomi
(NC)
03/01/2023

Perhaps they were referring to dentalpro.com?

Replied by Carol
(MN)
02/08/2023

The site for denture pro no longer exists

Activated Charcoal
Posted by Sharon (Wesley Chapel, Florida) on 02/25/2012
 ★★★★★

Hooray for charcoal! I had a very bad toothache and it was late at night. I used the charcoal mixed with clove oil and in 30 min the pain was reduced by half. By the end of the hour, it was down to nothing. I left it on overnight, and the relief was amazing. When I got to the dentist office, they smiled and said they knew about it, and it was not well-known. l used some activated charcoal l had at the house for stomach issues.

Replied by Terri
(Denver, Co)
01/23/2014

I know you wrote about charcoal for tooth pain awhile ago, but I would like more info how to use it. The person at the health store said it would probably taste bad. Do you just use the contents of 1 capsule and a few drops of clove oil and put it on with a cotton swab? How long do you leave it on. Thank you!

Replied by Mama To Many
(Tennessee, Usa)
01/24/2014

Dear Terri,

I don't know if the person who wrote the original post is still around on EC.

We have used charcoal and clove oil in the mouth. The process you suggest sounds fine. Charcoal doesn't taste bad. It doesn't have a taste; it is kind of gritty. Clove oil is strong, but effective. You can leave it in until it is washed out with our own saliva. You can repeat as often as needed.

Do not do this near the time you take prescription medications as the charcoal can adsorb them.

Let us know how it goes!

~Mama to Many~

Activated Charcoal
Posted by Arizona_sunsets (Casa Grande, Arizona, U.s.a.) on 08/02/2011
 ★☆☆☆☆

I have had a very bad abscessed tooth, so I have been trying all kinds of things on here because I cannot afford a dentist.

I took coffe filters, cut them up into small pieces, filled them with charcoal from charcoal pills, wetted them lightly, then pressed them around my problem areas, they did great for maybe 15 mins. , tried this twice with the same results. Also, my pain was extreme after they stopped working.

Replied by Mmsg
(Somewhere, Europe)
08/02/2011

You can try to do the same but with ground cloves.

Activated Charcoal
Posted by Kristi (Cleburne, TX) on 05/28/2009
 ★★★★★

Regarding Tooth Abcess:

My son has recently had to deal with tooth abcess and gum pain due to a mouth injury. He eventually had a root canal.

We tried many concoctions, but the only thing that gave him relief from the pain was to make a paste with a very small amount of water and activated charcoal (get this at a health food store or your pharmacist). We put the thin paste on a piece of paper towel and tucked it in between his gum and lip. He left this on for hours at a time. After a few times it helped the swelling, redness and pain. He did this until he could get an appointment for a root canal.



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