Tooth Abscess
Health Benefits

  1. Home
  2. Ailments
  3. Tooth Abscess

Garlic for Tooth Abscess: Natural Antibacterial Treatment

| Modified on Nov 04, 2024
Add New Post Comments
Garlic for Tooth Infection

Garlic is a potent natural remedy known for its strong antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory properties. It has been used for centuries to treat various infections, including tooth abscesses. By targeting the bacteria causing the infection, garlic can help reduce pain, swelling, and promote healing. Below, we explore how garlic can be effectively used for a tooth abscess.

Benefits of Garlic for a Tooth Abscess

  • Antibacterial Properties: Garlic contains allicin, a compound with powerful antibacterial effects that can help kill the bacteria responsible for a tooth abscess. This helps prevent the infection from spreading and reduces the risk of complications.
  • Anti-Inflammatory Effects: Garlic’s anti-inflammatory properties help reduce swelling and pain, providing relief from the discomfort associated with a tooth abscess.
  • Immune System Support: Garlic is also known to boost the immune system, helping your body fight off infections more effectively and promoting faster healing.

How to Use Garlic for a Tooth Abscess

Here are some effective ways to use garlic to treat a tooth abscess:

  1. Chewing Raw Garlic: One of the simplest ways to use garlic for a tooth abscess is to chew a clove of raw garlic. The allicin released during chewing can help fight the infection directly. Chew on the affected side for a few minutes, then spit out the garlic. Rinse your mouth with warm water afterward. Repeat this process 2-3 times daily.
  2. Garlic Paste Application: Crush a clove of garlic to release the juices and apply the paste directly to the affected tooth and gums. Leave it on for 10-15 minutes, then rinse your mouth with warm water. This method can help target the abscess more directly.
  3. Garlic Oil Rinse: If the taste of raw garlic is too strong, you can use garlic oil as a milder alternative. Add a few drops of garlic oil to a glass of warm water and use it as a mouth rinse, swishing it around the affected area for a few minutes before spitting it out.

Precautions When Using Garlic

While garlic is a powerful natural remedy, it's important to use it with care:

  • Garlic is strong and can cause irritation or a burning sensation in the mouth. If this occurs, discontinue use and try diluting the garlic or using garlic oil instead.
  • If you experience any allergic reactions, such as swelling, itching, or difficulty breathing, stop using garlic immediately and seek medical attention.
  • Garlic 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

Garlic offers a natural and effective way to manage the symptoms of a tooth abscess, particularly by fighting infection and reducing inflammation. However, it's important to remember that while garlic can provide temporary relief, professional dental care is essential for a complete resolution of the abscess and to prevent further complications.

Continue reading below for advice from Earth Clinic readers who have successfully used garlic for a tooth abscess.

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.
Sort by Default New Loved

146 User Reviews

5 star (128) 
  88%
4 star (8) 
  5%
3 star (2) 
  1%
1 star (4) 
  3%
(4) 
  3%
Write a review
Posted by izzy (NZ) on 06/04/2023
 ★★★★★

Garlic for infected gum, tooth abscess

What a Godsend finding this info! Last couple of days, an infection in my gum suddenly developed(in between 2 molars) and a nasty swelling grew which throbbed and made me feel miserable. I knew that garlic can be helpful but I would never have thought it to be so effective. Late afternoon, and after reading through other's results, I took it in earnest and followed similar protocol. I used about 4 cloves in all, each one minced & taken separately in bit of water - hourly. Also sprayed with CS, also took liposomal vit C, which I happened to have. Went to bed and during the early hours of morning awoke to discover, to my amazement that the swelling had gone! I think it drained itself.I was expecting to have to continue treatment on next day I am so grateful!! I can hardly believe it!

Replied by Marie
(usa)
04/25/2024

Did you just eat the crushed garlic or did you apply it to the dental concern? I've been eating a clove a day but my swelling in my jaw is still there. Did it take the 4 cloves til yours went away? Did it ever come back? thank you!!

Cate
(Australia)
04/26/2024

Take 4 cloves internally, crushed. To prevent a burning sensation in the stomach, coat in butter or extra virgin olive oil or honey prior to swallowing & take with food. Also drink lots of water.

Garlic thins the blood, so if your not taking any blood thinners, you can take a few more cloves.

Raw Garlic is the most powerful natural antibiotic, antimicrobial, antiviral & anti-inflammatory agent. It can be used to treat a fever too. Because it's heat sensitive, it loses these medicinal qualities if 'warmed' or cooked.

It can be applied directly onto the sore gum/tooth, also.

The spice, clove, in powder form, can be placed in the problem area to help numb any pain. It's also available as an 'essential' oil which means it's pure.

You can also apply Himalayan pink salt or any other natural salt, directly onto the area of discomfort. It acts as a mild pain reliever. Salt can also be used as a mouthwash and/or toothpaste.

Lyle from another post mentioned oregano oil.

Hope you get some relief soon!

Replied by Karen
(Ontario)
10/23/2024

What's CS?

EC: Colloidal Silver.

Garlic
Posted by DDDinah (Livonia, Michigsn) on 03/16/2023
 ★★★★★

OMG what an amazing treatment!

I want to thank all the posters for their experiences. I tried several things before the freshly crushed garlic clove held next to the toothache area for as long as I could tolerate the burning (about 20-30”).
When I lay down to sleep, I had quite a headache along with the still throbbing toothache. But it's now been about 2 hours later and I want to thank Abba Father God because I feel like a new person. It's just a tiny bit sore now. I hope to wake up in the morning well once again. (PS I swallowed that lg crushed clove with peanut butter.).
.

Replied by Skyking
(Chicago)
03/31/2023
★★★★★

The peanut butter mix w garlic works for swallowing it. Thanks.

Replied by Rob
(Kentucky)
05/28/2023
★★★★★

The Assyrians 700 BCE and Hippocrates 400 BCE used garlic as an antibiotic and to pack in rotten teeth cavities.

Garlic
Posted by daniel (cornwall) on 03/02/2022
 ★★★★★

So, I've experienced a lot of bad tooth pain in my life, which nothing has ever helped, at a time in my life when I had no money for a private dentist and I couldn't travel to an emergency center, I had intense pain that would make even my eyeballs scream with pain, I tried many things over the years, and today I had the worst toothache of my life and haven't slept a wink all night, at 4am I seriously thought I wasn't going to make it the 4 hours until my private dentist in the area opens up and was considering calling the ambulance, I spotted online someone talking about garlic with salt because of the allicin being an antibiotic, oh my god.. finally something has worked, it took a lot of garlic and an hour of constantly using it but my pain is now just a mild throbbing instead of me laying on the ground feeling sick and moaning and groaning in absolute agony.

THIS WORKS, I still feel sick because of the garlic and salt but I have a smile on my face and feel I can make the next 3 hours till my dentist opens, massive improvement.

I used 4 cloves of garlic in a garlic crusher, 2 pinches of salt and then used the flat side of my knife over and over to create a smooth paste, I placed it directly on the tooth, around the tooth, the gum, everywhere I was effected, please do this next time you have toothache instead of rip off over the counter medicines.

Garlic
Posted by LiteHouse21 (Ventura, Ca.) on 02/23/2022
 ★★★★★

One of my lower jaw first molars (two teeth back from the canine) definitely was abscessed based on the pain/facial-pain and swelling to the point I wanted to run to the dentist to get it yanked to stop the pain and trouble sleeping. I was then convinced to try garlic (as we also do other natural remedies and natural solutions - and I read garlic is many times more potent than any antibiotics), so I put up with the pain for 3 days while taking several spoons of garlic a day (Litehouse brand freeze-dried garlic) with little water and carefully chewed it up in my mouth as it moistens/softens (in between you can also moisten in the cup and then just drink it - but a little right to the tooth and gum is good too), and to that regiment I added bentonite clay (a spoonful in water - swallow most of it but gargle some to get it around your teeth) and I also did a couple warm water salt gargles a day and also resorted to using baking powder for brushing teeth during that time.

Over 3 days of this, the pain and swelling diminished and it all went away by the 4th day or so, and I fully recovered. However, I think that tooth may be cracked, so I've now had two re-occurances (separated by several weeks) and treated it the same way. Trying to locate beef feet which is supposed to help with actually healing teeth (what doctors don't ever tell you) meanwhile I also at beef bone broth daily as part of the regiment though I am not sure if that part helped - but it tasted good and was less chewing.

Garlic
Posted by Chris (Ogdensburg, ny) on 12/08/2020
 ★★★★★

I took garlic and put it on the affected area for three minutes and it burned, but the swelling went down by about a quarter of the size. I'm going to keep using it for the next 48 hrs and see what happens. Thanks earth clinic

Garlic
Posted by Chris (Fl) on 09/06/2020
 ★★★★★

Hello, on day 3 of excruitiatinly painful, very swollen tooth abcess. When it got bad and swollen and couldn't sleep, I called to work, did a video medical call to get a dr note for 3 days and went all out on the remedies.

Every hour 1st day 1 garlic clove. Maybe slight relief, but did not get worse, so I still had hope.

I added salt water rinse, bentonite clay slippery elm with white oak bark powder also activated charcoal and a little pinch of cayenne mixed together - did this 20 mins to an hour about 4 times this day.Note after the first bentonite clay mixture pack on the inside of my mouth and the outside where it was swollen, the swelling changed and got bigger, but the pain had stopped throbbing, still intense but slightly better so I still had faith to continue. Full disclosure I did fill the antibiotic prescription incase I needed it, but gratefully did not need it. I then did oil pulling with coconut oil and a couple drops of Doterra On-Guard essential oil - I did that 2 x the first day 20-30 mins.

I did something every hour along with the garlic clove, which I rushed and ate - an herbalist told me eating a clove of fresh raw garlic is equivalent to a dose of penicillin regarding the antibiotic properties. I also sprayed colloidal silver right on the tooth. Probably about 6 x total this day. I alternated the accompanying treatment with the garlic.

Other things I did was several drops of diluted in olive oil oregano essential oil. Yes it burns, but provides relief. I have molecular hydrogen tablets, I drank that in water 2 x this day. Also I began fasting the day before, because the I felt the pain that day. This whole time I "fasted", the only things I consumed other than water for these 4 days has been these supplements, in hopes to speed this process of healing along. I used a few drops of iodine directly on the tooth. I used about a 1/2 teaspoon of ACV and a pinch of cayenne directly on the tooth and swish and hold and spit. I found this relieved the pain significantly for about 20 mins, which was awesome. I also did not take pain killers at all because I wanted to keep my liver as healthy as I can. Honestly I did have the advil bottle out and picked it up a few times but then prayed and kept the faith. I also used tea tree oil, lavender oil and frankincense oil very frequently, maybe 20 mins at a time since it was much more calming than the oregano and I was starting to get a little raw feeling. I kept alternating all these every hour. (But did the garlic every hour).

That evening I saw Dr schulze tooth and gum formula and put a few drops of that on the tooth, it stung for about 30 seconds and then a lot of relief from pain for about 20 mins or more. Yay! I did that a few more times this day before bed. I couldn't sleep at all so kept doing the remedies all night. Also drand about 2 tablespoons of turmeric powder about 5 times throughout the day. Alternated with 20 minutes of ice, heat and then ice again in the eve before bed. The swelling was very bad, my lip was hard and everything hurt. At 3 am I got the thought that my garlic is not fresh enough! It was about 2 weeks oil in my fridge, and who knows how old from the store.

At 7 am I got new garlic and thank God it was pretty fresh. I used this now every 20 minutes to hit it hard the second day. from 7:30 am til 4 pm I literally took a clove of garlic every 20 minutes and did an accompanying treatment as I did the first day along with the garlic each time all day again.I added a dose of liposomal vitamin c liquid every 20 mins today. Also salt water rinses a few times and a couple of peroxide rinses. Oil pulling again once today. Three hours into the new garlic and I saw the swelling going down, the swelling changed too, was traveling down my neck and the pain was changing too, slightly less as the day went on, so still had faith. Finally at 4 pm the pain stopped!! Thank you, God!! I eased up on the remedies and only did two more treatments before bed, slept! Woke up on day three with a little pimply stuff on my lip. I don't care, it has to come out. I still have swelling but much better, and the pain in the tooth hasn't come back. The small pain in the cheek and the swelling and the gum rawness are nothing compared to that tooth pain. I brushed, and did the tooth and gum formula in the morning, garlic but I am only going to do 4 cloves total like a normal antibiotic dose would be today. I am continuing the Lipo Vit C very high doses today in divided doses.

I am so grateful that it is getting better and the pain has subsided! I hope I can help someone with this. It is a holiday weekend and nothing is open to even set an appointment until Tues but I am relieved of the pain so I can relax now. Bless you and I hope you heal quickly! The garlic should be pretty wetish when you crush it, if its drier and rubbery it is way to old to use medicinally in a serious time like this.

Replied by Karen
(Singapore)
12/09/2022

Glad that after all the pain, you've managed to control it. But did you go to the dentist after all this? And did you get the puss out of the abscess?

I'm having a gum boil which I didn't seriously treat it for a year. There is no pain but another small boil popped up nearby. So I started the oil pulling and taking 1 clove of garlic a day. When I read about the dangers, I get scared. If I didn't read it, I would have treated it like a bump that takes time to heal.

Hope to get some advise hot to get rid of the abscess. I'm OK on my current diet but I probably need to know if anyone put frankincense essential oil in their oil pulling procedures?
Or any other supplementary diet to look out for?

Replied by Katzie
(Canada)
12/13/2022

Each and every infection in a body leaves damage behind. A gum boil sounds kinda important to jump on and try to kill it until it is dead. Your gums are the foundation of your oral health and your teeth. Digestion starts in our mouths! People get heart attacks if they eat before brushing their teeth all the time (ingesting bad bacteria). Please take care of this.

I recommend Colloidal Silver, 1TBSP 3 or 4 times a day until that thing is gone. I would also soak a cotton ball and put that against it for 20 mins at a time. Also look into DMSO, as it will take the Colloidal Silver in deep. DMSO on its own would work, too. Also, look into Castor Oil Packs (plenty of info on this site). There are many ways to heal an abscess naturally.

If you can't afford CS or DMSO, please read the Tooth Abscess threads here and look for the healing ingredients that you can or already have.

Oil Pulling is great. If you add any essential oils, just make it for a few drops (5-7), as they are very powerful on their own. Any essential oil would work, too, I'd think.

Healthful healing thoughts to you!!

Garlic
Posted by Mike (Kent, UK) on 04/02/2020 25 posts
 ★★★★☆

Yup, garlic works great! I've been using it to control a dental abscess for a while now but I intend to get a root canal ASAP. Or maaaaaybe try to control it with nano silver to avoid the smell and pain and so on of garlic! But anyway... all I do is every 48 hours I take a single medium-sized clove of garlic (small probably is enough too) and crush it up quickly with my teeth on that side of my mouth and then hold the crushed garlic against the abscess for... something like 1 minute and 30 seconds. It hurts but as long as you don't get much of it on your tongue it should be very bearable. I find that too much more than that and I get a very sore cheek and much less and it doesn't work very well. Maybe I could reduce it a little though I'm not sure. Anyway that's my little success story - hopefully it helps someone! :)

Garlic
Posted by Robert (Arizona) on 01/04/2020

WARNING!

WARNING! Look up "garlic burn" before you put raw garlic cloves in your mouth. You can burn your gums/skin with prolonged exposure. If you're going to try it, keep it to 30 seconds to 2 minutes max, or risk a burn to your gums.

Replied by denise
(CA)
01/09/2020

thanks Robert. We do need to be careful for sure with "even" natural things. I accidentally had the top of an Essential Oil (frankinsense) popoff when adding it to my bath. I didn't want to waste it so I went ahead and got it. I was very lucky to only get the burn feeling and no skin damage though. I sure learned my lesson. The "burning" lasted a couple hours, even having showered quickly, and and then dabbing with cold-water towels. This was 100% pure, so-called good brand which I believe it is. But too much can get us in trouble, or "how" we use it ;)

Garlic
Posted by Marie (San Diego) on 12/20/2019
 ★★★★★

I've used the garlic and I tell you it works really good. I had been in pain for 2 days, Can't function pain, I had to leave work early 2 days ,I had work and the next day I called in until I went on Google for remedies at home tried a few of them nothing worked till I tried the garlic took my pain away not right away but I already been in pain for 3 days but I haven't had pain so yes the garlic works ya you feel a lil discomfort added on with the tooth pain but so what after dealing with your tooth pain that shouldn't bother you.

Garlic
Posted by Gina B. (SF) on 03/04/2019
 ★★★★★

OMG, raw garlic clove DEFINITELY works for an infected tooth!! But the burning pain that kicked in after a few seconds was almost unbearable. Held it on the tooth for a minute. Was careful not to let it touch surround gum tissue as I read it can make it raw and burn badly if kept on too long. Improvement overnight. Continuing once a day for several more days. Thumbs up.

Replied by Jenna
(Miami, Florida)
08/02/2020

Are you totally healed now?

Replied by Marshagail
(Southern U.S.)
12/25/2023

Next time try mixing a bit of raw honey to the crushed garlic (& even a cpl drops of cayenne pepper) Combination works v well with little to no burn at all.

Garlic
Posted by Bev (Florida) on 09/15/2018
 ★★★★★

I felt a tooth abscess coming on and immediately went to Earth Clinic. Got no further than the garlic remedy. Cut a big clove in half and applied it to the tooth. I bit down on it and kept it there for 10 minutes. Burned somewhat but the pain is gone. Will repeat tomorrow as insurance. Thank you Earth Clinic and all you wonderful contributors.

Garlic
Posted by Jakedefake (Charlotte) on 04/17/2018
 ★★★★★

Editor's Choice

Last week, I HAD an abscess tooth and a swollen cheek. I took a three-prong approach. First, I rinsed with salt water, followed by a hydrogen peroxide rinse. I followed up with the Garlic. I started by chewing garlic on the opposite side of the infection and swallowed it. I did this three times in about 24 hours. I also chewed raw with the infected tooth about five or six times over 48 hours. I left it in my mouth as long as I could as it burns. My abscess and my swelling were gone in 48 hours. Not to mention the toothache and blinding headache that came with it. This stuff works. Please try if you are in pain and suffering.

Garlic
Posted by Carl W. (Peterborough, England) on 02/11/2018
 ★★★★☆

I have been suffering from a tooth/gum abscess recently and the garlic treatment worked so well, Nothing else even touched the pain, Yes it is very painfull when you first apply the Crushed garlic, but the relief afterwards was heaven....

Garlic
Posted by Anita (Florida) on 01/26/2018
 ★★★★★

Garlic is the best remedy on the market. I have tried everything you could possibly try to get rid of this toothache I have bad teeth and I can't afford to go to a dentist because I don't have the insurance. The pain I had in my mouth was so bad that I couldn't even sleep. I wanted to punch myself in the face and knock myself out cuz that's how bad it was. So I look up remedies and I came across this remedy with the garlic. I had garlic cloves in my refrigerator and I went and did what the directions said to do - I peel the garlic and rinsed it with warm water I had to crush it because I couldn't chew it because my teeth are that bad as soon as I put it in my mouth it burnt like hell I was running around trying to hold it in my mouth as long as I could. I can feel the numbness in my mouth and the pain was gone so if you can handle the burning in your mouth this is the best way to go and I'm going to continue using it until the pain is absolutely gone.

Garlic
Posted by Shelby (Nevada) on 12/22/2017
 ★★★★★

Garlic was a lifesaver for me! I have bad teeth, many broken due to severe anemia during pregnancy (I was constantly chomping away on ice). I've been dealing with severe dental pain due to this for a few years now. I have no insurance because my employer provided insurance premium was far too expensive for barely any coverage at all (especially dental). Anyhow my tooth conveniently started aching in the late hours of the night preventing me from getting any sleep. I had taken more ibuprofen than recommended daily (not recommended), used orajel, ambesol, and other OTC numbing solutions with no success. Around 2:30 a.m. I began researching out of desperation for relief and stumbled upon Earth Clinic. I read the information about raw garlic and began reading reviews from others that really made me hopeful. I fortunately had some fresh raw garlic on hand and figured I had nothing to lose at this point.

I cut one clove, washed with warm water and placed it on the affected gum/tooth. Like the others stated, it burns like hell so I kept it on as long as I could stand (about 5 mins) then I ate what was left of it. Now, 3 hours later the pain is GONE and the inflammation has reduced significantly. Awesome and effective remedy that I am so grateful for!


NEXT 
1 2 3 4 ...9 Next Page

Please note that we use cookies necessary for the functioning of our website, cookies that optimize the performance. To learn more about our cookies, how we use them and their benefits, please read our Privacy Policy