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Coconut Oil for Tooth Abscess: Natural Healing and Pain Relief

| Modified on Dec 19, 2024
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Coconut Oil for Tooth Abscess

Coconut oil is a versatile natural remedy known for its powerful antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. It can be particularly effective in treating a tooth abscess by helping to reduce infection, alleviate pain, and promote healing. Below, we explore how coconut oil can be used to manage the symptoms of a tooth abscess naturally.

Benefits of Coconut Oil for a Tooth Abscess

  • Antimicrobial Properties: Coconut oil contains lauric acid, which has strong antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal effects. This makes it effective in combating the bacteria responsible for a tooth abscess and preventing the infection from spreading.
  • Anti-Inflammatory Effects: The anti-inflammatory properties of coconut oil can help reduce swelling and pain in the affected area, providing relief from the discomfort associated with a tooth abscess.
  • Promotes Healing: Coconut oil supports the healing of tissues, making it beneficial in promoting the recovery of the affected tooth and gums.

How to Use Coconut Oil for a Tooth Abscess

There are two main ways to use coconut oil to relieve a tooth abscess:

  1. Oil Pulling: Oil pulling is an ancient Ayurvedic practice that involves swishing coconut oil in your mouth to draw out toxins and bacteria. To do this:
    • Place 1 tablespoon of coconut oil in your mouth.
    • Swish the oil around for 15-20 minutes, making sure it reaches the affected area. Do not swallow the oil, as it contains bacteria and toxins that have been pulled from your mouth.
    • Spit out the oil into a trash can (not the sink, as it can clog pipes) and rinse your mouth with warm water.
    • Brush your teeth as usual. Repeat this process 1-2 times daily.
  2. Topical Application: You can also apply coconut oil directly to the affected tooth and gums to target the abscess:
    • Soak a cotton ball or swab in coconut oil.
    • Apply it directly to the abscess and surrounding gums. Leave it in place for 10-15 minutes.
    • Repeat this process 2-3 times daily until the abscess begins to heal.

Precautions When Using Coconut Oil

While coconut oil is generally safe for use, there are a few precautions to keep in mind:

  • Ensure that the coconut oil you use is organic and unrefined to avoid any additives or chemicals that could irritate the abscess.
  • If you experience any irritation or worsening of symptoms, discontinue use and consult a healthcare professional.
  • While coconut oil can provide temporary relief, it is important to seek professional dental care for a tooth abscess to prevent complications and ensure proper treatment.

Final Thoughts

Coconut oil is a powerful and natural remedy that can help manage the symptoms of a tooth abscess by reducing infection, relieving pain, and promoting healing. However, it's crucial to remember that while coconut oil can provide temporary relief, professional dental care is necessary to fully treat the abscess and prevent further complications.

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

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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6 User Reviews

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Posted by Tonya (Beaufort, SC) on 08/20/2022
 ★★★★★

I experimented with coconut oil in the past, when I had a pain level of 10 toothache. It was so bad I couldn't go to sleep. I tried salt water, orajel, etc. My face was swollen on one side. I couldn't even eat anything. So I tried oil pulling with coconut oil, it miraculously drained the abscess I had and got rid of the infection. I used it for another tooth about every 2 hours and it did a better job at alleviating pain than the Advil. So yes, it works! Just give it time.

Coconut Oil
Posted by Vv (Indiana) on 11/27/2017
 ★☆☆☆☆

I started brushing my teeth with extra virgin coconut oil. In a week's time painful sensations started in my 2nd molar right side in lower as well as upper jaw. I stopped using coconut oil and started brushing with Colgate Sensitive.

Now I have done 10 days course of an antibiotic but no relief. Doctor is advising to go for root canal for both teeth as the pain is unbearable.

please advise if I can get rid of this infection without going for root canal.

Replied by Mmsg
(Somewhere, Europe)
11/27/2017

Vv, Clay packs worked for me.

Milan
(CA)
01/15/2021

Can you share the clay protocol?

Thanks.

mmsg
(somewhere, europe)
01/16/2021

Milan, just mix clay (Bentonite or French Green or any medicinal clay) with water and put it there. I spit out excesses as the saliva accumulates but you could even swallow it. Sometimes just brushing teeth with Kaolin (mild white clay) for a few days will do the trick.

Replied by Janet
(In)
11/27/2017

Vv I use coconut oil to brush. My purpose is to dislodge debris. I do not oil pull.

It occurred to me that you may have dislodged some stray debris that did not loosen enough to come out.

It can exist quietly for years. I had a customer once who was going to sue my boss. He had eaten popcorn and a shell migrated into his jaw bone. Not that it is your story. It is amazing how much pushes out that you are not aware of or can feel.

So anyway to kill infection:

1 bottle of milk of magnesia

Empty into a clean juice jar

Refill m.o.m. bottle with spring water add that

1 to 2 tsp xylitol

1/2 tsp sea salt

1 or 2 droppers of liquid phosphorus mineral (amazon)

3 drops of peppermint essential oil or orange. Shake

Fill small cup that comes with m.o.m. use as your rinse and brush dip.

Rinse and spit mixture until you use up cup 2 to 3x a day

I use 1 drop of 5% lugols iodine on the painful area a day. Stops pain, kills infection.

Take hourly for 4 hours in am 500mg to 1000mg of l lysine to kill any systemic infection.

Empty your lymph glands daily to help move it out. There are many tutorials on you tube.

I use the pressure of a coin sliding across a counter. It takes practice. I put lavender oil on my fingers then wipe away wetness.

Begin at all sinus locations. Swiping with that same pressure. First open the outlet for head at neck hollow. Swipe downward several times.

Go to forehead swipe above each eyebrow towards temple behind ear to carotid down to clavicle swipe to hollow swipe several times at hollow downward. Then below brow. To temple, behind ear, down neck, so on

Then to below eye to front of ear to carotid then same. Then center cheek. Jawline. You will feel icky for a minute or 2 the it will clear away.

This will release some of the infection from your head and give relief.

You can see a cranial facial or maxillary therapist which also can help release of toxins. Some chiropractors do this. Janet

Replied by Marnie
(Madera, Ca)
11/27/2017

Try the “poor man's root canal.” It's 50 mg of alpha lipoic acid every 3-4 hours for 2 days. It will go throughout the body and eliminate infection. I used pure alpha lipoic acid from bulk supplements (found on Amazon) and made my own capsules.

I would also advise rinsing your mouth with a strong solution of warm water and Lugol's iodine. Rinse for a couple of minutes and spit.

Coconut oil is a good anti-bacterial but work best if you swish it, I.e. use for oil pulling. A spoonful swished in your mouth, in and out of the teeth for 20 minutes. Spit into trash and sanitize mouth. (Iodine rinse or strong solution of warm salt water). You can add a drop or 2 of oregano oil for an extra boost.

I like colloidal silver for taking internally as well as a mouth wash.

Packing the sore areas with clay like Mmsg suggested would be great... especially overnight... to draw out toxins and infection.

After infection and pain is gone, you'll want to focus on rebuilding your teeth. Let us know how it goes!

Replied by Mmsg
(Somewhere, Europe)
11/28/2017

Marnie, how do you "rebuild your teeth"?

Coconut Oil
Posted by Kati90 (Washington) on 08/19/2017
 ★★★★★

I have been dealing with a problem wisdom tooth for several months. I have been on antibiotics in the past for a tooth infection. It came back a week and a half later. I tried oil pulling with coconut oil at the first signs of the infection. About 5 days later, after oil pulling morning and at night (twice a day) It is completely gone. I would definitely recommend this.

Coconut Oil
Posted by Jan (England) on 03/28/2017
 ★★★★★

Coconut oil for abcess in gum.

I swished it around 20 mins or more 3 times every hour for a day. It's gone people!

Jan from Merseyside England.

Coconut Oil
Posted by Molly (Florida, US) on 03/30/2015
 ★★★★★

I've suffered with bad teeth all my life and have tried all kinds of home remedies for toothaches and infections. I just recently stumbled on using coconut oil, and it works better than anything else I have tried. I have turned around two infections now in a single day by coating the gum and tooth with coconut oil and oil pulling over the tooth for several minutes. It's worth a try.

Replied by Mamamel
(Saltspring)
02/28/2016

How to treat my four year old's abscess in mouth over his tooth? Just noticed it yesterday, its not that bad the docter said see how it does for a week. he wanted to give antibiotics and I said can we wait, he said wait a week if it gets worse take the meds, ...so it looks the same today and hasnt hurt my son where as yesterday my son said it was hurting. How does one do the coconut pulling?

Any help appreciated!

Replied by Mama To Many
(Tennessee)
02/29/2016

Dear Mamamel,

I think the easiest thing to use for a four year old would be bentonite clay if you can get some locally.

I would mix a teaspoon of clay and 1 a teaspoon of water and let it sit for 30 minutes until it is paste like. You may need to adjust the ratios of each but you want it to be paste like. Then you can just apply this to the abscess. It will not hurt and it is kind of sticky and should stick on in the mouth. (You are only going to use a little bit at a time.)

Save the rest to use on the next application. I have used this overnight and the clay was still there in the morning and I could just gently wipe it out. (I would probably do this once during the day and overnight for a few days and see how it does.)

It is not harmful if he swallows any this but he should be getting plenty of water as clay could be constipating.

Avoiding sugar while he is healing would be great. Also, internally to fight infection: 1/8 teaspoon turmeric powder in 1/2 teaspoon of honey a couple of times a day. The turmeric is also good for pain.

These are things I have used for my family for similar situations. I hope it will be helpful for you!

~Mama to Many~

Coconut Oil
Posted by Jerry (Hamburg, NY) on 07/16/2007
 ★★★★★

Coconut oil got rid of tooth infection. I've used coconut oil on a regular basis now for a few months in cooking mainly. Never experienced side effects no matter how much I used. Stopped using for a week or so due to busy work schedule, and got a bad infection in a tooth. My cheek was quite swollen and getting worse by the hour. Instead of going to a dentist for antibiotics, I got back on the coconut oil. Took one teaspoon orally then just used as I normally would in cooking. In less than two days the swelling and infection was gone!

Replied by Tinamarie
(Fl)
09/13/2018

What kind of coconut oil is best to use?



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