Tooth Abscess
Health Benefits

Garlic for Tooth Abscess: Natural Antibacterial Treatment

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.

146 User Reviews

5 star (128) 
  88%
4 star (8) 
  5%
3 star (2) 
  1%
1 star (4) 
  3%
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Posted by Barbara (Idaho Falls, Idaho) on 01/11/2013
★★★★★

I had an infection in my upper eye tooth. It was very painful. I couldn't get an appointment for another week. I tried something I had read about on this site and it worked for me.

I took a large clove of fresh garlic, cut it in half. I formed a little opening in the center and fit the garlic over the tooth. It did burn somewhat. I would remove it after a couple of minutes, then reapply. I did this for about 2 or 3 days... Every time I sat down to watch television. When I did get to the dentist, there was barely any sign of the infection, and no pain.

While thinking about this, just now, I'm wondering if I had cut the clove in half, without peeling it first, it may have made a shield between the garlic and my inner mouth area.

Replied by Sharon
(Kansas)
10/18/2015
★★★★★

Garlic worked for me too


Garlic
Posted by Aby (Los Angeles, Ca/usa) on 12/26/2012
★★★★★

I had a tooth infection and called my dentist with the sharpest and most unbearable pain I had ever experienced. He called in a prescription for painkillers and I began to take them, with little effectiveness. They would dull the pain temporarily, but the pain would return intensely before I could take my next dose. The tooth was so sensitive that I couldnt even meet my upper and lower teeth together, without excruciating pain. I wasnt even putting pressure on them, but merely touching them together I read all of the garlic yeas here, and immediately cut a clove in half, and placed it in my mouth in either side of my infected molar. That night I minced garlic and kept it in my cheek as a sorr of poultice, and changged it out throughout the night. Without painkillers, over the next 24 hours, my tooth pain was COMPLETELY gone. I cant stop tellin people how amazing this was.


Garlic
Posted by Sayward (Columbia City, Indiana) on 12/13/2012
★★★★★

I am a garlic advocate. In 2006, shortly after I graduated highschool, I got this crazy sinus infection that spread and I was just an absolute mess. I wasn't working at the time and money was about as abundant as pepsi in the desert. So I got online at the library and started looking up cheap cures. 2 weeks of a garlic and honey mixture and I was back ontop of the heap.

Throughout these last years, I have been rarely sick, as I take raw garlic in food at least 3 times a week. I don't mind the smell, and I just love the taste so it works for me. ( I can't speak for the others around me. :P)

Anyway, to be on topic. If anyone is wondering about an abcessed tooth, or tooth decay, or just a toothache, I would suggest taking a raw clove, slicing it up into slivers, letting it sit for 5 minutes and then placing it around the affected area. Yes, it will burn. Just keep at it. After the burning subsides ( and it will, I promise! ) gently chew the garlic slivers and swallow them. If you are prone to GERD or just have 'tummy troubles' feel free to take a teaspoon of ACV or milk, as you see fit. (I prefer ACV as I have a general distrust of milk. Thanks Tom Green.)

You should experience a lessening of pain in the affected area. This does not, however, mean that the infection is gone.Wait 30 minutes, and rinse your mouth with hydrogen peroxide. Obviously, DO NOT SWALLOW. Please be sure to let it bubble around in your mouth.

For an infection of any size, the key is to remain vigilant and to continue this process. 2-3 times a day, repeat the process. Garlic first, then peroxide. Garlic contains allicin, which is a natural antiseptic, antibiotic, antifungal and antiviral. Allicin forms when the clove is cut or damaged, which is why I suggest letting it sit for a few minutes after slicing.

To answer more directly, it is my suggestion to continue the method until no more pain is felt, and on for another week. (If the infection seems to get worse, or you develop more symptoms, it's time to break down and call the Dr. An infection so close to the brain is very dangerous and can spread rapidly.) This allows time to make sure the infection has been wiped out and to give a chance for the tissues to heal themselves without being bombarded once again by bacteria.

Once the infection is gone and you're back to living your awesome life, maintain your health by eating raw garlic at least 3 times a week. It is excellent for lowering blood pressure and cholesterol and is an immune booster.

(Just a little story here, my dad (who left us last year of pancreatic cancer) once had a toothache. He was a truck driver, and let's just say a tube of tooth paste was a once a year purchase. So anyway, he had a toothache, and just kept putting (_____)a-gel on it. Then about a month later he began to have sinus problems. He started taking a nasal spray to combat it. A few weeks later, when he was home, we noticed a small bump forming in the middle of his forehead. After another few weeks, the bump had grown to the size of a golfball. Mom made him go to the Dr. Low and behold, he had a sinus infection that had took hold in the bump on his forehead and he had to have it drained. The Dr. said that if he had waited another week, he would probably have been dead. Not of a sinus infection, but of the infection getting into his BRAIN. Dad had a dip in the middle of his forehead from where the infection was eating the bone of his skull for the rest of his life. (which btw was another 15 years.) Long story short, please do not take toothaches or sinus infections lightly. They can be deadly.)


Garlic
Posted by Tooaverage (Delta, BC, Canada) on 12/09/2012
★★★★★

Editor's Choice

I got an infection from my wisdom tooth extraction and my face was swollen like a chipmunk. I went to the Surgeon and was told to go on antibiotics or it wouldn't go away.

I refused to take the antibiotics so I used my own remedies and it was fully healed within a week! When I went back for a follow up the surgeon assumed the antibiotics had cured it when I hadn't even taken them.

I cut up a clove of garlic and chewed on it lightly and left it in the area then swallowed it to also get the immune system boost. The garlic was strong and it hurt like crazy but I could feel the healing. I have done this every day before bed and it started to heal as soon as I started doing this.

-- Make sure to clean the infection site (if your specialist says it is OK) with a syringe with warm water and salt after every single meal to avoid infection.

In addition to Garlic I took the following:

  • Apple Cider Vinegar (swish and swallow)
  • Drinking lots of Green Tea
  • Vitamin D
  • Olive Leaf Complex
  • Clove Oil applied to the area
  • Yogurt
  • Vitamin B
  • Ibuprofen for pain/swelling

I am still trying to find a natural anti-inflammatory that actually works.

Replied by Kathy
(the USA)
12/26/2012

Turmeric is an anti-inflammatory spice and so is ginger. It is also reported that both fight cancer. Turmeric was immediate for me when I had ingested too much manufactured glutamic acid, "MSG" (my fingers split) I mixed 1/2 tsp. in a little over 1/2 C warm water and drank.

I use about 1/4 tsp. of each on eggs and/or vegetables. This seems to reduce internal inflammation and improves the products of elimination.

Replied by Deb
(Usa)
08/07/2013

A good natural anti inflammatory is Quercetin with Bromelain. It's found in certain foods and can be taken as a supplement.

Replied by Elizabeth
(Las Vegas, Nv)
08/14/2013

I read you are looking for anti inflammatory. I found that putting turmeric in your food is good for that or you could take the pill form. It works well for me, maybe you should give it a try.

Replied by Brianna
(Arizona)
02/20/2015

I suggest oregano. I've been taking oregano for my gums because I had a really bad sinus infection which didn't clear up with antibiotics and my gums became so swollen so my husband bought fresh oregano and mashed it up a little then I would place the leaves between my lip and gum. First time I did that it burned and hurt but afterwards seemed to have helped. Even helps clear up the sinus just fyi unless you're a fan it is a nasty tasting herb when it's so strong. I just had tooth problems recently and started garlic along with oregano. Hoping for the best.

Replied by Shannon
(Nj)
03/22/2015

Cinnamon is supposed to be a phenomenal anti inflammatory.


Garlic
Posted by Kathy (the USA) on 12/05/2012
★★★★★

YES, garlic killed my pain. Then I read about soaking a tea bag to apply to the tooth for thirty minutes or so. I went to a specialist for a root canal but the x-ray revealed the abscess was GONE!! I was very concerned because the roots of my teeth appear to be in my sinus cavity. THANK YOU EARTH CLINIC AND ALL WHO POSTED!

Replied by Dental_health_guy
(Earth)
03/31/2016

Just curious: did you do an x-ray before that which demonstrated an abscess? Or was that the first x-ray you took for it?

Replied by Levi
(Philippines)
08/03/2016

Hi, did you just place the garlic on the tooth that has infection? How's your tooth now? How many times did you do this remedy? Last week my x-ray showed that I have abscess on my root canal but I don't want to undergo root canal treatment or tooth extraction. Pls reply..thanks


Garlic
Posted by Harvey (Dolgellau, North Wales) on 10/26/2012
★★★★★

I should like to add my comments regarding the healing properties of garlic. A few days ago I developed an abcess in my mouth on my upper gum. It was extremely painful and even made my left eye painful. I decided to try garlic as a last resort and swallowed eight garlic pearl drop of 2mg each. I did this for 7 days and also rinsed my mouth with lukewarm salt water three times daily. Within 48 hours the abcess began to dissapear and within five days it had gone completely! ... I cannot say this will work for you but it is definately worth trying if you are unable to get to a dentist for whatever reason.


Garlic
Posted by Don Quixote (Los Angeles, Ca) on 09/14/2012
★★★★★

I've had serious pain under my nose a week and a half ago. I didn't have any sores or anything on my gums. I didn't know what it was until I went to the dentist about a week later which was yesterday. The dentist told me I have a cavity above the gumline and that it was causing an infection causing the abcess in my gum. He told me many things that I needed to do and I refused. He told me he was going to prescribe me antibiotics but I kindly declined. I went home and freaked out a little bit because I heard so many scary things about abcessed gums and teeth.

I woke up this morning with severe pain. Almost bone chilling. I was not happy. Popped some Motrin (2 to be exact) and it pretty much did nothing. I swished some oil of oregano, xylitol, coconut oil but for some reason none of it did anything except make the abcess bigger. I then put salt on it and left it on for about 35 minutes and did this 3 times. Still nothing but I could see the bubble growing really huge spanning two teeth (my front and my right incisor) and growing from the top of my gumline where it connects to my inner lip stretching almost to my gumline at my tooth. In all honesty, I freaked the f*ck out and was nearly about to call the dentist and ask for those antibiotics.

Then I read something on Earth Clinic about garlic. I had chewed garlic before when I had a serious toothache and it really helped so I gave it a try.

I sliced a thin slice of garlic and put it directly over the abcess and left it there. For the first 5 minutes I was nearly in tears and I'm a grown man of past 30! The intense stinging subsided after about 5 minutes and I decided to do some yoga to ease my mind. I believe there is a HUGE mind/body connection and I actually attribute my growing pustule to my dentist visit. It had been getting better up until I saw the dentist and he told me that I had an abcess.

Deepak Chopra once told a story about a doctor friend of his who had not gone for a checkup in 10 years. When he finally went for his checkup, an xray showed some black spots on his lung which was diagnosed to be cancer. Not long after, this doctor died. One day, while Chopra was cleaning out his friend's office, he came across an xray of his friend's lungs that was taken almost ten years prior. When he held it up to the light, he saw the same black dots which meant his friend had been successfully living with lung cancer for 10 years and didn't die until he found out about it! This is why I feel my visit to the dentist exacerbated my situation because my unknown "sore" was getting better on its own until I found out the "true cause" of it.

Anyhow, after about 40 minutes of leaving the garlic on the wound and doing some yoga to ease my mind while listening to meditation music, my pustule exploded. It was nasty and I had a mouth full of blood. I felt soooo much better. I now have another slice of garlic over it and will be changing it out every so often for the next few weeks to nip this in the bud but what I really think did this is my belief in the garlic remedy. Those of you searching for remedies here, don't even try it if you don't have faith behind what you're doing because it won't work for you.

If you ever get a chance, look up the Power of Your Subconscious Mind by Joseph Murphy. Amazing book that changed my life. Good luck to you all!

Replied by Kay
(In The Valley, Ca)
09/15/2012

With all due respect, I'd like to disagree. Even if you aren't sure or don't believe it, try it anyway! You may be pleasantly suprised. This remedy works even without faith!!! It's science, pure and simple. Good health to you All.

Replied by Reina
(Florida)
06/10/2016

I totally agree. I was balding and tried everything holistic and natural while believing with every fiber of my being that it would work. Full head of hair is the result. I got melasma after menopause and did everything natural that I found on this site while believing, truly believing that those horrible stains would go away one day and they surely did within about 3 mths. The power of positive thinking cannot be over stated. I'll be doing the garlic thingy in the am while cheerfully believing in its cure....Any doubters, See placebos....


Garlic
Posted by Tracy (Portland, Or) on 08/17/2012
★★★★★

WOW! I cannot thank everyone enough for posting about using garlic cloves to take care of a tooth abscess. Like others have said, I am truly amazed at how quickly the raw garlic (which I pressed to the side of my tooth along the gum line) worked! It's truly an amazing thing to know about.


Garlic
Posted by Kc (Santa Cruz, Ca Usa) on 07/27/2012
★★★★★

Hi everyone... My story is like a lot of others here; had a tooth abcess in an old root canal, went to the dentist and got anitbiotics and an appointment to pull the tooth, but still I searched for something else till I found this site and read all the positive garlic reviews. Let me now add mine!

Decided to give garlic a try. Simple, and I had some in the kitchen, so what the heck? At bedtime, I cut a large fresh garlic clove in half and pressed it to the abcess site (upper molar) for around 5/7 minutes. I then chewed it up and swallowed it.

Like the others here had warned, It burned like Holy Hell, but along with the burn, I felt something else... An intense, dull ache that started after about 2 minutes, beginning at the swollen abcessed gum, then moving inside my tooth, till finally it was radiating all the way up the root and under my eye!

Despite the intense pain, I was amazed and I knew instinctively the garlic was working!! Initially, however, right after my first application (I did it for three nights), I thought I may have messed it up, because it swelled up even more. I guess the garlic just temporarily irritated the gum tissue, because the next morning the swelling and pain were both completely gone!!!

I was scheduled to have the tooth pulled, but will now go in and see what the dentist has to say. I imagine she will say that if there's no abcess, the tooth won't need to be pulled! I'll keep you posted.

Thanks to Earth Clinic, you wonderful posters, and Almighty Garlic! Hooray! I believe my abcess is gone! Gonna go do some cartwheels now!!

KC

Replied by Nickie
(Ruislip, Middlesex England)
12/02/2012

to KC from Santa Cruz. I would advise you to have the root extracted. Dr Weston Price discovered nearly a century ago that root canals almost invariably leave bacterial matter in the cavity leading to infection which can affect overall health. I have had teeth root filled in the UK and the US and all have abcessed so, beyond the initial cost I paid to have them crowned, re-done and crowned again and then removed.

For any of you out there who are rejoicing at the prospect of socialised medicine I should explain that my dental misfortunes are directly attributable to the British National Health Service. As a child and in my teens I got regular six monthly check ups and was invariably informed that a new filling was needed or an old one required revision. I didn't know at the time that dentist only got paid for a course of treatment and not for merely examination so, of course, they invented cause to inflate the paycheck. By my mid-twenties I was living in California, working without health insurance and avoiding the dentist. In thirteen years one filling dropped out and needed replacement which told me something. On returning to the UK I used private dental treatment but here's the sad truth. In the public health sector, because the services are so much in demand, standards deteriorate abysmally and when this happens the private sector follows suit for both medical and dental care. As a result I now have some very expensive gaps in my mouth.

I turned to this page because I had the last root filled root out two and a half weeks ago and the gum is still infected in spite of salt water, hydrogen peroxide and grapefruit seed extract several times a day. No great pain but my sinuses are running like a tap so am about to try the garlic and thank heavens for this site.

As a point of interest I should pass on some praise for one great dentist I was lucky enough to find. This was many years ago in Mexico when a crowned tooth broke at the gumline. This lovely man performed a root canal and had me in every day for ten days to change the temporary dressing, even coming in Sunday after Mass to do so. The gold post he made is still there and this is the only treated tooth with which I have never had a moments problem.


Garlic
Posted by Happynurse66 (Santa Monica, California, United States) on 07/05/2012
★★★★★

I woke up 3 days ago at 6am with a bad toothache. I went to bed the night before at 11pm with not a hint of pain. I called and saw my dentist that morn (Monday). She sent me to an endodontist.

The endodontist said I had a tooth abscess (top tooth, #4), "a real bad infection" to the root of my tooth, and that I need a root canal. He drilled my tooth and and drained pus. I asked, "How come I didn't have any pain at all the night before, and I woke up with such bad pain 7 hours later?" He said I had a "flare up". I had also self-medicated myself with ibuprofen 600mg at 6am when I woke up that day and at noon. After draining my abscess, he filled the hole, and his assitant gave me 600mg of ibuprofen (4pm). He then put me on a stronger antibiotic than he usually presribes (Augmentin instead of Amoxicillin) and prescribed Vicodin. I have to take Augmentin twice a day for 7 days until gone. He told me to take 600mg ibuprofen every 4 hours continuously for for 3-4 days to help keep the swelling down. My gum and face were swollen. I was to take 1 Vicodin every 4-6 hours, as needed, for (breakthrough) pain. I got to the drug store and took my first dose of Augmentin and Vicocin at 5pm, one hour after leaving the endodontist. I have to return to him to do more dental work in 2 weeks, which I already have an appointment for. He says he can't do any more work until the infection is gone.

I've been diligent about taking the ibuprofen (every 4 hours) and Augmentin as directed. I've tried not taking Vicodin, but the pain has been too much. So, I've been having to take Vicodin every 4 hours, with the ibuprofen, yesterday and Tuesday. (Today is Thursday). I've taken Vicodin every 8 hours since last night. I don't like taking pain meds or antibioitics at all, but I knew the infection needed to clear and I couldn't take the pain.

I came across this site, and I've got garlic on the infected tooth at this very moment. Instead of taking my next dose of ibuprofen/Vicodin combo, I went to the store and bought a head of garlic for $.50. I peeled and cut a clove in half. I put one half on one side of my tooth, and the other half on the other side of the same affected tooth. The garlic did not burn initially, as many have reported on this site. But I bit the garlic piece(s) three sentences ago, and I can feel the burn now. It's starting to subside, but the site is also throbbing right now. Ok, so now I'm chewing on the garlic again, allowing the oils of the garlic to penetrate around my toothache. I'm holding on, like everyone here says to do. My eyes are watery/teary right now. The burning/throbbing feeling and teary eyes slowly go away - until I bite into the garlic again. The burning/throbbing feeling and teary eyes goes away again - until the next bite. I try to put the newly-chewed piece of garlic on the affected tooth until the garlic is all chewed up and consumed. I'm holding on!

Garlic all gone now. I'm going to wait a few minutes to allow the garlic to do its thing in my mouth. Then, I'll oil pull with VCO to get the garlicky smell out of my mouth (hopefully). I should add, I drank about 3 tbsp of ACV in about 16 oz water just before I put the garlic in my mouth. I know the beneficial effects of ACV, so I knew it couldn't hurt.

At this point of my writing, I've eaten all the garlic. No burning, no throbbing, and no teary/watery eyes. I've just written a "live" play-by-play of the all-powerful garlic remedy on toothache/abscess. It seems to be working, as I write this. I'll oil pull in about half an hour.

I wish I had read about this remedy before I saw the dentist and endodontist. I wrote a check for $274 to the endodontist that day (half of the cost) and still owe $274 (and that's with insurance! ). Had I known about this cure, it would have cost me half a dollar only to be rid of this pain and infection.

I know I just did the garlic, but so far, so good. I'll keep you posted.

Thank you EARTH CLINIC for your awesome website! Thank you everyone for posting and sharing your experience, strength and hope with me.


Garlic
Posted by James (Hull, Uk) on 06/25/2012
★★★★★

Just wanted to say a BIG THANKYOU to all here who posted about tooth abscess and garlic. After 5 days of pain and not sleeping I tried the garlic solution. Packed the tooth and cavity with raw garlic and within 30 minutes was pain free, amazing!!! After considering trying to pull the tooth myself (the pain was incerdible) what a relief. Thankyou to all who posted your garlic experiences, I am in your debt and extremely grateful.


Garlic
Posted by Kari (Liverpool, England) on 12/27/2011
★★★★★

Been reading all the comments about garlic helping the pain of a tooth abscess. I have been in immense pain for 2 days- as my dentist is shut due to the holiday period I had to go to my local hospital A & E yesterday to get strong painkillers ( Iboprufen didn't work) and antibiotics. The painkiller I was given Co Dydramol is supposed to be strong- reduced the pain a bit last night but woke up today in even worse agony. It's been so bad today I couldn't chew (even on the other side of my mouth)-any attempts had me screaming in agony. I had to make soup and swallow it.

This afternoon I had a clove in my mouth which helped a little but I decided to give garlic a try- as I have a whole organic one sitting there and I like the taste of garlic I thought I have nothing to lose except having smelly breath! I have cut up a clove and swallowed it whole with water - maybe it'll help speed up this antibiotic working. I took 2 more pain killers at 9pm and by 11pm still is a great deal of pain- they haven't helped. So, I took another clove and peeled it and it is now sitting inside my cheek, resting on the gum and the tooth I think is the culprit- hard to know which is exactly the one as a few of them are throbbing. Well... Amazingly the pain is now greatly reduced! The garlic didn't burn either like some people have reported. Maybe that is cos it is an organic one? I hope this continues to help. I have to try and contact the dentist tommorrow- hopefully they will be open.

Many thanks to those who have posted their experience with garlic- here's to pain free and bacteria free teeth!


Garlic
Posted by Courtney (Granite Bay, California) on 07/30/2011
★★★★★

Garlic-garlic-garlic! I cannot say enough about the healing properties of garlic when it comes to dental infections.

I promise you that if you do this, you will be astounded at how well it works.

Take a good sized clove of peeled garlic (the bigger, the better), slice it fairly thin, then chop it into tiny pieces. Let the chopped pieces sit for about 5 minutes, then put all of the pieces onto a spoon and gulp it down, almost as you would a pill, with water.

Do this 3x a day and you will be amazed! Good luck. Tooth pain is no fun. I feel for you.


Garlic
Posted by Homegirl (San Juan, Puerto Rico) on 07/01/2011
★★★★★

Just tried the garlic remedy this morning. I have had tooth pain on and off for the past two weeks. My dentist has changed the filling and the pain was horrible. I was literally doubled over. My first bite of the garlic was excruciating but after about two hours the pain was almost completely gone. My next purchase is colloidal silver. Thank you!!!! :)


Garlic
Posted by Rose (Seattle, Washington, Usa) on 05/22/2011
★★★★★

Another big YES for garlic for toothache! Woke up in the middle of the night with a painful toothache/inflamed gum area. I didn't have any fresh garlic, so I used garlic powder. Applied a tiny glob of powder with a moistened Q-tip to affected area. There was a burning sensation, and I felt like spitting it out, but didn't. After about 5 minutes or so, felt MUCH better! Hardly any pain now!

Love this site!



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