Tooth Abscess!
Answered by: Susan Eagles
Question from: Jennifer
Posted on: November 5, 1999

Do you have any information on a herb that will work for a child (3 years old) that has a tooth abscess? His surgery is scheduled for December and is on medicine to help reduce the pain.

Clove oil is an old remedy for tooth problems that is still used as an anaesthetic by dentists in Germany. It has now gone through clinical trials in Germany, confirming its effectiveness. Clove is antiseptic, antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral and a local anaesthetic. Clove can clear infection in the gum. The safest way to use it is by holding a whole clove at the site of the ache, nibbling at it until it has been chewed up, then spitting out the bits. A maximum of one clove can be used. Clove oil is very powerful, and can cause irritation, but an alternative to using the whole clove is to soak a piece of cotton wool in a mixture of one drop clove oil in a teaspoon of olive oil and hold on the abscessed area.

Calendula is antiseptic, soothing to pain and anti-inflammatory. A piece of cotton wool can be soaked in Calendula tincture and held at the site of the abscess.

Either of these remedies can clear gum problems - but keep your appointment with the dentist.

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