medicine chest remedies ~ dental ~

Abscess Treatment

First of all, what is an abscess? Well, it it an open spot on anywhere on the body's surface. There are many different causes for abscesses, but I won't go into those here. What I will tell you about is how to treat most abscesses.

Make a poultice of the following:

3 parts slippery elm bark
one part lobelia.

Or You can make a poultice of hops, or hot onions, or even hot pumpkin or tomatoes. These are all effective.

Once the abscess has burst, cover it with a poultice of a fomentation of comfrey leaves (or the powdered root), which will promote quick healing.

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Topical wash for gum abcess

1 to 2 teaspoons barberries
1 tablespoon white oak bark
1 teaspoon echinacea root
1 teaspoon granulated Oregon grape root
2 cups boiling water

Combine the herbs in a glass container. Pour the boiling water over the herbs and soak for 3 to 4 hours; strain. Use three times a day as a wash. If you are using this tea to treat a gum abscess, be sure to swish the liquid around in your mouth for several minutes before spitting it out.


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Dental Compress

Need short-term relief for an unhappy tooth? A natural remedy is oil
of cloves, which has antimicrobial, germicidal and antiseptic
properties, and contains the pain-killing compound eugenol, making it
very effective in relieving dental pain. Clove oil has long been used
in dentistry, mixed with zinc oxide to create temporary fillings, and
as an anaesthetic before those drugs were available. It is an
ingredient in quite a number of dental products, including toothpastes
and mouthwashes.

Clove oil is potent, and this is a case where a diluted “dab will do
ya.” Undiluted clove oil can cause serious problems: burning, nerve
and tissue damage, and pain. Excessive use can cause vomiting. This
oil should not be ingested in large quantities nor applied to broken
skin. Children, pregnant or nursing women, and people with bleeding
disorders, diabetes, kidney or liver disease should not use clove oil.

To make a dental compress, mix two drops of pure clove oil with 1/4
teaspoon olive oil.

Saturate a gauze pad or cotton ball with the
mixture and place it beside the tooth. You can also take a wet cotton
swab and a dot of oil and apply it directly to the site of infection.
Be precise to avoid unpleasant sensations to the tongue. Prior to
using the compress, clean area as gently and thoroughly as possible,
removing any food particles. Pain relief should kick in pretty fast.

If the toothache involves a molar, you can gently bite down on the
cotton ball, leaving it there as long as possible. However, do not go
to sleep with any compress in your mouth.

This remedy is for short-term pain relief. Any persistent dental pain
should promptly receive the attention of a dentist.

Oil of cloves can be purchased over-the-counter at many pharmacies or
at your local health food store.