Infected tooth.

Newsgroups: alt.folklore.herbs
Subject: Re: Tooth infection
From: cyli <cyli.visi.com>
Date: 14 Oct 1995 10:55:33 GMT

> Would taking Echinacea help to heal a minor infection in my wisdom tooth? I would like to keep it from getting any worse and avoid a visit to the dentist for antibiotics. Can anyone recommend anything else that might help?

In your tooth or in the surrounding tissue? If inside the tooth or in the enamel, I'm afraid you will have to visit the dentist. If in the tissue surrounding, maybe Echinacea will help. As might salt water rinses or herbal rinses. Keep it well cleaned and flossed and watch out for extreme reddening or any of the tissue getting very puffy or white or discharging goop.

From: 100651.1524.compuserve.com (Simon Hudson)

>Would taking Echinacea help to heal a minor infection in my wisdom tooth?

A traditional remedy is to apply a few drops of oil of cloves to the tooth, or alternatively simply place a clove in your mouth next to the tooth for a few mins.

From: Mark_Perin.RedwoodFN.org (Mark Perin)

:A traditional remedy is to apply a few drops of oil of cloves to the tooth

My understanding is that cloves or oil of cloves numbs the sight, (ie: keeps the pain down) but does nothing to actually heal the tooth. I very well may be wrong and ask for any additional clarification.

From: cleek.terra.nlnet.nf.ca (CB Leek)

>My understanding is that cloves or oil of cloves numbs the sight, (ie: keeps

Oil of Cloves, or Eugenol (the dentist uses it under this name), is an obtundant. It works for tooth decay on a tooth where there is wide open decay.
It soothes the tooth (numbs), but does NOT cure it. Therefore, it is good for a short term until you can get to the dentist.
It is not for use on gum tissue because it can burn sometimes, and some people can be quite allergic! Besides, doesn't really work.

For gum infections, echinacea may assist your immune system, but it is still not attacking the cause. Discover the cause - then attack with the right weapons. Discovering the cause likely requires the visit to the dentist!

From: cleek.terra.nlnet.nf.ca (CB Leek)

>In* your tooth or in the surrounding tissue? If inside the tooth or

Excellent advice, Cyli!

Also, if it is the wisdom tooth, There may not be enough room for it to erupt into the mouth and allow porper maintance, ie brush/flossing, and that may require removal. Emphasis on the word *may*. Each situation is different, and it all depends on how the tooth is sitting in relation to the others.

However, it doesn't really sound like the problem will ever really go away, just abate for awhile and then return to rear its ugly head again, possibly worse the next time around. That is, if it is a wisdom tooth sitting awry. Checking with a dentist, is, unfortunately, the best idea. :-(

From: ccjs.sun.cse.bris.ac.uk (J. Simpson)

Well I had an abcess under a tooth on my lower right side, given antibiotics for it twice, temporary cure, next time told it had to go.

Same thing happened other side, tooth squishy, v. painful, oozing goo. In desparation, not fancying loosing another one bought loose Echinacea root, and chewed some. Very interesting experience. Second day and some three doses later felt no worse, perhaps a bit better. Five days all came good. My first experience of Echinacea. I have since tried it when I'm surrounded by people with streaming colds (and get the cold aura myself) with success. Am now growing my own Echinacea, so as to get the fresh herb, not something that has been on the shelf for a long time. Self treatment is no substitute for professional advice, but in what appears to be a non life threatening situation it's worth trying herbal remedies, perhaps as an adjunct to mainstream orthodox medical treatment. By the way have had no success with the tincture. There is a recommendation not to take Echinacea continuously.