What is the strongest natural antibiotic for a tooth infection?

The only way to truly get rid of an infection is with antibiotics; however, home remedies for a tooth infection can help manage symptoms and alleviate some pain. If you have a tooth infection, you should to see a dentist to assess whether you need a root canal and to get prescription antibiotics to ensure the infection goes away and doesn’t cause any more pain or damage to your teeth.

What are natural remedies?

Natural remedies, sometimes called natural antibiotics, include plant-based substances such as clove oil and garlic, which have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. These natural remedies may provide temporary relief and support in managing tooth infections — but should always be used alongside professional dental care. Evidence shows that they can be effective: A 2025 systematic review on herbal medicine in periodontal treatment concluded that plant-based extracts (like those from Camellia sinensis (green tea), Punica granatum (pomegranate), Zingiber officinale (ginger), and Rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary)) demonstrated anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial effects in managing gingivitis and periodontal disease.¹

Here are some natural remedies you might consider using both to help control the pain and to stop the infection from getting worse or spreading while you wait for it to clear. These remedies won’t work for everyone, but if you’re in pain from an infected tooth, they may bring you some relief.

1. Saltwater rinse

One of the easiest things you can do to minimize the pain and spread of a tooth infection is to rinse your mouth with a warm saltwater solution. A saltwater rinse will kill off some of the bacteria and irrigate your mouth, and may help prevent the progression from an infection to an abscess. In addition to rinsing some debris out of your mouth, if you already have an abscess, the rinse may help break up the pus surrounding the tooth. You can use regular table salt and warm tap water to make a basic saltwater rinse. Just add about half a teaspoon of salt to a small cup of warm water and stir it well. Swish the solution thoroughly around your mouth for a couple of minutes and then spit it out.

2. Baking soda

A tooth abscess home treatment you likely already have in your kitchen is baking soda: the same baking soda you keep in the refrigerator to mitigate odor also has antibacterial properties. Baking soda can support oral health and even help manage bacterial infections in the mouth by reducing harmful bacteria. Rinsing your mouth with a solution of baking soda and warm water will also help reduce plaque buildup and can relieve some pain. If you have an abscess on the side of your tooth or in your gums, you can make a paste of baking soda and water and apply that directly to your tooth or gum instead of using the rinse. If the infection in your tooth is in another part of the tooth, use the rinse.

3. Essential oils

Essential oils have been used for their medicinal properties for centuries. Essential oils are extracted from plants by distillation with water or steam, or by cold pressing, from plant leaves and stems. Steam distillation is the most common modern method of extracting oil from plants, but in earlier centuries, they often used cold pressing to ensure the best-quality oil.

Always keep essential oils in a cool place away from things like spices or food. For safe application, dilute a few drops of the essential oil with a carrier oil, such as coconut or olive oil, before use. Then, put a couple of drops of the essential oil on a cotton ball or cotton swab and apply the oil to your tooth.

Gentle essential oils often used for dental relief include oregano, thyme, clove, tea tree, and lavender.

• Oregano oil

• Thyme oil

• Clove oil

• Tea tree oil

• Lavender oil

Be aware: scented oils for perfumes are not the same as pure medicinal essential oils, and can be unsafe if used differently.

When using essential oils, make sure they are pure, medicinal-grade oils. You can find them at a health food store or online; some food co-ops also sell them. Buy from trusted brands that have a reputation for high quality.

4. Herbal teas

Herbal teas are another time-tested home remedy for many different ailments. You can make your own herbal teas by buying the leaves and stems of various herbs and steeping them in hot water; however, it will probably be more effective to buy medicinal-grade teas that are already made. Therapeutic-grade teas will contain a higher quality of herb and a stronger concentration than anything you can buy, so they likely will be more effective. If your teeth are sensitive to heat because of the infection, brew the tea, let it steep for up to 15 minutes (depending on how strong you want it), and let it cool to room temperature before drinking.

Fenugreek is a popular tea used to help alleviate symptoms of tooth infection, though not enough research has been done to prove its effectiveness for home treatment. Fenugreek tea is easy to find at most health food stores and even in some grocery stores with an alternative medicine or alternative health food section.

The other recommended tea for a tooth infection is goldenseal tea. Goldenseal is an herb related to turmeric and shares many of its anti-inflammatory and immune-boosting properties. These anti-inflammatory properties may help reduce swelling and support oral health by alleviating pain and managing infection. Goldenseal also has natural antibacterial and antibiotic properties for a tooth infection. Drink up to three cups a day to help treat a tooth infection.

5. Hydrogen peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide is something almost everyone has in their cabinet. It has many household and first-aid uses, but it’s best known for preventing infections in cuts — and for being an effective mouthwash. This simple first aid staple is one of the best remedies for an infected tooth. To start, mix equal parts peroxide and warm water, then rinse your mouth. This hydrogen peroxide rinse acts as an antibacterial and antifungal agent, improving dental hygiene and helping prevent bacterial infections. This is considered to be an effective at-home mouth rinse when prepared and used correctly.

6. Garlic

A tooth abscess home remedy that is easy to find and inexpensive to buy is garlic. This bulb vegetable is recognized as a natural pain reliever for dental pain, providing temporary relief from discomfort caused by tooth infections. You may not like the idea of garlic-scented breath, but its healing effects can make the smell worth it. There is a compound in fresh raw garlic called allicin that may have significant pain-relieving and antibacterial properties, helping reduce or eliminate an infection in a tooth. If you suspect you have a tooth infection and can’t get to a dentist right away, you can help by peeling a clove of garlic and gently biting it with your infected tooth. You will need to leave the piece of garlic against your tooth for a few minutes for it to be effective.

7. Over-the-counter painkillers

You can take over-the-counter painkillers (e.g., acetaminophen, naproxen, ibuprofen, and aspirin) to help control the pain and any radiating pain caused by your tooth infection. Just make sure that you don’t take more than the recommended dose, and that the painkiller doesn’t have a bad interaction with any other medications you’re taking. For example, people on blood thinners should generally consult with their doctor before taking naproxen, ibuprofen, or aspirin.

8. Coconut oil pulling

Oil pulling is a rather controversial practice. Some people say it helps maintain good dental hygiene and recommend doing it daily; however, there is no evidence that oil pulling has any medicinal benefits for oral health. Coconut oil has powerful antibacterial properties, so oil pulling with liquid coconut oil could help shorten the duration of the infection or make the symptoms more manageable. Incorporating oil pulling into your oral care routine may support overall dental hygiene and promote consistent oral health habits, but may not be very effective at providing immediate relief for an aching tooth.

9. Cold compress

A cold compress can help reduce swelling on your face from a tooth infection. Home remedies can help with tooth pain, but a cold compress is often the best way to reduce swelling. Most commercially available ice packs don’t bend, so it can be difficult to get them to sit right on the curves of your face or neck. Instead of an ice pack, you can make your own by wrapping up some ice in a washcloth or towel. Or you can always grab a bag of frozen corn or peas, which is more flexible and stays cold for a long time.

10. Aloe vera gel

Aloe vera gel is often used to treat burns, cuts, or skin irritations because it has natural antibacterial properties. It’s also known for its wound-healing abilities, promoting tissue repair, accelerating recovery from skin injuries and oral infections, and even helping heal gum abscesses. In some cases, the gel can also be effective for controlling the pain of an infected tooth. However, if you buy aloe vera gel for your mouth, make sure it's food-grade so it’s safe to ingest. You can also use aloe vera liquid, but the gel is easier to apply to your teeth and gums. Keep the bottle in the refrigerator for extra pain relief. Applying cold aloe vera gel to a painful, infected tooth or infected gums can amplify the gel’s soothing effects and provide the added benefit of fighting infection.

When to call a dentist

A tooth infection occurs when bacteria enter the tooth through a cavity, chip, or crack. Infections in the teeth can spread to other teeth, your jaw, or your gums. If a tooth infection is left untreated, it can have serious health consequences, so it’s important to see a dentist promptly. Persistent pain or signs of a severe infection mean you should not try to replace professional dental treatment with home remedies — these situations require urgent dental care.

While natural remedies can help you temporarily manage the symptoms of a tooth infection, you still need to see a dentist about the infection. The dentist can take X-rays to determine whether you need a root canal and to assess the extent of the infection-related damage. You may also need a course of antibiotics. That’s why you should always arrange to see a dentist as soon as you suspect that you have an infected tooth.

How a dentist will treat a tooth infection

Once a dentist has determined that you have an infection, they can treat it, clear any abscesses, and assess the damage. You will usually be given a prescription for antibiotics, as well. If there are abscesses in the tooth or the gums near it, the dentist will go in and clean out those pockets to remove the bacteria. Often, that will provide immediate relief from the pain of an infected tooth. The dentist will also check your teeth to see if you will need a root canal to save the tooth. Root canal treatment is a common procedure for treating tooth infections, and it is often necessary in severe cases to eliminate the infection and prevent further complications.

What causes a tooth infection?

Bacterial infection is the underlying cause of most dental infections, and harmful bacteria drive their progression. Your mouth is full of bacteria all the time, but usually that bacteria doesn’t get inside your teeth, where it can cause an infection. However, the direct cause of most tooth infections is “dental caries,” commonly known as tooth decay. When decay causes cavities, cracks, or holes in your teeth, bacteria can seep into your teeth and cause a tooth infection. An infection can also occur if you injure your tooth by cracking or chipping it. Keeping your teeth strong and healthy through regular brushing and flossing can help prevent decay and infections.

Infection can happen in different parts of the tooth. Sometimes the infection occurs on the side of the tooth if there is an opening there, which can spread to the gums. Pockets of pus called abscesses can form around the infection, which the dentist will need to drain for the infection to go away.

Symptoms of a tooth infection

The most obvious symptom of a tooth infection is dental pain: intense, sharp, or shooting pain in a tooth is a good indication that an infection needs to be treated. Other common symptoms of a tooth infection are:

• Severe, persistent, throbbing toothache or dental pain that radiates to the jawbone, neck, or ear.

• Sensitivity to hot or cold temperatures.

• Sensitivity to the pressure of chewing or biting.

• Fever not associated with flu or another illness.

• Swelling in your face, cheek, or jaw.

• Tender, swollen lymph nodes under your jaw or in your neck.

• Sudden rush of foul-smelling and foul-tasting, salty fluid in your mouth often accompanied by pain relief, when an abscess ruptures.

• Difficulty breathing or swallowing.

How dental insurance can help

Practicing proper oral hygiene, such as regular brushing, flossing, and mouth rinsing, not only helps prevent dental emergencies but also supports overall oral health. However, dental emergencies can still occur, even if you practice good dental hygiene and take care of your teeth. If you find yourself with an infected tooth that needs to be treated right away, dental insurance can help cover costs for X-rays, exams, and basic treatments, and, depending on the type of plan, more expensive care like root canals.