Oral Abscesses / Tooth Abscesses
Different Types of Dentists
September 11, 2020Tips for Maintaining a Healthy Mouth
October 6, 2020What Is a Tooth abscess?
An abscess is a pocket of pus that forms around an infected tooth. It occurs as a result of bacterial infection. An abscessed tooth causes moderate-to-severe pain that can radiate to your jaws, ear, or neck. Read on to learn more about oral abscesses and how you can prevent them.
What Causes It?
An abscess occurs mainly due to untreated:
- Tooth decay
- Gum disease
- A cracked tooth
The risk of developing a dental abscess is increased, if any of the following condition is present:
- Poor oral health
- An injury to your teeth or gums
- Increase intake of sugary or starchy food and drink
- Having a weakened immune system, diabetes, or chemotherapy
What are the different types of oral or tooth abscesses?
There are 3 different types of dental abscesses:
Gingival abscess: If an abscess occurs in the gums, it’s termed as Gingival abscess.
Periapical abscess: If an abscess is present at the end of a tooth’s root, it’s called a periapical abscess.
Periodontal abscess: It’s an abscess that involves supporting periodontal tissues of the tooth.
What are the symptoms of an abscessed tooth?
Oral abscesses are often painful but sometimes present asymptomatically. The most common symptoms of an abscessed tooth or gum may include:
- an intense throbbing pains
- pain radiates to jaws, ear, or neck
- pain gets worse on lying down
- pain on biting or chewing food
- swelling of face
- swollen gums
- tooth sensitivity to cold and hot
- tender teeth
- discoloration of teeth
- loosening of teeth
- bad breath or halitosis
- bad taste of mouth
If the infection spreads, you may also develop a
- tender or swollen lymph nodes
- fever
- difficulty in mouth opening, swallowing, or breathing
How Is an Abscessed Tooth Diagnosed?
Sometimes an abscess causes a small swelling on your gum. If you press it and liquid (pus) drains out, it’s an abscessed tooth and you will feel immediate relief of pain.
If you don’t have any symptoms, your dentist can also detect an abscess at regular checkups through X-rays. He may even tap on your tooth to see if it’s painful.
What to do if you have a dental abscess?
If you think you have a dental or oral abscess, it won’t get better on its own, so you should immediately visit a dentist or endodontist for treatment. If left untreated, the infection can spread beyond your teeth to your jaws, neck, or other parts of the body.
How can I Prevent Abscessed Tooth?
You can prevent the risk of developing dental abscesses simply by keeping good oral health and routine dental checkups every six months. Few tips to achieve optimum oral health:
- Brush with a fluoride toothpaste twice a day for at least 2 minutes
- Use dental floss or an interdental brush regularly to keep gums healthy
- Sugary diet control
- Regularly visit your dentist
What is the treatment of Abscessed Tooth?
Treatment for an abscessed tooth provided by your dentist usually involves:
- A root canal treatment procedure and draining of pus.
- Tooth extraction
- Antibiotics
- Removal of foreign object
Do you have any questions? Don’t hesitate to contact us.
And remember, it is important to stay current with your 6-month check-up and cleanings. Consult your dentist for more information and treatment.