Everything You Need to Know About Abscessed Tooth

Primarily caused by infections from bacteria, an abscess is a sensitive pus-like mass that appears red in color. They are painful to touch and are generally a nuisance.

An abscess around the teeth can occur in different parts of the mouth. They tend to cause stinging pain, which can even be felt in the ears. If left untreated, an abscess can cause serious issues in your mouth that may lead to irreversible damage to one's overall health.

Periapical Abscess: This usually occurs at the tip of the root of teeth.

Periodontal Abscess: This targets the gum immediately next to the root of the tooth. It has the potential to spread further, affecting the tissue and bone near it.

Gingival Abscess: This targets the gum in general.

The most obvious symptom is a thumping pain in your mouth. The pain can occur anywhere inside due to its intensity. It comes and goes without warning and increases over time. The pain can also be felt near your ears, nose, and jaw. Since the pain worsens with time, it can cause swelling in the cheeks and severely damage the jaw structure. A foul taste in the mouth is another sign that should draw your attention to the presence of an abscess.

Furthermore, if an abscess bursts, you may experience sudden relief from pain but also a revolting taste of pus spreading in your mouth.

Due to the bacterial nature of an abscess, it can be difficult to pinpoint the exact source affecting your dental hygiene. If bacteria reach the teeth and gums, an abscess is likely to form.

When bacteria enter the pulp inside your teeth through a cavity, it causes a periapical abscess.

Problems in gums usually cause a periodontal abscess.

If an external item gets lodged between the teeth, it can lead to a gingival abscess.

Like any other bacterial infection, an abscess is treated by cleaning up the source of the infection. It also helps in dealing with any pain that the patient might be experiencing. A dental x-ray is crucial in locating the source of the abscess and controlling its spread to other areas of the tooth.

Procedures include puncturing the abscess to drain out the pus. This is essential to stop the pus from infecting other parts. A root canal is another method to address the problem by drilling down the infected tooth and removing the diseased part. As a preliminary measure, one can rinse their mouth with warm salt water to ease the affected area.

An abscess needs to be treated by a dentist urgently. If the pus is spreading, it must be cleaned thoroughly and the wound should be treated expertly and quickly.

If left untreated, an abscess is likely to spread to the jaw, ears, and nose, and sometimes even the brain. In very rare cases, an abscess can lead to sepsis, a life-threatening condition caused by an infection.