Tooth Abscess: Symptoms & Treatment
May 23, 2023 8:42 amA dental abscess is when an oral infection leads to pus building up in your teeth or your gums. We hope you never experience one! However, it’s beneficial to know the warning signs of an abscess so that you’ll know if you need to seek emergency dental treatment.
Warning Signs of a Dental Abscess
If you have a dental abscess, you may experience a painful ache coming from a specific tooth or in your gums. That pain may intensify when you apply pressure to that area when biting or chewing. You may notice that this area of your mouth is more sensitive to foods/drinks that are very hot or cold. The pain can radiate to your ear or neck. You may also have difficulty opening your mouth when chewing or speaking.
A dental abscess can also cause unusual redness either inside your mouth or outside around where your teeth are, a bad taste in your mouth that persists regardless of what you eat, and swelling in your face or lymph nodes. A small bump can also appear on your gums. The pressure of accumulated pus can cause this bump to burst, creating a pathway for the discharge to drain.
How to Treat an Abscess
Regardless of what kind of at-home remedies you might find online, the only real way to treat a dental abscess is to see a dentist. Using their expertise and special equipment, they’ll drain the pus, treat the infection, and provide any necessary restorative treatment, such as root canal therapy or a tooth extraction.
A dental infection can cause tooth loss and/or spread to other parts of your body without prompt treatment by a dentist. So if you notice any warning signs of a dental abscess, contact SmileShack Dental & Braces as soon as possible. At our Raytown dental practice, we can treat a tooth or gum infection before it worsens.
Categorised in: Dental Emergencies, Restorative Dental Care