Abscessed Tooth: What You Need to Know

Apr 01, 2019

What is an Abscessed Tooth?

The abscessed tooth is a pocket of pus which comes in different forms in different parts of the tooth because of bacterial infection. The abscessed tooth can cause moderate to severe pain which can move towards ear and neck. If left untreated, you may also experience tooth loss or it may progress into a life-threatening condition, says dentist in SPB.

What are Different Types of Abscessed?

The SPB dentist says that the type of dental abscess depends on the location. The 3 most common types are:

Periapical abscess which is the abscess at the tip of the tooth root.
Periodontal abscess on the gum next to the root of a tooth.
Gingival abscess which is the abscess on the gums.

What Are The Symptoms?

Though the main symptom of abscessed tooth is throbbing pain near tooth or gums, the other symptoms can include:

Halitosis/ bad breath
Swollen and red gums
Tooth sensitivity
Pain near ear, jaw, neck
Pain that gets worse when you lie down
Discolored or loose teeth
Foul taste in mouth
Tender or swollen lymph nodes in neck or under jaw
Fever
Facial redness and swelling

What Causes Abscess?

- Periapical abscess

The bacteria enter the pulp within the tooth through a cavity.

- Periodontal abscess

Gum diseases or injury can be the reason for this type of abscess.

- Gingival abscess

When a foreign body such as toothbrush bristle or popcorn hull gets embedded in your gums, this type of abscess if formed.

How Is It Treated?

Draining the abscess
A root canal procedure
Tooth extraction
Antibiotics
Removal of foreign object

This can be a life-threatening complication of an infection. According to dentist near FL 33706, you must immediately see the dentist if the abscessed tooth is accompanied with:

High fever
Rapid heart rate
Facial swelling
Difficulty in swallowing

Abscessed tooth can be prevented by following good oral hygiene routine and dental checkups every 6 months.