What is an Abscess?
An abscess is an infection. There are two types of dental abscesses. A periapical abscess happens at the tooth’s root, and a periodontal abscess happens in the gum. A periapical abscess can occur when decay enters the nerve chamber, killing the nerve and pulp tissue. Sometimes, a traumatic injury or crack in a tooth can damage the delicate nerve inside, resulting in the death of the nerve. Periodontal disease is a chronic gum infection that can weaken the bone and may result in bone and tooth loss if untreated. It can also trigger widespread infection throughout the mouth. Regardless of where the disease occurs in the mouth, a pus-filled area forms called an abscess if it goes untreated for too long.
What are the Symptoms?
Symptoms of an abscess include:
- Severe pain and a throbbing toothache that can radiate to the jawbone, neck, or ear
- Hot or cold tooth sensitivity that lingers
- Pressure sensitivity
- Fever
- Facial swelling
- Bad breath
- Soreness in your neck and jaw from swollen lymph nodes
- Rotten or sour taste in your mouth
It’s important to mention that sometimes, an abscess causes no pain, or the pain suddenly disappears. The discomfort of a toothache is usually caused by the buildup of fluid or gases inside the tooth as the nerve dies. Sometimes, the infection works its way into the gum, creating a bubble on the gum. Once this bubble pops, the infection drains into the gum tissue and mouth, and the pain disappears. This doesn’t mean the infection is getting better; it just means the pressure is relieved.
Treatment
Once an abscess has been diagnosed, there are a few treatment methods. Antibiotics can be prescribed to destroy the bacteria, but the central issue of an infected tooth, dying nerve, or periodontal disease must still be dealt with.
If your abscess is due to a dying nerve, a root canal may be recommended to clean out the infected tissue, shape the canals, and place a rubber-like material to seal them. A crown or cap might be put over the tooth to help preserve the remaining tooth and prevent further breakage.
If the infection has gone too far and affected the tooth’s root, an extraction might be suggested, and an implant with a crown on top may be placed.
Root planing and scaling may be done if your abscess is due to periodontal disease. This is a deep cleaning done with anesthetic and specialized instruments. Sometimes, lasers are used to help sterilize the pocket to help prevent bacteria from reinfecting the area.
Preventing an Abcess
While you can’t always avoid a sudden traumatic impact causing a nerve to die, there are plenty of ways you can prevent decay-related infections and periodontal disease:
- Visit your dentist for regular checkups and professional cleanings
- Brush and floss your teeth at least twice a day
- Replace your toothbrush every three or four months and never, ever share it with anyone
- Drink tap water or fluoridated bottled water
- Watch your sugar and carbohydrate intake because they are bacteria’s favorite food
- Use a mouth rinse before bed so it can sit on your teeth overnight
With some care, you can help prevent an abscess and periodontal disease before they develop, saving yourself the inconvenience and pain of a toothache and the expense of significant treatment.
