5 Major Signs and Symptoms of a Tooth Abscess And Its Treatment

A tooth abscess is a pocket of pus that forms on a tooth, primarily due to bacterial infection that spreads through an untreated dental cavity. A periapical root abscess develops at the tip of the tooth root and can cause moderate to severe pain that may radiate to your neck and ear.

Know All About Tooth Abscess Stages

A tooth abscess is a sign that your cavity has gone very deep. The stages of tooth abscess are explained below:

Enamel Erosion

The first symptom is the decay and eventual loss of the enamel as bacteria persists. You may not feel any pain at this stage, though some people may complain of increased sensitivity. Spots on the teeth also characterize enamel erosion.

Dentin Decay

If you do not treat the enamel decay with a filling or some other dental restoration, it will attack the second layer of your tooth, the dentin. As a result, the dentin becomes discolored and appears yellowish or greyish. In addition, some people may experience increased sensitivity to hot and cold food at this stage, and a hole may also develop in the tooth.

Pulp Infection

Once the dentin is destroyed, the bacteria will reach the inner-most sanctum of your tooth, known as the pulp chamber. This chamber consists of the blood capillaries, tooth nerve, and connective tissue. Bacteria will inflame the pulp, leading to severe tooth pain. Once the tooth nerve is dead, an abscess will start to develop.

Abscess Formation

The bacteria will start to penetrate deeper into your tooth and will spread to the very tips of your tooth. At this stage, a small blister will form at the end of the tooth root, which can be seen as a small pus-filled bump on the gums. This abscess will also destroy some of the jaw bone and supporting structures around the tooth.

Complications

If you still do not treat your tooth, it can lead to severe complications like a complete breakdown of your tooth that can lead to tooth loss. In addition, the infection may also spread to your bloodstream, causing sepsis, which can be life-threatening.

What are the Main Causes of Tooth Abscess

A buildup of tartar primarily causes a tooth abscess because of poor oral care and eating habits, including not brushing or flossing your teeth properly, not showing up for your six-monthly dental appointments, and eating sugary, acidic food that causes cavities.

A tooth abscess can also be caused by severe trauma that creates cracks and allows bacteria to infiltrate your tooth. In addition, people who have a severely weakened immune system or take medication for a chronic illness may also be more susceptible to tooth decay, and hence, dental abscess.

What are Common Tooth Abscess Symptoms

Some common signs and symptoms of a tooth abscess include:

• Acute and persistent toothache that radiates to the jawbone, neck, and ear
• Increased sensitivity to hot and cold temperature
• Swelling of the jaw or the side of the face
  Fever
• A foul-smelling and foul-tasting fluid in the mouth as a fistula opens to release pus
• Difficulty in moving your jaw or opening your mouth
• Difficulty in breathing
• Tender lymph nodes beneath your jaw

If any of these symptoms occur, you must call Dr. Monica Crooks for an emergency appointment.

Can an Abscessed Tooth Go Away On Its Own?

A tooth abscess will not go away without proper treatment. If the abscess ruptures, the pus will leak out, reducing the pressure on your tooth. This condition may lead to alleviation in pain. However, this does not mean your tooth is healing itself.

If the pus does not drain, the infection may spread to other parts of your jaw, neck, and head region and cause sepsis.

What is the Best Treatment for Tooth Abscess

It would be best if you got your tooth cavities treated before they result in an abscess. If an abscess does form, it is doubly essential that you get it treated quickly. At Dr. Monica Crooks, we will use a dental x-ray to check the condition of your tooth and then come up with a treatment option:

Abscess Draining

The first step will be to make a small incision on the blister to drain out the pus. We will then disinfect the area with a saline solution.

Root Canal Therapy

A simple filling can no longer save your tooth. Instead, a root canal procedure is required. First, a small hole will be made in the tooth, and the diseased pulp and infection will be removed from inside it. The pulp chamber will then be filled and sealed, and a dental crown will be placed on the tooth to strengthen it.

Tooth Extraction

In some cases, a tooth is damaged beyond saving — but we can still protect you from further harm by removing the tooth and draining the abscess.

Antibiotics

If the infection is just limited to the tooth, you may not require antibiotics. However, if it has spread to other areas, Dr. Crooks may prescribe you some OTC tooth abscess antibiotics to clear up the infection. Some common antibiotics prescribed are penicillin, amoxicillin, metronidazole, erythromycin, and clindamycin.

What are the Best Remedy for Tooth Abscess

There are no sure-fire remedies to treat a tooth abscess at home. However, as you wait for your dentist appointment, you can follow the steps below to ease the discomfort:

• Rinse your mouth with saltwater.
• Take OTC painkillers like ibuprofen and acetaminophen.
• Place a cold compress on the area of the swelling.

Once the dental procedure is done, the abscess will be cleared in a few days. However, you can reduce the chance of developing a dental abscess by making sure you appear for your routine dental checkup, limiting your sugary food intake, and exercising good oral health.

If you notice a cavity developing, do not hesitate to get it treated. A tooth abscess is very bad for the health of your tooth as well as your overall health, so it should be a priority to prevent it from developing. Please schedule an appointment with us today.

Check Out: 5 Dental Problems Caused by Cavities You Should Not Ignore