DENTAL ABSCESS SYMPTOMS AND CAUSES

Dental Abscess Symptoms and Causes

A tooth abscess is a sac of pus under the gum tissue caused by a bacterial infection. The abscess can occur near the tooth or at the root of the tooth. A periapical abscess occurs at the tip of the root; a periodontal abscess occurs in the gums at the side of a tooth root. Bacteria can enter the innermost part of the tooth through either a deep cavity or a crack in your tooth. The resulting infection and inflammation can cause an abscess at the tip of the root.

An abscess usually develops as a result of untreated dental decay, an injury, or prior dental work that is failing. The resulting infection can cause an abscess at the root of the tooth. In order to treat an abscess, your dentist may drain the abscess, prescribe antibiotics, advise root canal therapy, or extract the tooth. If the tooth is extracted, they may consider a dental implant to replace it. Leaving a tooth abscess untreated can lead to worsening infection and even life-threatening complications if the infection enters the bloodstream.

Symptoms of Tooth Abscess

Signs and symptoms of a tooth abscess can include:

• Throbbing toothache that can spread to headache and earache
• Sensitivity to hot and cold temperatures
• Pain upon chewing or biting
• Fever
• Swelling in your face, cheek or neck that may lead to difficulty
• Swollen lymph nodes under your jaw or in your neck
• Bad breath or a bad taste that does not resolve with brushing

If you experience a sudden rush of bad tasting, salty fluid in your mouth and immediate pain relief, an abscess may have ruptured. Even though you may feel better, the abscess is not gone and still needs treatment!

Causes of Tooth Abscess

A periapical tooth abscess occurs when bacteria invade the dental pulp. The pulp is the innermost part of the tooth that contains blood vessels, nerves and connective tissue.

Bacteria enter through either a dental cavity or a chip or crack in the tooth and spread all the way down to the root. The bacterial infection can cause swelling and inflammation at the tip of the root.

Some factors may increase your risk of a tooth abscess such as:

• Poor oral hygiene: Not taking care of your teeth and gums can increase your risk of dental problems which may include tooth decay, gum disease, tooth abscess, and other complications.
• Bad eating habits: Eating and drinking foods high in sugar can contribute to dental cavities and lead to abscess.
• Dry mouth: Dry mouth can increase your risk of tooth decay. Dry mouth is often a side effect of certain medications or related to aging.

A tooth abscess will not heal on its own. You must seek professional treatment to address the infection before it progresses and potentially enters the bloodstream. Caught early, you may be able to treat an abscess with antibiotics but letting it fester could cost you the tooth or more.

Extracting Abscessed Tooth