Causes, Symptoms and Treatment of Tooth Abscess

Sometimes, a pocket of pus may develop around the root of an infected tooth. This pocket of pus is known as abscess. The bad news about abscess is that it doesn’t go away on its own. You will have to get it treated. If an abscess is not treated on time, it can lead to tooth loss, or even worse. Therefore, you will need to visit your endodontist as soon as possible.

Reasons for tooth abscess

Tooth abscess is formed when the innermost side of the tooth, also known as pulp, gets infected. Although the outer side of the tooth is a harder surface, it can get weakened and allow bacteria to reach in the dentin and then pulp. The bacteria and infectious germs can infect the pulp, which is the combination of nerves and vessels. It means that an infected pulp can let the infection to spread in the areas where the vessels supply blood. The major reasons of abscess include:

• Cavities
• Periodontal disease
• Crack in the tooth

Leaving the infection untreated can lead to the death of tooth pulp. This process leads to the formation of tooth abscess.

Diagnosing an abscessed tooth

Certain signs can tell you that you have an abscessed tooth. Some of those signs include pain, fever, gum redness, foul taste, swelling, jaw pain, and difficulty in eating and swallowing.

In some situations, the abscess may be seen on the gum area. Pressing it will cause a thick liquid to be drained out. This liquid is the pus and it is definitely a tooth abscess you are pressing.

Treatment of tooth abscess

Although swelling and pain are the most common symptoms of an abscessed tooth, these symptoms may not occur all the times. It could mean that the abscess drains its liquid somewhere else. In case the abscess is not visible, your dentist will run a dental x-rays test to spot the site of infection.  A little tapping on the infected area can let your dentist know if the infection is actually an abscess.

In case your dentist is unable to diagnose an abscess, he may send you to an endodontist who has th especial training to treat the abscessed teeth.

Is there a way to prevent an abscessed tooth?

Having said all above, you may wonder if there could be any way you can prevent tooth abscess. The matter of fact is that you do not have to do anything special to prevent the tooth abscess. You will just have to make sure that you are taking good care of your oral health and hygiene. If you brush and floss your teeth according to recommendations, you are essentially avoiding the bacteria that cause infection which can lead to tooth abscess. Moreover, you will need to visit your dentist regularly to get your oral cavity fully checked.