Abscessed Tooth – Prevention, Symptoms, and Treatment
An abscessed tooth is an extremely painful and potentially dangerous condition that develops when a tooth or the area around it becomes infected. If left untreated, the infection can spread to other areas, leading to serious complications and sometimes, even the need to extract the infected tooth. This article focuses on the problem of the abscessed tooth and everything related to it.
What Causes an Abscessed Tooth?
In most cases, an abscessed tooth is a direct result of gum disease or an untreated cavity. When a cavity is left untreated for far too long, the bacteria eventually spread to the tissue around the tooth, thereby causing the formation of an abscess. On the other hand, those with gum disease, have small pockets between the teeth and gum, where bacteria find enough space to grow and eventually form an abscess. An abscess can prove to be lethal as it can cause the bone around the tooth to dissolve.
What Are the Symptoms?
If you find that your jaw or face has swollen and there is a bad taste in your mouth along with a throbbing pain when your chew, chances are you are dealing with an abscessed tooth. Similarly, swollen gums, tender tooth, fever, and pus or blood-filled bump could also be signs of an abscessed tooth.
When a tooth has remained infected for far too long, the infection spreads to the jaw bone, causing it to dissolve. Once the bone dissolves, the pain reduces significantly. However, the infection continues to spread, causing the tooth to become entirely damaged. When this happens, the only option is tooth extraction. Thus, if you see any of the above-mentioned signs, do not delay making an appointment with your dentist. When left untreated, an abscessed tooth can lead to serious damage.
Diagnosis and Treatment
Your dentist will take a proper look at the swelling and talk to you about the other symptoms you are experiencing. They may also tap on the tooth to gauge sensitivity. They will most likely also take an x-ray to establish if the tooth is abscessed or not.
If the tooth is abscessed, your dentist will also ask you to immediately undergo treatment. This will involve starting you with antibiotics to get rid of the bacteria hiding inside your tooth and causing the infection. Once the bacteria have died, your dentist will drill a hole in your tooth to drain out all the pus that has gathered inside the abscessed tooth. They will then finally perform the root canal treatment to remove the infected pulp from the tooth and seal the remaining tooth. However, many people are scared of the root canal treatment as it can be painful. If that is the case with you, you can discuss with your dentist and instead of performing a root canal, they may simply extract the tooth, which is a far less painful procedure. Similarly, tooth extraction may also have to be performed if the infected tooth does not respond well to RCT.
Once the root canal has been performed, your dentist will give you an ice pack to reduce the pain and swelling. You may also be advised to take over-the-counter pain pills. Smokers are asked to refrain from smoking for at least a few days after the procedure as the contaminants present in the smoke can impede the healing process.
Here’s How You Can Prevent an Abscessed Tooth
An abscessed tooth is extremely painful. Thus, it is best to take good care of your gums and teeth. Here’s how you can prevent an abscessed tooth.
- Use a dentist-recommended toothpaste to brush your teeth twice every day — once in the morning and once before going to sleep at night.
- Make a habit of using dental floss.
- Stay away from sugary drinks and foods.
- Visit your dentist regularly and get your teeth checked from time to time.
- If you have a dry mouth, frequently drink water, or chew on sugarfree candies. People with dry mouth are always at a higher risk of developing cavities and infections. Drinking water will help you prevent these.
The Final Word
An abscessed tooth can leave you in agony and pain for days. Thus, it is incredibly important to practice oral hygiene and take proper precautions to avoid reaching such a stage. If you see any signs and symptoms, immediately call your dentist. If they recommend treatment, listen to them, and do not make any delays. Complications related to an abscessed tooth is something you don’t want.
If you think you may have an abscessed tooth, please give Dr. Apsey of Smile Brightly Dental a call today! We are located in Warren, MI and we can be reached at 586-573-7700!