Many times, you will notice that whitish pus is coming out from your teeth. This is due to the presence of an abscess. You must have seen several abscesses in different parts of your body, but tooth abscess is something entirely new to you. Worry not. We are here to help you with the necessary information about the abscessed tooth.
Since many of you are not aware of an abscessed tooth, we have come up with a blog about the same. an abscessed tooth can bring severe discomfort if you do not know to treat it at the right time. Sometimes, these abscesses are the result of infections caused inside the mouth. So, you have to be careful about your hygiene and stay true to yourself. Treating an abscess at home can be a risky affair as you are not efficient in the business. Instead, you can visit an emergency dentist in London to get immediate help.
In this blog, we will cover the topics of an abscessed tooth, its definition, the different types of abscessed teeth, its signs and symptoms, causes that lead to an abscessed tooth, the treatment for an abscessed tooth and many more. So, without further delay, let’s get into the details of the blog right away.
What is an abscessed tooth?
When you notice a certain amount of pus deposited in any part of the tooth or teeth or the oral section, it is known as an abscessed tooth. The reason behind the accumulation and deposition of this pus is a bacterial infection. So, when you have too many bacteria doing havoc inside your mouth, you can experience an abscessed tooth.
Now the question is – from where do these bacteria come? Well, there can be many sources of bacterial infection inside your mouth. Consider a situation where you ate your food, precisely your dinner. After you have had your dinner, generally you go to bed. Do you think the food particles remain inside the mouth? Many people consider rinsing the mouth thoroughly as the best way of cleaning the inner portion of your mouth. This is one of the many reasons you have bacterial deposition inside your mouth. As a result of this bacterial accumulation, you can have an abscess in your tooth or gums.
When you have a dental abscess, it can produce severe discomfort. What many people fail to realise is the fact that if you do not treat the dental abscess at the right time, it can develop into a severe and life-threatening condition. The pain and swelling from a dental abscess can be so excruciating that it can even reach out to the neck, head and ears. So, you need an urgent treatment to maintain a good overall health.
Types of dental abscess
The type of dental abscess or tooth abscess that you will have depends entirely on the position of the abscess. So, the location in which the abscess develops stands as one of the vital points for consideration, especially during its treatment. Given below are the different types of dental abscesses that you can develop:
- Periapical abscess
When the abscess develops at the tip of the tooth root, it is known as a periapical abscess.
- Periodontal abscess
When you have an abscess on the gums that lies right next to the tooth root. Once you develop this periodontal abscess, it might get spread and surround the jaw bones and adjacent tissues.
- Gingival abscess
When you have an abscess on the tooth gums, it is known as a gingival abscess.
What are the symptoms of an abscessed tooth?
The first signal through which you can understand and feel the presence of an abscessed tooth is excruciating pain in your gums or near your tooth. This pain comes suddenly and with time, gets worse. So, if you have to get rid of the abscessed tooth, you have to ensure to visit the dentist as soon as possible.
Some of the other symptoms include the following:
- Sensitivity in the tooth
- Fever
- Severe pain that reaches up to the ears, jaws and neck
- A feeling of pain while chewing and biting food
- Excruciating pain when you lie down
- Red and swollen gums
- Loss of teeth
- Tooth discolouration
- A bad taste in the mouth
- Bad breath
- Swollen or tender lymph nodes under the jaw and in the neck
As soon as the abscess ruptures, you will immediately feel a sense of relief. Also, when the pus drains out, you will feel a bad taste in the mouth due to the presence of the pus. However, once you rinse your mouth, you are good to go.
Causes of an abscessed tooth
Generally, when you have bacterial deposition in your mouth, precisely near the gums and teeth, it leads to an abscess in the teeth. However, the way by which you can get an abscess depends largely on its causes. The causes of a dental abscess include the following:
- Periapical abscess
When you have the entrance of a cavity in your mouth, know that it has bacteria present in it. These bacteria enter the pulp of your mouth. Since this pulp is composed of tissues, nerves and blood vessels, the presence of bacteria makes it possible to infect the area and develop pus.
- Periodontal abscess
Generally, when you have a gum problem, you get a periodontal abscess. However, you can get a periodontal abscess also via an injury.
- Gingival abscess
To get a gingival abscess you need a foreign agent like the bristle of a toothbrush or a popcorn kernel to enter and get stuck between your teeth. As days pass by, these external agents develop and form bacteria in the respective area, thereby creating pus.
How to treat tooth abscesses?
The kind of treatment your tooth abscess needs differs from person to person as it depends on the type of dental abscess you have developed. However, the general guidelines for treating a tooth abscess include the following:
- Make a small cut to drain the pus.
- Follow up by cleaning the area with saline water.
- Conduct a root canal if the pus has reached far to the roots of the teeth.
- To remove the excess pus, the dentist might sometimes suggest removing the teeth.
- Removing the foreign object to provide adequate relief.
- Consuming oral antibiotics to get relieved pain and prevent the spread of the infection
Conclusion
Now that you have a clear idea about tooth abscesses, you will surely be able to handle yourself if you have any. In case you are struggling with one, the best solution would be to reach out to the dentist as soon as possible. Remember, delaying the process of treatment will only complicate the situation.
