Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment of a Tooth Abscess:

A tooth abscess can occur without warning.  So, you may be asking “What exactly is an abscess?”  An abscess is a pocket of pus which can either form at the root tip and show on an X-ray or in the tissues surrounding the tooth.  A tooth abscess occurs when the immune system tries to fight off a bacterial infection.   When the pocket of pus has no where to drain, it grows in size as the pus keeps forming.  Often, a fistula (hole in the tissue) will form allowing for pus to drain to elevate the pressure.  Just a little side note… the bacteria associated with gum disease and tooth decay are the same bacteria when it comes to a tooth abscess.  Proper oral hygiene at home at consistent visits to the dental hygienist decrease the amount of bacteria present in the mouth, thus lessening your chance of infection.

Symptoms of a Tooth Abscess:

Pain in the form of a long-lasting dull ache or sharp quick pain can be signs that an abscess has formed.  In some cases, there is very little pain reported with an abscess, however bad breath or foul taste in the mouth are also signs that an abscess has formed.  Along with these symptoms of a tooth abscess, most often the glands surrounding the jaw will become swollen.

Treatment for an Abscessed Tooth:

It is best to call your dentist right away if you are experiencing any of the symptoms listed above.  Over the counter pain relief medication like Ibuprofen will help with pain.  Swishing with warm salt water or hydrogen peroxide and water will help to disinfect the area.  At my Holistic-minded dental office, we strive to accommodate all dental emergencies in the same day that the patient calls our office.  You can expect that we take an X-ray and perform and exam to determine exactly what type of abscess/infection is present.  In severe cases, I prescribe antibiotics to help the body destroy the bacteria.  Again, depending on the location of the abscess, I more than likely will refer my patients’ to my friend and colleague who is a first-class Endodontist for further evaluation.  With further testing from the specialist, we can determine if the tooth is savable with a root canal.  If the abscess and infection are severe, then I will recommend the tooth to be removed.

If you think you are suffering from an abscess or are looking for a dental office that is more natural in its approach, please call or email my Inland Empire Holistic Cosmetic dental office.  We are located in Riverside, California just off of the 91-freeway.  (951)686-3666.