What is a Tooth Abscess?

A tooth abscess is where an infection has entered the gum and tooth region of your mouth. Depending on the severity of the infection, it can go away on its own or it will require special treatment. If you have mouth pain, how do you know if it is an abscess? What do you do for a diagnosis? How do you treat an abscess? All of these questions can be easily answered by a call to your dentist or by reading up a little bit.

A tooth abscess can come on quickly or it can build over time. An abscess can be caused by bacteria in the mouth or it can start as a result of a mouth injury. The end result – no matter how it starts – is a painful infection with pus around it. The abscess can be on the gum, within the base of the tooth or even in the jaw bone. An abscess can start out being very painful or the pain can grow steadily until it is treated.

Symptoms
The symptoms of a tooth abscess can vary from person to person and depending on where the abscess is located. Some of the symptoms include pain, swelling and redness where the abscess is located. You may also have sore gums, a sore tooth, sore jaw bone, trouble eating, headache and nausea.

If you have recently had a mouth injury, such as a big bump or a cut, the bacteria will be able to enter inside faster. The bacteria can multiply quickly within a wound, making an abscess quick to form in certain instances. Take care when brushing and flossing around an injury so you don’t hurt or irritate it more. Don’t skip brushing, however, as this can make the abscess develop quickly because the bacteria is present.

Diagnosis
Your dentist will be able to check your symptoms and offer a diagnosis. They will be able to write a prescription for an antibiotic if you need one or give out a treatment routine to heal the abscess. Following the dentist’s diagnosis, you need to follow their instructions carefully in order to make the abscess go away. An abscess that is left untreated could get worse or turn in to a more serious health matter.

Treatment Outlook
Treating a tooth abscess is usually very easy. Sometimes an abscess doesn’t even require medication or dental work, but proper brushing and flossing methods. Keep your teeth brushed and flossed daily to prevent the bacteria from multiplying out of control and forming another abscess somewhere else in the mouth.