Are You Suffering From An Abscessed Tooth?

The abscessed tooth is an infection that happens at tooth root or alternatively between the tooth and the gum. It is generally painful and can be caused by different things. Generally, it is a sign that you are suffering from severe tooth decay. However, it is possible that you have a tooth that is chipped or broken, while gum disease and gingivitis also causing it. Because of the problems you generally have openings present in tooth enamel. Bacteria manage to reach the pulp and an infection appears.

Abscessed Tooth Symptoms

The really common symptoms that you should be aware of are continuous and severe toothache or soothing and sharp pain. You can also be faced with pain as you chew, fever, tooth sensitivity (both cold and hot), mouth bitter taste, swollen neck glands, foul breath smell, gum swelling or redness and a swollen lower or upper jaw.

When root tooth pulp dies because of the infection, toothaches disappear. Unfortunately, this does not mean that the problems are over since infection did not heal. It remains active and will keep spreading, only to destroy more tissue. If the symptoms highlighted appear, do be sure that you go to the dentist as soon as possible. Even if there are natural remedies for tooth abscess, help from the dentist is always really important.

Diagnosis

One of the reasons you absolutely have to go to the dentist is that you want to be sure it is an abscessed tooth you are suffering from. The doctor probes the tooth, causing pain. This is usually a clear sign that an infection is there. Dentists can suspect the presence of abscess when gums are red or swollen. In rarer situations an X-ray will be needed to check for bone erosion signs.

Treatment

Besides the natural treatment options that can help, the important thing is to eliminate infection. At the same time, dentists want to prevent possible complications and preserve teeth. In order to eliminate the infection an abscessed tooth does have to be properly drained. Root canal therapy is normally preferred. If there is diseased root tissue present after having subsided infection, surgery can be used. Crowns are normally placed over teeth in order to avoid future abscesses.

In some situations the only solution is extraction so that proper drainage can be done. Incisions done into gum tissues that are swollen are commonly used when that is where the abscess appears.

Dentists can prescribe antibiotics in order to help deal with the infection and relieve discomfort and pain. Also, regular over the counter medication for pain treatment like ibuprofen may work.

Prevention

As with most problems that can affect your mouth, the best thing you can do is to prevent the appearance of the abscessed tooth in the first place. You want to follow proper oral hygiene practices in order to reduce the possibility that abscessed tooth appears. When you are affected by tooth trauma, the dental attention that is offered by the professional is paramount for prevention reasons.