Tooth pain can make it difficult to go throughout your day, preventing you from speaking, eating, and drinking. But what is even more difficult is figuring out why you’re experiencing this pain. If you’ve noticed small bumps or lumps on your gums, in addition to this pain, you may be dealing with a tooth abscess.
Tooth abscesses are painful infections in and around the root of your tooth. While you might think the chances of developing an abscess are low, they are more common than you think. If you believe you may be experiencing a tooth abscess, keep reading to learn more about the signs and how to treat this ailment appropriately.
How Do You Know You Have an Abscess?
There are several signs that you are experiencing a tooth abscess, including:
- Persistent, Severe Pain: The pain from an abscess may feel like a throbbing or constant ache in or around the affected tooth.
- Swelling and Redness: The gums around the infected tooth may swell, become red, and feel tender to the touch.
- Sensitivity to Temperature and Pressure: An abscessed tooth can cause sharp pain when consuming hot or cold food or biting down.
- Bad Taste in Your Mouth or Bad Breath: If your abscess ruptures, it may release a foul-tasting fluid in your mouth, accompanied by an unpleasant smell.
Early Signs an Abscess is Forming
A tooth abscess might not be as intense or noticeable in its early stages. However, there are a few subtle signs that can indicate an infection is beginning to form, including:
- Gum Tenderness or Mild Swelling: Swelling or soreness around a particular tooth could be the first indication of a growing infection.
- Sensitivity to Pressure or Temperature: Increased sensitivity in a specific area can be a sign of infection, even before it becomes painful.
- Discoloration of the Gums or Tooth: Early infections can sometimes cause slight color changes, especially in the gum area.
Recognizing these early signs can allow you to seek help from a trusted dental professional before the infection worsens, potentially making treatment simpler and less invasive.
Will a Tooth Abscess Go Away on Its Own?
If you believe you have an abscess, you might think you can avoid treatment and allow it to go away on its own. However, tooth abscesses do not go away on their own. The infection will continue to grow and can spread to other parts of your body if left untreated. Attempting to manage pain with over-the-counter medications or ignoring the symptoms can lead to serious issues, including the spread of the infection to your jaw, neck, and beyond.
How a Dentist Will Treat an Abscess
While a tooth abscess can be incredibly uncomfortable, your dentist can treat it, alleviating the pain and stopping the infection from progressing. Treatment for your abscess will go as follows:
- Draining the Abscess: Your dentist will make a small incision to drain the infection, relieving pressure and reducing pain.
- Root Canal Therapy: A root canal is often necessary to remove the infected pulp inside the tooth, thoroughly clean it, and seal it to prevent further infection.
- Tooth Extraction: In more severe cases, your dentist may recommend tooth extraction to prevent the infection from spreading to surrounding tissue and other body parts.
- Antibiotics: Antibiotics are prescribed to control the infection and help ensure it doesn’t spread. This step is used alongside treatment rather than as a standalone solution.
The Dangers of Putting Off Treatment
Choosing to ignore a tooth abscess can result in significant health risks. Some of the most consequential risks of skipping treatment include:
- Worsened Pain and Discomfort: Abscesses are typically very painful, and delaying treatment can increase the discomfort.
- Bone Loss and Damage: Untreated infections can erode the surrounding bone structures, which may lead to tooth loss.
- Systemic Infection: If left untreated, the infection from your abscess can spread to other areas of the body, including your neck, jaw, and brain. Severe infections can become life-threatening, so timely treatment is crucial.
Protect Your Smile: Seek Early Treatment in Mills River
If you have a tooth abscess, it requires prompt attention, but you can recover and protect your smile with early detection and proper dental care. The best steps to prevent complications and maintain a healthy, pain-free smile are to recognize symptoms early and see your dentist as soon as possible.
If you are looking for a reliable dental team in the Mills River, North Carolina, area, turn to our team at Mills River Family Dental. We’ve provided comprehensive dental care to patients across the area for over 20 years. With these decades of experience, you can trust that no dental ailment is too complex for us to treat.
When you’re ready to experience thoughtful, expert dental care for your tooth abscess, reach out to our team to schedule an appointment.