WHAT IS AN ABSCESSED TOOTH?

An abscessed tooth is gotten when a pocket of pus forms around the root of an infected tooth, anyone can get this condition ranging from little children to aged people.

If you have an abscessed tooth, you need to get immediate treatment from an endodontist or a dentist because tooth abscess does not heal on their own, it requires treatment and early treatment will help save your teeth.

If your tooth is not treated immediately, this infection will spread beyond that area to your neck, head or other body parts.

Causes of Abscessed Tooth

The inside of your tooth is made up of several blood vessels, connective tissues, and nerves, and filled with pulp while the outside of the tooth is hard.

Sometimes, the inner tooth can become infected due to factors like:

• A cracked tooth
• Tooth decay
• Periodontal disease (gum disease)
• A deep cavity

You have to treat this infection in time so that it won’t kill your pulp and lead to an abscess.

Types of Tooth Abscess

There are two common types of tooth abscess; they are:

• A periodontal abscess: This type affects the bone next to the infected tooth.
• A periapical abscess: This type of tooth abscess occurs on the tip of the root of the tooth.

It is possible to have more than one abscess, and they can also pass through the bone and surface in several spots, but each is related to one tooth only.

Signs and Symptoms of an Abscessed Tooth

Common signs and symptoms of an abscessed tooth are:

• Difficulty in swallowing
• Pains
• Difficulty in breathing
• Swellings
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Gum redness and inflammation
• Fever
• Bad taste
• Jaw pain
• Pain when chewing

Sometimes, in tooth abscess, a pimple-like bump can appear on your gum, to be sure it is an abscess, you press it. If a liquid oozes out, then, that is definitely a tooth abscess because that liquid is pus.

Treatment of Tooth Abscess

Some people might not experience any symptoms except pains and swellings because these are the most common signs of tooth abscess, but this means that the pocket of pus has somewhere else to drain.

We can spot an abscess through x-ray at a routine exam if you don’t have any symptoms. Our dentists at Harley Street London can tap on the tooth to check if it hurts.

Our endodontist can diagnose if you truly have a tooth abscess and offer proper treatment to you if it’s positive.

Prevention of Tooth Abscess

Our dental team at Harley Street London offer expert advice and proper treatment to get rid of the infection. Some of them are:

Antibiotics: These drugs are used to treat this infection if it has spread to other parts of the body, but they don’t cure the tooth abscess.

Extraction: If the tooth cannot be saved, we will have to extract it to prevent further damages.

Root canal: This is one of the best ways we can save your tooth, we will drill into your tooth and clean the inside of the tooth (the pulp) and also clean the root canal that goes down into your gum.

The empty spaces will be filled and sealed using either a filling or a crown. Your restored tooth will work perfectly and will even look like the rest of your teeth.

Surgery: This is carried out to drain a periodontal abscess.

You will be relieved of the pain if the abscess ruptures, but you still need treatment from an endodontist or dentist.

Can Tooth Abscess be Prevented?

You can prevent this infection from happening; these tips below will help you keep your teeth and gums healthy.

• Brush your teeth at least two times daily using fluoride toothpaste and each brushing should last for at least 2 minutes.
• Floss daily, this helps to clean the regions and spots that are hard to reach. These include between your teeth and gums.
• Go for regular dental check-ups
• Go for regular teeth cleaning
• See a dentist immediately you discover you have a cracked tooth or a loose tooth
• Reduce your intake of snacks in between meals
• Limit your intake of sugary foods and drinks because they cause cavities, and this, in turn, can lead to a tooth abscess.

If you have a tooth abscess and any other dental problem, contact us, and we will make sure you get the best treatment to get rid of the condition.

We are located at suite 9, Second Floor, 117A Harley Street London, W1G 6AT and you can reach us on 020 71834091.