Toothache and Abscesses

By definition, tooth abscess is a localised infection around the tooth that leads to the formation of pus. Abscesses are very serious medical conditions, and can even be life threatening if left untreated. When the pulp of a tooth dies due to damage or decay, bacteria will proliferate from the tissue that is left. These bacteria will eventually spread from the root of the dead tooth into the tissue that is below and create a pocket of pus - the abscess.

Another cause of tooth abcesses is gum disease. Gum diseases causes the gums to pull back and away from teeth, leaving pockets behind. When one of the pockets becomes blocked, the bacteria can multiply and spread, or get backed up. The consequence of this, is that an abscess will start to form under the surface of the gums and become apparent will swelling as it gets bigger and spreads.

After the infection has spread, the jawbone may start to dissolve as it makes room for the swelling and inflammation in the area that has been infected. Once the bone starts to dissolve, the pressure will be greatly decreased, although the infection will still be there. Even though the person will get some relief, the infection will get worse - and the pain will always come back. Once more of the bone has decayed and has dissolved, there will be nothing left to support the tooth, meaning that it will become loose and end up needing to be extracted.

The symptoms and signs of an abscessed tooth are easy to recognised , as they include severe pain in the affected area, red or swollen gums, a bad taste in your mouth, swelling around the area or the jaw, and possibly a high fever. Pain is excruciating with an abscess, normally affecting the area in a bad way. No matter what you do, the pain seems to intensify.

Abscesses tend to occur more with back teeth, although they can happen in the front as well. Once your tooth has become abscessed, your dentist will not immediately pull it. There is some dangers of extracting a tooth that has an abscess since the infection is still present, it can quickly spread. Your dentist will instead prescribe you some antibiotics that can help to destroy the bacteria.

Root canal is a rescue procedure that a dentist may attempt to remove dead or decayed tissue. Last but not least, he can also drill a hole in the tooth to give the infection a chance to drain and try to remove any dead pulp. The most common treatment with an abscess is to use antibiotics to fight the infection, then get the tooth removed. You should never let it get that bad - as an abscess is something that can destroy your jawbone.