Learn the Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment of a Dental Abscess
Dental Health
A tooth can often become infected or form a cavity, which can lead to further complications of the face, jaw, mouth, and throat. When this condition with a tooth occurs, it is known as a dental abscess. Abscessed teeth are common in people that lack proper dental health care.
Stages of an Abscessed Tooth
There are three main stages that can take place with an abscessed tooth. A tooth abscess begins out as an infection in the gums, throat, cheek, underneath the tongue, and facial bones. The infection is caused by bacteria from a cavity. At this point, the abscessed tooth becomes very painful and the surrounding tissues become inflamed.
The second stage of a tooth abscess is when pus begins to collect in the infection site. This continues to increase the pain caused by the infection. The abscess will then either pop open and drain, or have to be drained surgically.
The final stage of an abscessed tooth is when the condition is left untreated; it can progress to the point of a life threatening condition. The body’s airways can begin to be blocked from the swelling and infection. This can cause difficulty breathing. As the infection grows, the symptoms progress to fevers and chills, sweats, nausea, and vomiting.
Causes of Tooth Abscesses
A dental abscess is caused from bacteria. The bacteria can be caused from a number of things. The main cause is from bacteria in a cavity. This then infects the surrounding tissues and bones. Improper dental care, such as poor hygiene, can lead to an abscessed tooth.
Symptoms of an Abscessed Tooth
The symptoms of this condition are quite noticeable because of the large amount of pain they often cause. Other than pain, there is usually redness and swelling around the area and even the face and mouth. Untreated cavities and gum swelling can mean an abscessed tooth. Pus drainage and tenderness are symptoms of this dental condition.
Tooth Abscess Treatment
It is important to visit a doctor or dentist if a person suspects they may have this condition. X-rays and exams are the techniques used to diagnose this infection. The x-rays can let the doctor or dentist tell how far the infection goes. Anti-inflammatory medicines can help relieve the pain and swelling from the infection. A home remedy to treat this condition includes rinsing the mouth with warm water. This not only cleans the mouth, but encourages the abscess to drain without any further treatment.
If the abscess does not drain by itself, the doctor or dentist may decide to cut it open to allow it to drain. The pus has to be drained either one of these ways in order for the infection to heal. Antibiotics are often prescribed to fight the infection. Under rare circumstances, surgery may be required if the infection has spread to the bone, neck, and throat.
Prevention
Maintaining proper dental health and hygiene is the main way to prevent this condition from occurring. This includes visiting the dentist regularly. Proper hygiene needs to be followed as well. This means brushing and flossing regularly and properly. Cavities should be treated immediately and not be left to progress. Smoking and excessive alcohol consumption can increase the risk of developing an abscessed tooth as well.
References:
“Tooth Abscess: What are the Symptoms?” August 2, 2008, MayoClinic.com
“Dental Abscess” August 10, 2005 WebMD.com
