How Do I Know If I Have a Tooth Abscess?
Are you suffering from an intense toothache? Maybe you have noticed some swelling in your gums or jaw or that a tooth has changed color. It might become difficult to open your mouth or you are experiencing bad breath or a sour taste in your mouth. This means you could have a tooth infection.
Your teeth are full of nerves. That is why a toothache can be so excruciating. Sometimes the pain can be related to a deeper oral health issue.
A tooth abscess is a pocket of pus that can be located on the surface of your gums, or beneath the surface on the roots. It is the result of a bacterial infection and needs to be treated as soon as possible. A tooth abscess will not disappear on its own.
Untreated infections and tooth abscesses can lead to life-threatening conditions, as it is possible for the infection to spread to your blood and your body. Without treatment, you can also risk losing the tooth.
The Symptoms of a Tooth Infection
Here are several symptoms of a tooth infection or tooth abscess.
* An increased and extreme sensitivity to hot, cold, sugary, or acidic foods.
* A change in the color of the tooth.
* Swelling of your face, jaw, gums, or surrounding lymph nodes.
* A raised swelling around a tooth that might look like a pimple. This pimple can be an abscess or a gum boil. Both are infection-filled pockets that contain pus and bacteria.
* Bad breath or sour taste in your mouth.
* A draining or leaking sore in the gum near the tooth.
* An increased difficulty moving your jaw and opening your mouth. You might struggle to speak or eat.
* A pulsating or throbbing mouth pain. As the infection spreads, the swelling and bacteria put pressure on your jaw and gums, resulting in a throbbing sensation.
* The pain increases when you lie down.
* Headaches.
* Accompanying earache.
* A fever, which tells you that your body is fighting off an infection.
* Feeling sick, which might include bodily symptoms seemingly unrelated to tooth pain, such as body aches and flu-like symptoms.
Common Causes of a Tooth Infection
* A cavity and untreated decay.
* Poor at-home daily oral hygiene.
* An excess of sugary or acidic foods.
* Broken or damaged dental work.
* A weakened immune system.
* An injury to your teeth or gums.
* Smoking.
* A dry mouth, which causes an increased breeding ground for bacteria.
* A cracked or chipped tooth.
* Excessive buildup of plaque.
See Your Dentist if You Have Any Symptoms
An abscess will not go away on its own. If left untreated, it can spread to your body. Your dentist will treat your infected tooth by first draining the pus, then a root canal or tooth extraction and antibiotics.
Your infection may be accompanied by a fever, your body’s way of trying to fight it. Even if the pain disappears, this does not mean the infection did. A tooth infection can destroy the nerves that cause tooth pain, spreading the infection further if left untreated.