Your mouth is full of bacteria, which form a sticky film on your teeth called plaque. If you don’t keep your teeth clean, acids produced by the bacteria in plaque can damage your teeth and gums, leading to tooth decay or gum disease.

The following can increase your chances of developing a dental abscess:

• poor oral hygiene – plaque can build-up on your teeth if you don’t floss and brush your teeth regularly
• consuming lots of sugary or starchy food and drink – these can encourage the growth of bacteria in plaque and may lead to decay that can result in an abscess
• an injury or previous surgery to your teeth or gums – bacteria can get into any damaged parts of the teeth or gums
• having a weakened immune system – this includes people with certain underlying health conditions, such as diabetes, and those having treatment, including steroid medication or chemotherapy

Preventing dental abscesses

You can reduce your risk of developing dental abscesses by keeping your teeth and gums as healthy as possible.

To do this, you should:

• use floss or an interdental brush at least once a day to clean between your teeth and under the gum line
• brush your teeth with a fluoride toothpaste twice a day – spending at least two minutes each time
• avoid rinsing your mouth with water or mouthwash after brushing because this washes the protective toothpaste away – just spit out any excess toothpaste
• cut down on sugary and starchy food and drinks – particularly between meals or shortly before going to bed
• visit your dentist regularly – your dentist can suggest how often you should have a check-up, based on your oral health

What Are the Symptoms of an Abscessed Tooth?

A toothache that is severe and continuous and results in gnawing or throbbing pain or sharp or shooting pain are common symptoms of an abscessed tooth. Other symptoms may include:

• Fever
• Pain when chewing
• Sensitivity of the teeth to hot or cold
• Bitter taste in the mouth
• Foul smell to the breath
• Swollen neck glands
• General discomfort, uneasiness, or ill feeling
• Redness and swelling of the gums
• Swollen area of the upper or lower jaw
• An open, draining sore on the side of the gum

If the pulp in the root of the tooth dies as a result of infection, the toothache may stop. However, this doesn’t mean the infection has healed; the infection remains active and continues to spread and destroy tissue. Therefore, if you experience any of the above listed symptoms, it is important to see a dentist even if the pain subsides.

How Is an Abscessed Tooth Diagnosed?

• Your dentist will probe your teeth with a dental instrument. If you have an abscessed tooth, you will feel pain when the tooth is tapped by your dentist’s probe. Your dentist will also ask you if your pain increases when you bite down or when you close your mouth In addition, your dentist may suspect an abscessed tooth because your gums may be swollen and red.
• Your dentist may also take X-rays to look for erosion of the bone around the abscess.

How Is an Abscessed Tooth Treated? 

• Strategies to eliminate the infection, preserve the tooth, and prevent complications are the goals of treatment for an abscessed tooth.
• To eliminate infection, the abscess may need to be drained. Achieving drainage may be done through the tooth by a procedure known as root canal Root surgery may also be recommended to remove any diseased root tissue after the infection has subsided. Then, a crown may be placed over the tooth.
• The tooth may also be extracted, allowing drainage through the socket.
• Finally, a third way to drain the abscess would be by incision into the swollen gum tissue.
• Antibioticsare prescribed to help fight the infection. To relieve the pain and discomfort associated with an abscessed tooth, warm salt-water rinses and over-the-counter pain medication like ibuprofen (such as Advil or Motrin) can be used.
• The inflammation and pain of abscesses may be relieved with a low-level laser, making the patient more comfortable to receive the injection in a more painless way.

Can an Abscessed Tooth Be Prevented? 

• Following good oral hygiene practices can reduce the risk of developing a tooth abscess. Also, if your teeth experience trauma (for example, become loosened or chipped), seek prompt dental attention.