Whenever you experience pain in the tooth, it could be due to many reasons; whatever the reason, toothache should never be ignored as the problem could worsen and lead to bigger problems. A person’s mouth is the reflector of the overall health of the person; that is why any doctor’s visit begins with a look at the patient’s mouth and tongue.
A tooth abscess (Periapical abscess or Dental abscess or Tooth Pus) is a collection of infected material (pus) resulting from a bacterial infection in the center of a tooth. So any toothache necessitates an immediate visit to your dentist. Try to be as factual as possible about your symptoms while making the appointment. A visual exam might be enough to identify the cause of the abscess. It could be gingival, periapical or periodontal.
Types of Tooth Abscess
- Gingivial Abscess: The first type affects the gums and is very easily visible to the naked eye. It is the bacterial infection from food that is left behind in the mouth while brushing; it is red and inflamed and so necessitates immediate treatment. If ignored it can spread to other parts of the mouth and cause serious concern as gingival abscesses are formed. Initially the symptoms can be mild, with reddish gums and mild swelling; there might be pus in the abscess and it needs to be cleaned and treated with antibiotics to prevent the infection from spreading.
- Periapical Abscess: The second type of tooth abscess is called periapical and develops around the tooth; the abscess initially develops in the dental pulp, the fleshy part inside the tooth and can spread out very quickly if not treated right away. As these abscesses are near the base of the tooth and next to the roots, they can be very sensitive and so very painful.
- Periodontal Abscess: The third type of tooth abscess is called the periodontal and as the name suggests, it develops in the bone or tissue of the tooth; when proper oral hygiene is not maintained and the gums are pulled away from the teeth due to gingivitis, deep pockets are formed and abscesses develop in these pockets.
While the first type is relatively easy, the other two types of tooth abscess require the employment of antibiotics to first kill the infection and then the required treatment has to be done. Only after the infection has been addressed the further treatment options can be explored.
Symptoms of Tooth Abscess
Symptoms can range from the mild discomfort to a deep throbbing pain that makes you worry it constantly. Such abscess might require immediate attention from your dentist so that the problem is not exacerbated. In case of severe infections, symptoms might even include fever, nausea, sore gums or jaw and very sensitive teeth.
Managing Tooth Abscess and Treatment
The best way to manage your tooth abscess is to ensure that they absolutely do not develop. Proper oral hygiene with good brushing techniques and regular flossing can help the build up of food particles causing the bacterial infections.
Treatment for gingivitis is relatively easy and simple. A dentist has to remove the collected pus and prescribe antibiotics to treat the bacterial infection. One thing to remember in case the pus breaks at home is to not swallow and rinse your mouth well with salted water to stop the infection from spreading. If your dentist punctures it, he will automatically irrigate the wound and have you rinse and spit. In some severe cases, there might be a call for the extraction of the affected tooth. Better to have a tooth removed than risk the chance of all the other teeth getting infected.
In case of the more severe abscesses, the dentist might advise a root canal treatment to arrest the spread of the infection and the pus. Such root canal treatment involves cleaning the infected area and removing the damaged central tissue of the tooth and then draining the pus.
In extreme cases where the infection if too widespread your dentist might suggest extraction of the tooth to stop the spreading of the infection to other healthy teeth. There is a real risk of the infection spreading to other vital parts of the body like the ears, the throat, jaw, etc. So in order to prevent tooth abscess, it is imperative to follow proper oral hygiene and brush correctly and floss regularly with good quality pre-waxed floss so that you don’t end up damaging the soft tissue.
