A tooth abscess occurs when a tooth becomes damaged through trauma or decay, exposing the pulp inside. Bacteria can then gain access to the area and cause an infection, with a tooth abscess as a result. Pockets of pus can form at the root of the tooth, precipitating a variety of problems, including making the area extremely sensitive and painful. A tooth abscess is a very serious problem, one that if left unattended to can kill the tooth and possibly infect a person’s whole jaw. Luckily, modern dental practices can end the infection and more often than not save the tooth affected by an abscess.
The only part of a tooth that is sensitive to pain is the pulp, a fleshy and nerve-filled area that is protected by a hard coating called enamel and a substance that comprises the main part of the tooth, dentin. However, if a tooth cracks or develops a deep cavity from tooth decay, the exposed pulp is then vulnerable to various bacteria. The invading organisms will infect the pulp and cause it to die. As the body fights the infection, pockets of pus will form at the root of the tooth, causing an abscess. Pus is made up of a combination of dead tissue, live and dead bacteria, and a collection of white blood cells that are fighting the infection. Sometimes a tooth abscess will openly drain on the side of someone’s gums, but more often then not they will stay beneath the tooth that is under attack from bacteria.
The infection that develops will also make the tissue in the tooth swell, with a toothache as a consequence. Even if the root of the tooth does die, the infection can still be alive and active, able to spread elsewhere in the jaw and destroy tissue. Another type of abscess, less typical, occurs when a particle of food gets trapped under the gums, where bacteria can them multiply on it, with a pus pocket forming. A tooth abscess can make it nearly impossible to chew, as the throbbing pain shoots through your mouth with every bite of food. The pain does not necessarily go away when the tooth isn’t being pressured, and an abscessed tooth is very easily affected by cold or by heat. A fever can also accompany a tooth abscess, and the gums can be swollen and red. There can be an awfully bitter taste present in your mouth, and you may experience swollen glands in your neck. The fact that the infection can spread elsewhere makes it imperative to have an abscessed tooth treated promptly.
An exam by a dentist will quickly reveal a tooth abscess, as they employ X-rays and other means to go with their observation of the problem tooth. When the pulp is infected, a root canal can save the tooth. The region will be numbed with an anesthetic and the dentist will drill a minute hole in the top of the tooth. Then the infected pulp will be removed and the area cleaned out before the tooth is filled with a temporary filling. Later a crown will be put in place on the tooth to protect it. A tooth abscess that has come about between the tooth and gums will require draining and thorough cleaning by a dentist, with the possibility of surgery later on to close any gaps in the gums to stop future infections. Antibiotics will be used to bring the infection under control before any dental procedure is attempted. When the tooth is too severely damaged or the infection has destroyed too much of the pulp, the tooth may need to be removed, replaced at a later date with a partial bridge or an implant.
Brushing your teeth twice daily and practicing good dental hygiene can help to prevent a tooth abscess. Periodic teeth cleanings and flossing can also greatly aid in this cause, as can watching the amount of sugar you consume, a big factor in stopping tooth decay.
