5 Signs You Have a Tooth Abscess

If you have a persistent toothache and you notice swelling or redness in your mouth, you must consult a dentist. These discomforts may be symptoms of a dental abscess, and if you do not get the proper treatment, this can become a severe health problem.

A dental abscess is a painful infection that begins at the root of a tooth or between the gums and teeth and can extend to the mouth, face, jaw or throat.

Bacteria can reach the nerve of the tooth and cause damage if not treated. In very severe cases, you may lose your tooth.

Poor oral hygiene, poorly attended cavities and gingivitis are usually the most common causes of dental abscesses.

The fastest and safest way to know if you have a dental abscess is to visit a dental clinic in Swansea, or wherever your closest clinic might be.

If you have any of the following five symptoms, we recommend you see a specialist as soon as possible.

Tooth sensitivity

The sensation of tenderness usually occurs when some pressure is exerted on the tooth, especially with the intake of food that is too cold or hot.

While this discomfort is a common problem and often does not represent a health risk, it is always important to treat it in time to rule out an abscess.

Inflamed Gums

Inflammation and redness are frequent signs of infection. If you notice that a specific portion of your gums is red and swollen, it might be because you have a tooth abscess.

However, there are many more conditions that can cause swollen gums, so consider this symptom only a possible sign and not a specific one.

Pain when chewing or biting

In most cases, chewing pain is associated with the presence of tooth decay due to poor hygiene. The sugars in food and saliva are the perfect environment for bacterial plaque to build up on teeth, causing cavities.

If left untreated, this can lead to a dental abscess and damage the pulp of the tooth, causing its death.

Pain that radiates to other parts of your face

If the pain you feel in your mouth radiates to other parts of your face, you probably have an infection. Tooth abscesses and cavities are common causes of radiating pain, so you must go to the dentist if your pain is starting to aggravate and spread to the surrounding areas.

Pain that gets worse at night

When you lie down, more blood rushes to the head, which can put more pressure on any sensitive areas. If you have a tooth abscess, then it is likely that you will experience more pain at night given the increased circulation to the gums.

If you have any of the symptoms mentioned above, ideally you should go to a specialist for a formal evaluation. In case you do have an abscess, a dentist can take the necessary measures to stop the infection and relieve the discomfort.

The process to treat a dental abscess is usually the same. First, the area is drained to clear the infection and eliminate the pain. In case there are any complications, a dentist can perform an endodontic treatment.

During this process, the affected nerve is removed, and the wound is closed. Only in the worst cases, the extraction of the affected tooth is required.

If you want to reduce the risk of having a dental abscess, the most important thing is to maintain proper dental hygiene and visit your dentist regularly.

If you follow these recommendations, your risk of suffering from these types of conditions decreases considerably, and you will have overall great oral health.

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