Abscessed Tooth Causes and Treatments

A look at what causes Abscesses in teeth, the symptoms and treatments.

Dental problems come in all shapes and sizes. Some are worse than others. Cavities are fairly benign if they are taken care of quickly.

The treatment is a simple filling that can quite often be done without anesthetic. If cavities are left then they become worse. They deepen and leave the tooth vulnerable to infection. If infection sets in then there can be serious problems. An Abscessed tooth is quite often the outcome.

Abscessed teeth quite often occur in the roots. The infection sets in between the root of the teeth and the gum line. They are quite often the result of poor oral hygiene. Severe decay has developed and allowed infection to set in. Teeth that have been broken due to accidents or sudden impact are also quite vulnerable to infections and Abscesses. The cracks and opening are quite difficult to keep clean allowing bacteria to build up, decay to grow and eventually infection to set in.

There are several symptoms of an abscessed tooth. One of the most common is pain. A minor toothache doesn’t necessarily mean that you have an abscessed tooth. However, this should be checked. Deep, throbbing and continuous pain is usually the type. Anyone who is showing these symptoms should definitely get it checked.

There are several other symptoms one should look out for that are an indication of an abscessed tooth. Fevers are common with this condition. An abscess is basically an infection. A fever is your bodies own defense mechanism to fight back. If there is severe pain when chewing then it could be caused by an abscessed tooth. The pressure from chewing bears down on the infected roots and can be quite painful. Teeth sensitivity especially to hot and cold can be indicative of an abscessed tooth. It can also mean a cavity so there is no need to push the panic button if this is the only symptom.

An abscessed tooth quite often brings with it a bitter taste in the mouth and foul smelling breath.

Other things can cause this as well but if it continuous, or these symptoms are occurring with others then get it looked at.

These also quite often bring about a general feeling of illness. Remember these are essentially infections so your body may feel weakened. An abscessed tooth also will likely show redness and irritation of the gums. Swelling especially if it is confined to the upper or lower jaw areas are quite common. Swollen neck glands or oozing sores are also signs that you need treatment quite quickly.

One thing people need to be aware of is the pain of an abscess may suddenly stop. This is quite common if the root of the tooth dies as a result of the infection. This is not all good news. The pain may be gone but the infection is still there. It will get worse if you don’t get it treated.

An abscessed tooth is treated in a variety of ways. Your dentist will make all efforts to save your tooth if this is possible. The first possibility is to have a root canal treatment. This means that the infected pulp of the tooth is removed and replaced with dental cement. The top of the tooth is usually replaced by a permanent crown. This procedure is largely pain free and the best option available to save the tooth.

If too much decay has occurred to the root system then the tooth may need to be extracted. This allows the abscess to drain but one looses a tooth. There is the possibility of dental bridges later however.

Finally, your dentist may decide to make an incision into the swollen gum tissue. This will drain the puss and infectious fluid from the jaw. It is highly likely that you will still need a root canal treatment even if your dentist opts for this method.

Many claim that there are natural remedies for abscessed teeth. Echinacea is a natural antibiotic as well as tea tree oil. Tea bags and aspirin can also help relieve pain. However, your dentist will likely put you on a course of antibiotics to completely rid your mouth of the infection. An abscessed tooth is nothing to play around with. Infections can grow worse and make you seriously ill.

Dental problems come in all shapes and sizes. Sometimes simple problems are left too long and they become serious. This is the case with many abscessed teeth. Some started out as cavities that were neglected for too long. An abscessed tooth is something that needs to be treated straight away. They can grow extremely painful and the infection can spread. If left too long they can bring about serious health consequences.