2023-10-17 13:00:00
Enas Al-Banna wrote Tuesday, October 17, 2023 04:00 PM
A tooth abscess is a bacterial infection of the gums. The abscess usually appears in the form of red or swollen bumps or boils. It affects the affected tooth, but the infection can also spread to the surrounding bone and adjacent teeth. Abscesses can occur in various places around the tooth. Age for various reasons.
According to the Cleveland Clinic website, there are 3 types of dental infections that can cause abscesses:
Gums:
This infection develops in your gums and does not usually affect your teeth or their supporting structures.
Spread of infection to the tooth root:
An abscess is an infection that forms at the tip of a tooth’s root. If you have a decayed tooth, bacteria can get into your teeth and spread to the nerves and blood vessels.
Tissue infection:
This infection begins in the bones and tissues that support your teeth. A gum abscess is usually caused by gum disease and is more common among adults.
How does a tooth abscess affect oral health?
If left untreated, a tooth abscess can spread to the jawbone, soft tissues of the face and neck, and beyond. In extremely rare cases, the infection can spread to the heart (endocarditis) and brain (bacterial meningitis).
Most susceptible to tooth abscess?
You are more likely to get a tooth abscess if you:
Smokers: People who smoke are twice as likely to develop tooth abscesses as people who do not smoke.
Suffering from dry mouth: Bacteria thrive in the mouth with a small amount of saliva.
Poor oral hygiene: Regular brushing and flossing reduces bacteria.
Weak immune system: Diseases or medications can reduce your immune response, making it more difficult to fight germs.
Symptoms of tooth abscess?
If you have a tooth abscess, you may describe the pain as:
Pain when biting.
Constant pain when chewing.
Pain extending to the jawbone, neck, or ear.
Other symptoms of a tooth abscess may include:
Teeth sensitivity to hot or cold temperatures. Having a bitter taste in your mouth. Bad breath. Redness and swelling of gums. Relieve damaged teeth. Swelling of the area in the upper or lower jaw. An open, bleeding sore on the side of your gum.
In addition, you may experience more general symptoms such as:
fever . Swollen lymph nodes. General discomfort, unease, or feeling ill.
What causes a tooth abscess?
Anything that creates an opening for bacteria to reach your teeth or surrounding tissue can lead to a tooth abscess. Causes include:
Severe cavities: Cavities (tooth decay) are the destruction of the hard surface of your teeth. This occurs when bacteria break down sugars in food and drink, creating acid that attacks enamel.
Broken or cracked teeth: Bacteria can seep into any opening in the tooth and spread to the pulp.
Gum disease: Gum disease is an infection and inflammation of the tissues surrounding the teeth. As gum disease progresses, bacteria are able to reach deeper tissues.
Injury to the tooth: Injury to the tooth may lead to injury to the inner pulp, even if there is no obvious crack. Injury makes it vulnerable to infection.
How is the diagnosis of dental abscess?
In addition to examining the tooth and surrounding tissues for signs of infection, your dentist may:
Recommend dental
Recommend a CT scan: If the infection has spread to other areas within your neck, this will help determine the extent of the infection.
Pressure on your teeth: Abscessed teeth are often sensitive to touch or pressure.
Performing thermal tests: These tests will help your dentist determine the health of the dental pulp.
How to treat a tooth abscess?
The goals of treatment are to eliminate the infection and prevent complications. Treatment options for a tooth abscess include:
Incision to drain the pus: Your dentist makes a small incision (cut) in the abscess to drain the pus.
Root canal filling: This option helps eliminate infection. This common procedure removes the affected tooth pulp and fills the space with a material to prevent further infection.
Tooth extraction: Sometimes, an abscessed tooth becomes damaged beyond repair. In these cases, your dentist may need to extract (pull) your tooth.
Antibiotics: Your dentist may recommend antibiotics to help your treatment to fight remaining bacteria.
Can a tooth abscess go away on its own?
A tooth abscess will not go away on its own. The pain may stop if the infection causes the pulp inside the tooth to die. The pain stops because the nerve is no longer working, so you may not be able to feel it. However, the bacteria will continue to spread and destroy surrounding tissue. If you have symptoms of a tooth abscess, visit your dentist even if you no longer have pain.
How long can a tooth abscess remain untreated?
If a tooth abscess is left untreated, it will eventually spread to the surrounding tissues and beyond, wreaking havoc on your oral and overall health. It may take weeks or months for the infection to spread, and it is impossible to know exactly how long it will take. Since tooth abscesses do not go away on their own, it is important that you visit your dentist as soon as possible.
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