Abscessed Tooth (Symptons and Cause)

An abscess in the tooth refers to an infection that was caused by a pocket of pus residing in the tissue around the tooth.  Abscesses are very serious conditions, and can lead to serious matters if they aren’t treated immediately.  When the pulp of a tooth dies due to damage or decay, bacteria will begin to grow from the dead tissue that is left.  This bacteria will eventually spread from the root of the dead tooth into the tissue that is below and create a pocket of pus - the abscess.  

Gum disease is also a cause for a tooth becoming abscessed.  Gum diseases causes the gums to pull back and away from teeth, leaving pockets behind.  When one of the pockets becomes blocked, the bacteria can grow and spread, or get backed up.  When this happens, an abscess will start to form under the surface of the gums and become apparent will swelling as it gets bigger and spreads.

Once the infection has started to spread, your jawbone may start to dissolve as it makes room for the swelling in the area that has been infected.  Once the bone starts to dissolve, the pressure will be greatly reduced, although the infection will still be there.  Even though you will get relief, the infection will get worse - and the pain will always come back.  Once more of the bone has been dissolved, there will be nothing left to support the tooth, meaning that it will become loose and end up needing to be extracted.

The symptoms of an abscessed tooth are easy to see, as they include severe pain in the affected area, red or swollen gums, a bad taste in your mouth, swelling around the area or the jaw, and possibly a high fever.  Pain is excruciating with an abscess, normally affecting the area in a bad way.  No matter what you do, the pain seems to intensify.  

What are the symptoms?

The main symptom of an abscessed tooth is throbbing pain near a tooth or in your gums. The pain usually comes on suddenly and gets worse over time.

Other symptoms include:

1. pain that radiates to your ear, jaw, or neck
2. pain that gets worse when you lie down
3. pain when chewing or biting
4. facial redness and swelling
5. swollen, red gums
6. tooth sensitivity
7. discolored or loose teeth
8. bad breath
9. foul taste in your mouth
10. tender or swollen lymph nodes in your neck or under your jaw
11. fever

If an abscess ruptures, you’ll feel almost immediate pain relief. You might also notice a sudden bad taste in your mouth as the pus drains out.

Abscesses mostly occur with back teeth, although they can happen in the front as well.  Once your tooth has become abscessed, your dentist won’t immediately pull it.  If a tooth that has abscessed is extracted once the infection is still present, it can quickly spread.  Your dentist will instead prescribe you some antibiotics that can help to destroy the bacteria.  

What causes it?

Bacteria getting into your teeth or gums leads to a dental abscess. However, the way this happens depends on the type of abscess:

1. Periapical abscess. Bacteria enter the pulp within your teeth, usually through a cavity. Pulp refers to the soft, inner part of your tooth. This is made up of nerves, connective tissue, and blood vessels.
2. Periodontal abscess. Gum disease usually causes this type, but it can also be the result of an injury.
3. Gingival abscess. A foreign body, such as a popcorn hull or toothbrush bristle, gets embedded in your gums.

The dentist can also perform a root canal, in an attempt to remove dead or decayed tissue.  Last but not least, he can also drill a hole in the tooth to give the infection a chance to drain and try to remove any dead pulp.  The most common treatment with an abscess is to use antibiotics to kill the infection, then get the tooth removed.  You should never let it get that bad - as an abscess is something that can destroy your jawbone.