{"id":2566,"date":"2016-12-14T08:16:02","date_gmt":"2016-12-14T07:16:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dentaly.org\/uk\/?page_id=2566"},"modified":"2024-11-29T04:12:31","modified_gmt":"2024-11-29T03:12:31","slug":"tooth-abscess-information","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.dentaly.org\/en\/tooth-abscess-information\/","title":{"rendered":"Dental Abscess Guide: Tooth Infection Symptoms, Causes and Treatments."},"content":{"rendered":"

Are you worried you might have a tooth abscess<\/strong>? Perhaps someone you know has an abscess in their mouth and you want to know what exactly that means, and how you can avoid a similar tooth infection. <\/p>

In this article, we’ll explain what causes gum boils and infections, how to spot tooth abscess symptoms, and what dental abscess treatment usually involves.<\/p>

We’ll also give you some tips for avoiding an abscessed tooth in the first place. It’s worth following this advice to reduce your chances of a painful infection and uncomfortable treatment.<\/p>

Would you like to speak to a dentist right now<\/strong> about your problem? You can chat online with a dentist and get an answer to your question \u2013 often within minutes \u2013 by visiting JustAnswer<\/a>. All their dentists are based in the US and are fully qualified. Tell them about your situation and they will be able to advise you on the best course of action.<\/p>

Chat online with a dentist now<\/a><\/div>

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If you’re in real pain and don’t have time to read this whole article, call NHS111 for advice on what to do.<\/p>

What is a tooth abscess?<\/h2>
\"Tooth
Are you worried you might have an abscessed tooth?<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>

An abscess is a pocket of pus<\/strong> that accumulates when a bacterial infection breaks down tissue. Abscesses can form in many different parts of the body, including in the mouth. <\/p>

They are a natural defence mechanism, the aim being to block the infection from reaching other areas. The resulting build-up of pus is usually very painful<\/strong> due to the pressure this fluid exerts on nerve endings.<\/p>

When it comes to mouth abscesses, both the gums and the teeth themselves are at risk. An abscess in the mouth can erode the periodontal structure (which supports the teeth) and the jaw bone, causing irreparable damage. In some cases, the affected tooth has to be extracted<\/a>.<\/p>

By understanding tooth abscess symptoms and seeking professional treatment as soon as you become concerned, you can reduce the chances of further infection and complications or other oral health problems<\/a>.<\/p>

What does an abscessed tooth look like?<\/h3>

If you think you may have an abscess, you might be searching for tooth abscess pictures so you can check your symptoms. Keep in mind that not all abscesses are externally visible<\/strong>, so don’t be put off visiting your dentist just because you can’t see any outward signs of infection in your mouth.<\/p>

While some dental abscesses may appear as small lumps inside the mouth (as in the image below), they may also result in much greater swelling either in the mouth or on the face. If you have a swollen face and oral pain, a tooth abscess may be the cause.<\/p>

Tooth abscess stages pictures<\/h4>

If you’re curious to know what an abscess in the mouth can look like, below you’ll find some tooth and gum abscess stages pictures<\/strong>. These show the internal and external symptoms of a tooth infection that’s resulted in an abscess.<\/p>

External symptoms<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/td>

Internal symptoms<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/td><\/tr>

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Facial swelling<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/td>

Swelling around a molar<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/td><\/tr>

<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/td>

<\/span> <\/div><\/div><\/td><\/tr>

Swollen lymph nodes<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/td>

Hole in the roof of the mouth<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/td><\/tr>

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Discoloured tooth<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/td>

Child gum abscess<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div><\/div>

Remember, even if your mouth doesn’t look exactly like this, you should still visit a dentist if you’re worried.<\/p>

Types of dental abscess<\/h2>

There are three main types of mouth abscesses<\/strong>: gingival, periodontal and periapical. The distinguishing factor for each one is the location where the abscess forms.<\/p>

Gum abscess (Gingival abscess)<\/h3>
\"tooth
Different parts of the tooth are susceptible to infection<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>

A gingival abscess, or gum abscess, forms on the surface of the tissue at the gum line of the teeth (gingiva). This is often a result of external damage to the gum, for example from food entering the gumline or penetration from a toothpick.<\/p>

If caught early, an abscess on the gum is relatively easy to treat and recover from. If left untreated, however, a gum boil can progress to a periodontal abscess and cause greater oral damage.<\/p>

Periodontal abscess<\/h3>

A periodontal abscess occurs deeper into the gum pockets. Since there is nowhere for pus to drain, the abscess spreads into the surrounding tissue and jaw bone.<\/p>

Periapical abscess<\/h3>

These begin in the soft tooth pulp, usually as a result of decay deep inside the tooth. Once tooth decay has eroded the protective enamel and dentin of the tooth, bacteria can invade the nerves and tooth pulp (a condition known as pulpitis<\/a>).<\/p>

Pus from this mouth infection may appear at the gum line of the tooth, but more commonly it ends up in surrounding tissue which becomes inflamed.<\/p>

Wisdom tooth abscess<\/h3>

A common type of periapical abscess is a wisdom tooth abscess, since the very back teeth are harder to clean so are more susceptible to infection. In addition, it’s harder for your dentist to spot cavities on these teeth and treat them early on.<\/p>

What causes an abscessed tooth?<\/h2>

Your mouth naturally contains bacteria, and when not cleaned well this forms plaque on your teeth and gums. Teeth infections develop when the acid produced by plaque starts to decay the teeth, reaching the pulp tissue and spreading to the tissues around the root.<\/p>

The main tooth abscess cause is untreated <\/strong>tooth decay <\/strong>that’s left to spread. Other possible reasons for infection include:<\/p>