Abscesses are often painful. Although many will have symptoms such as toothache leading up to their arrival, experiencing one for the first time might take you by surprise. If you have an abscess, it's important to resolve it quickly. Understanding more about them and ways to treat them is a big help.
What is an Abscess?
Dental abscesses are infections that form inside the teeth, gums or bone. The infection grows out of control and results in a pocket of pus. In addition to noticing a swelling, you're likely to experience throbbing pain in the area. The pain may radiate to your ear on the affected side, as well as your jaw and neck. In some cases, you may develop a fever and flu-like symptoms.
It's never wise to ignore an abscess, as they can result in a systemic blood infection. When the abscess is in the canine area, it may result in a serious eye infection too.
What Should You Do When You Find an Abscess?
Your first step should be to make an appointment with your emergency dentist. If your usual dentist doesn't have any same-day appointment slots, consider calling someone who specialises in emergency cases.
If you're in a lot of pain, try taking ibuprofen. As ibuprofen directly disrupts some of the chemicals that make swellings worse, it's the best over-the-counter pain relief you can use for an abscess. However, if you can't take it because you have a condition such as asthma, try paracetamol instead.
You can also reduce your pain by limiting the amount of hot and cold foods you eat. Abscesses often result in tooth sensitivity, especially to different temperatures.
Rinsing your mouth with a saltwater solution may also help. It may not have much of an effect on the bacteria present, but the salt can draw some fluids away from the area by osmosis. This reduces the swelling, which then makes the abscess less painful.
What Does an Emergency Dentist Do for Abscesses?
How your dentist treats your abscess will depend on its location and severity. Common approaches include using a root canal to clear away the infection, draining the pus with an incision and extracting the infected tooth. In almost all cases, they'll provide you with antibiotics to take to prevent the infection returning. Make sure you ask them about whether it's safe to drink alcohol, as you cannot drink with common dental antibiotics such as metronidazole.
Always make sure you respond to your abscess quickly to reduce the chances of losing the affected tooth. After it's resolved, address elements of your dental hygiene that may have contributed to it.
Share16 July 2019
As a mother, I've seen my kids' faces light up after they've lost a tooth – oh, the excitement they feel about getting their grown up teeth! However, I've also seen my kids become extremely scared and anxious after having an adult tooth knocked out. If you're a mom or a dad with a busy kid, chances are you might see a tooth knocked out in a skateboarding accident or a sport pile-up. This blog is dedicated to those moments when you could lose your wits, and it's here to ensure you don't. I am collecting and curating the best information about kids and dental emergencies here so that you will have it when you need it. Best of luck with your kids' smiles!
