How Do I Know If I Have a Tooth Abscess?
Are you dealing with an intense toothache? Are you noticing some swelling in your gums or your jaw or a tooth that is changing color? You might even find it difficult to open your mouth or you have bad breath or a sour taste in your mouth. These symptoms are indicative that you most likely have a tooth infection.
Every tooth is full of live nerves. This is why a toothache can be so painful. Sometimes the pain can also be caused by a more critical oral health issue.
A tooth abscess is a pus pocket that is located on the surface of your gums, or below the surface on the tips of the roots. It is caused by a bacterial infection and should be treated promptly. A tooth abscess will not just go away on its own.
Untreated infections and tooth abscesses can lead to life-threatening conditions because it is possible for the infection to spread into your blood and your body. Without treatment, you will also risk losing the tooth.
The Symptoms of a Tooth Infection
Here is a variety of symptoms of a tooth infection or tooth abscess:
- An increased sensitivity to hot, cold, acidic, or sugary food or drink.
- The tooth begins to change color.
- A swelling around a tooth that looks like a pimple. This pimple can be an abscess which is an infection-filled pocket full of pus and bacteria.
- Throbbing mouth pain. As the infection spreads, the swelling and increased bacteria put pressure on your gums and jaw.
- Swelling of your gums, jaw, face, or surrounding lymph nodes.
- Bad breath or a foul taste in your mouth.
- Headaches.
- A draining sore in the gum near the tooth.
- It becomes more difficult to move your jaw and open your mouth, making it difficult to speak or eat.
- The pain increases when you lie down.
- An accompanying earache.
- A fever because your body is fighting an infection.
- Feeling sick, which might include bodily symptoms unrelated to the tooth pain, such as body aches or flu-like symptoms.
Common Causes of a Tooth Infection
- A cavity or untreated decay.
- Poor daily oral hygiene practices at home.
- An injury to your teeth or gums.
- A cracked or chipped tooth.
- A diet with excessive sugar or acidic foods.
- Damaged dental work.
- A weakened immune system.
- The habit of smoking.
- A dry mouth, which can result in an increased breeding ground for bacteria.
- An excessive buildup of plaque.
See Your Dentist if You Have Any Symptoms
An abscess will not go away on its own. If left untreated, it can even spread to your body. Your dentist will quickly treat the infected tooth by draining the pus, then possibly a root canal or tooth extraction with antibiotics.
Your infection may be accompanied by a fever, which is your body trying to naturally fight it. Even if the pain does dissipate, this does not mean the infection is gone. A tooth infection will destroy the nerves which are causing the tooth pain, spreading the infection further if left untreated.