What is an Abscess?
An abscess is a mass of trapped infection. Generally containing Pus, bacteria and debris, they can appear in different areas of the body. Common locations are hair follicles, finger nail beds, and of course around teeth, these are referred to as a Dental Abscess or Tooth Abscess. The pressure of this mass building up puts pressure on the surrounding tissues causing pain and an inflammation.
What Causes a Tooth Abscess?
There are different causes and types of Tooth Abscess. They can appear at the root of the tooth stemming from an infection located inside the tooth or in the gum around the tooth stemming from bacteria that has accessed the pocket between the gum and tooth.
When the infection is at the root of the tooth often it is bacteria that has accessed the tooth through unchecked tooth decay or damage to the nerve and blood supply in the centre of the tooth. When the central nerve and blood supply is affected by either tooth decay or trauma the tissue then starts to die off becomes infected and pus builds up exiting at the root of the tooth.
What are the symptoms of a Tooth Abscess?
There are different causes and types of Tooth Abscess. They can appear at the root of the tooth stemming from an infection located inside the tooth or in the gum around the tooth stemming from bacteria that has accessed the pocket between the gum and tooth.
When the infection is at the root of the tooth often it is bacteria that has accessed the tooth through unchecked tooth decay or damage to the nerve and blood supply in the centre of the tooth. When the central nerve and blood supply is affected by either tooth decay or trauma the tissue then starts to die off becomes infected and pus builds up exiting at the root of the tooth.
Will a Tooth Abscess go away on its own?
While an abscess or infection may temporarily resolve on their own, often this is because the abscess has released some of the pus and the pressure has resolved. Without removing the cause of the infection, the likelihood of it reforming is very high. Sometimes taking oral antibiotics can resolve the infection and this can be a way of reducing pain in preparation for treating the infection or if you are unable to access a dentist. Unfortunately, this does not remove the source of the infection in most cases and often the infection reforms soon after the course of antibiotics is completed.
What is the treatment for a Tooth Abscess?
It is important in the treatment of a Tooth Abscess to remove the cause of the infection. For an abscess that has formed in the pocket between the gum and the tooth then often your dental professional with clean the side of the tooth and often apply an antibacterial solution. Sometimes this is accompanied with an oral antibiotic and always some advice on how to continue to keep this area clean.
