What Does a Tooth Abscess Look Like? – Dentist in Bucks County
If you’ve been experiencing pain when you eat or brush your teeth, you’ve probably wondered what’s wrong. Could it be a break? An infection? What about an abscessed tooth? Only some people know what an abscessed tooth looks like. Let’s look at abscessed tooth condition and how a Dentist in Bucks County can help you.
What Is a Tooth Abscess
An abscessed tooth, or dental abscess as it’s known in dentistry, is a pocket of pus that forms in the tooth. The pus is made up of a mix of white blood cells, dead tissue, and bacteria and is typically caused by a bacterial infection. We see two kinds of tooth abscesses at Absolute Smile, periapical abscesses that develop at the root and periodontal abscesses that occur on the side of the root in the gum.
Risk Factors for a Dental Abscess
A dental abscess is a common oral health problem. Several risk factors can lead to the underlying infection that causes the abscess to form, including,
- Poor oral hygiene
- A sugary diet
- Dry mouth
- Periodontal disease
Signs of a Tooth Abscess
A tooth abscess is hard to ignore. While symptoms may begin mild, if untreated, they worsen over time. Some of the symptoms you may feel include,
- Severe, persistent, and throbbing pain
- Pain that radiates from tooth to jawbone, neck, or ear
- Sensitivity around your tooth or gum
- Foul taste in your mouth
- Difficulty swallowing or breathing
In addition to these sensations, an abscess usually has visual symptoms as well. Often the gums will be red and swollen. Often, you’ll also feel tenderness in your jaw, face, or cheek near the area of the abscess.
Does a Tooth Abscess Require Surgery?
Treatment of a tooth abscess depends on the severity of the infection. The sooner you identify the abscess and visit your dentist, the more likely you won’t need surgery to treat it. You also lower your risk of the infection spreading to other teeth. Typically, we treat a tooth abscess one of two ways,
Non-surgical root canal
During this procedure, we remove the pulp from the tooth and infected root, disinfect the area, and fill and seal the root canal.
Endodontic Surgery
We may need to use endodontic surgery to save your tooth in severe abscesses. Here, we open the gum to reveal the infected area. We remove infected tissue and fill and seal the canal to prevent reinfection.
Dentist in Bucks County – How Do I Prevent a Tooth Abscess?
The best way to prevent a tooth abscess is to take care of your teeth and mouth. This means,
- Brushing and flossing your teeth regularly
- Avoiding sugary foods
- Eating foods healthy for your teeth and general health
- Keeping your regular dental cleaning and checkup appointments
Are You Looking for a Family Dentist in Bucks County?
It’s always a good time of the year for your dental checkup. Whether you’re a little behind on your checkups or haven’t been to the dentist in years, Absolute Smile is here for you. Contact us for an appointment for you and your whole family.
