Just like any other part other of our body, we can injure the inside of our mouth. If this happens, bacteria can potentially enter and cause an infection—which can lead to a painful swelling filled with pus. If the pus can’t escape the area will become even more swollen and painful. This is known as an abscess. Essentially, an abscess is a barrier that keeps the infection from spreading to the rest of your body.

There are two types of abscesses that can form. First is a gum abscess. This is an infection that occurs in between the tooth and the gum. The second kind of abscess is a tooth related abscess and it occurs in your actual tooth. This happens when the nerve is dead or dying and shows itself at the tip of the root.

These are several symptoms of an abscess. These symptoms include a fever, pain when chewing, sensitivity to hot or cold, a bitter taste in your mouth, bad breath, swollen neck glands, discomfort, redness or swelling of your gums, and could be more.

The treatments for an abscessed tooth vary, but the end goal our dentist will have in mind is to get rid of the infections, preserve as much of the tooth as possible and to prevent further complications in your mouth. If extensive enough, root canal therapy may be necessary and a crown will be placed on top.

If you worry that you may have an abscessed tooth, we recommend getting to our dentist right away. Dr. [doctor_name] and our team are highly qualified and will help with any issue you may have. Just call [practice_name] at [phone] to schedule an appointment. We are eager to hear from you.