Reducing the Risk of Developing a Tooth Abscess

A tooth abscess is becoming more common because individuals are either not aware of it or ignore symptoms that lead to it. Most individuals only care about the aesthetics of their teeth when it comes to oral care. While that is important, there are numerous oral problems that can occur if you don’t take care of your oral health. A tooth abscess occurs due to a bacterial infection leading to the formation of pus on the teeth, usually at the tip of it.

What causes tooth abscess?

Your mouth consists of millions of bacteria. Bad oral hygiene gives bacteria the chance to feed off food particles leftover to produce acid which leads to plaque. The build-up of plaque results in numerous dental problems which include tooth abscess. Essentially, tooth abscess is caused by:

• Poor oral hygiene can result in an infection leading to gum disease such as gingivitis increasing the chance of tooth abscess.
• A cracked tooth which allows bacteria to travel into the pulp and other parts of the tooth.
• Complications in prior dental treatment such as implant, extraction, or root canal.

Since infection is the main cause behind tooth abscess, people who generally have good oral hygiene can avoid it. But as mentioned above, at times dental treatment complications can still lead to tooth abscess so it is important that you are aware of common tooth abscess symptoms.

What are the common symptoms of a tooth abscess?

Like most infections, one of the first common signs of tooth abscess is tooth pain. To help you determine whether you have a tooth abscess or just pain from brushing too hard, you need to look out for the following symptoms: 

• Throbbing pain that doesn’t stop.
• Pain increases when you tap your tooth.
• Tooth sensitivity increases and you feel pain when having something hot/cold.
• Discomfort when you chew.
• You experience bitterness in the mouth, which could be from the pus draining.
• Bad breath caused by the infection.
• Swollen or bleeding gums.
• Discoloration of the tooth.
• A small bump inside your mouth, usually in the gums.

If the infection is not treated and gets more serious, it can lead to:

• Diarrhea and nausea
• Difficulty trying to open your mouth
• Headache and fever
• Fatigue

The infection works rapidly and once the tooth is infected, you will feel throbbing pain within a few hours. The best method to diagnose tooth abscess is to go for a dental check-up. Your dentist will not only diagnose it but also guide you on how to deal with the infection whether it will be through medications or in more serious cases root canal.

How can you prevent tooth abscess? 

The key methods to prevent tooth abscess are:

• Good oral hygiene: like with most oral problems, good dental hygiene can help prevent tooth abscess. This means, brushing twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste which helps fight plaque build-up. You also need to floss at least once to ensure you get food particles out from between your teeth and the gum line.
• A healthy diet: you need a well-balanced diet that is low on sugar to prevent oral problems. Sugary and starchy food give bacteria the chance to build plaque, which is something you want to avoid.
• Regular visits to your dentist: it is important that you see your dentist every 6 months to ensure good oral health. They can catch any oral problems that may be on the verge of striking to help you prevent and combat them.