What to do in case of Acute tooth pain, also known as an abscess?
Approximately 8 out of 10 people will experience one or more episodes of sudden tooth pain. Tooth pain is often a source of concern; it can be sudden, less painful, or severe.
Here ‘s what you can do to better manage the pain of a tooth abscess.
Happy reading!😀
Any questions? remarks? Let’s meet in the comments section at the end of this article.🙏
Last updated: July 2024. Written by Juliet Semakula, a diagnostic radiographer.
Disclaimer: no affiliate links.
What is a tooth abscess?
Summary: A dental abscess is a build-up of pus in the teeth or gums caused by an infection. A dental abscess will not go away until you get help! It will need urgent treatment by a dentist.
▶️What are the different types of a dental abscess
Usually, dental abscess is classified based on where they form in your mouth.
🟣Gingival abscesses only occur in the gum tissue. They do not involve the teeth at all. They may occur if a sharp piece of food gets lodged directly into the gums and causes an infection.
Detected early, a gingival dental abscess is easy to treat and recover from.
🟣 Periodontal abscesses occur in the space between the teeth and the gums pockets. Since the pus does not have anywhere to drain, a periodontal tooth abscess can easily spread to surrounding bone and tissue.
🟣A periapical abscess is a pocket of infection around your tooth root. It happens when bacteria invade your tooth pulp, usually through a crack or cavity. The infection spreads down to the root of your tooth, causing inflammation and swelling. For this type of abscess, the only solution is to have a root canal to save the tooth.
Early diagnosis and appropriate intervention for periodontal abscesses in patients under supportive therapy are extremely important for the management of the periodontal abscess since this condition can lead to loss of the involved tooth. (Silva 2008)
▶️ What are the stages or progression of a tooth abscess?
Having looked at what an abscess is and where it can occur in your mouth.
Tooth abscesses don’t form overnight, there are multiple stages to formation. This process can take weeks or even months.
We should keep it in mind that an abscess happens gradually in stages. By the time you start feeling a dental problem, just know clearly that stages of an abscess have happened.
▶️How quickly does a tooth abscess progress?
1️⃣Enamel Decay
When you do not brush thoroughly enough to eliminate plaque.it can build-up along the gum line and around your tooth causing bacteria in the mouth which can develop into pus causing a dental abscess. The acid formed can erode the tooth enamel which starts decaying causing a cavity.
2️⃣Dentin Decay
The bacteria inside the cavity will continue to eat and decay inside the enamel until it enters the dentin (sub layer). That’s why you are always advised to visit your dentist to have the cavity filled.
3️⃣Tooth Pulp Infection
After the bacteria has destroyed the dentin, it can then enter the inner pulp of the tooth. When this happens, the nerves within the tooth die and the body’s immune system starts to attack the infection.
Pus then develops around the dying roots, causing the dental abscess.
4️⃣Abscess Formation
In the later stages of tooth decay, after the bacteria has entered the pulp of the tooth or made its way deeper into the gums or jawbone, you may notice pain surrounding the tooth, along with gum redness and swelling. A severe abscess can also trigger a fever.
5️⃣Tooth extraction
By this stage the abscess has reached a critical point, you will feel discomfort or throbbing pain which would typically alert you that a dental abscess has happened and prompt you to see your dentist.
You should never leave a dental abscess untreated, because it can further erode the bone, leading to tooth loss. It can get worse if you have a weakened immune system because the infection can spread to other body parts which is fatal.
Causing:
🟣Swelling of the gum over the infected tooth, which may look like a pimple.
🟣Swollen glands of the neck.
🟣Swollen area of the upper or lower jaw, which is a very serious symptom.
▶️How is a dental abscess treatment fixed?
Treatment of a dental abscess will depend on several factors:
⚫The initial location of the abscess.
⚫ Whether, and how much, the infection has spread.
⚫The extent of the immune system’s reaction to the infection.
case 1️⃣: Your dentist may simply need to make a small incision into the abscess to drain the pus out, then wash the area with a saline solution. Occasionally, a small rubber drain is placed to keep the area open for drainage while the swelling goes down.
Will a tooth abscess eventually burst?
For as long as you have the infection, the pus will continue to build up, which is why it tends to get more painful. Eventually the abscess may burst, or it may need to be drained.
Case 2️⃣: If your dental abscess has reached the inner pulp chamber, root canal of your tooth.
Then therapy is needed to clear bacteria from the tooth’s pulp chamber. A dental crown would then be placed to protect the remaining tooth.
Case 3️⃣: Alternatively, the tooth may need to be extracted and the abscess drained to prevent the infection from spreading further.
A course of antibiotics may be prescribed by your dentist, especially if the infection has spread to nearby teeth.
A tooth abscess won’t go away without treatment. If the abscess ruptures, the pain may improve a lot, making you think that the problem has gone away. But you still need to get dental treatment. If the abscess doesn’t drain, the infection may spread to your jaw and to other areas of your head and neck.
Most frequently asked questions on dental abscess by patients.
⏭️What causes sudden tooth and jaw pain when you have an abscess
⚫If your tooth affected cavities become larger extending into the deeper structures of the tooth and possibly into the tooth’s pulp or nerve without treatment.
This can cause pain that may radiate to other teeth or up the jaw.
⚫Also, a dental cavity may result in a dental abscess creating pus which will lead to sudden tooth and jaw pain.
⏭️Why does tooth pain come out of nowhere?
Tooth sensitivity: One of the most common reasons that you may experience sudden tooth pain is due to tooth sensitivity.
When the enamel on your teeth gets worn down, it can lead to exposed roots. This can cause sharp, sudden flashes of pain when eating or drinking things with either extremely high or extremely low temperatures.
⏭️Why is my tooth pain throbbing out of nowhere?
An infection in the tooth or gums can cause throbbing pain, as well as other symptoms, including swelling in the face or mouth. Tooth decay can linger on the sides or tops of your tooth enamel without being noticed for some time
Until you seek treatment for your cavity infections, the infection will not go away.
Throbbing pain can also happen following oral surgery or injuries to the mouth.
⏭️How can I sleep with unbearable tooth pain?
I have written a full article on how to deal with dental pain that is disturbing, you sleep. Follow this link for more:
⏭️ Home remedies to help with dental pain sleeping problems.
⏭️How serious is an abscess tooth?
In nearly all patients who come for x-ray for dental abscesses they are always in too much pain and swelling on the side of the tooth.
A dental abscess is considered as an emergency if not treated in a timely manner, the consequences are dire.
Not only can this infection cause tooth loss, but it can also travel to surrounding lymph nodes, the heart and even the brain causing sepsis.
When you start facing signs below from a tooth abscess, it could be potential signs of sepsis and it should be treated as a medical emergency.
⚫ A persistently high fever.
⚫ Dizziness, nausea and vomiting.
⚫Light-headedness and rapid heart rate.
⚫Shortness of breath
⚫ Digestive problems
⚫ Severe headache, Double vision and confusion.
⚫Difficulty opening the mouth (trismus)
⚫Difficulty swallowing and breathing.
⚫Swelling of the neck, cheeks or face
⚫ Painful mouth and tongue
⚫ Itching or burning sensation on the skin.
⏭️Will a tooth abscess go away with antibiotics?
Antibiotics alone won’t get rid of tooth infections, but you may need to take them in addition to having a dental procedure.
For example, draining the abscess, doing a deep cleaning, performing a root canal and pulling a tooth that can’t be saved are all primary treatments for a tooth infection.
Antibiotics will only help you treat any infection after treatment.
⏭️Is a tooth abscess an emergency?
Tooth abscess is absolutely a dental emergency. If you have a tooth abscess, you need to seek treatment immediately. Left untreated, abscess can lead to infection that spreads through the body causing serious and even life-threatening effects.
Anyone who suspects they have a tooth infection and notices any of these symptoms should make an appointment with our dentists right away:
Without prompt treatment, you may be at risk for developing infections in the blood vessels in the sinuses, the bone surrounding the tooth, the skin, and infections in the blood that could cause sepsis. A parapharyngeal abscess (an infection at the back of the mouth) can also form.
We have come to be end of this article, I hope I have answered some of the common questions. Wish you a quick recovery🙋
📚source:
Douglass AB, Douglass JM. Common dental emergencies. Am Fam Physician. 2003 Feb 1;67(3):511-6. PMID: 12588073.
Chung WC, Tu YK, Lin YH, Lu HK. Outcomes of auto transplanted teeth with complete root formation: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Clin Periodontal. 2014 Apr;41(4):412-23. doi: 10.1111/jcpe.12228. Epub 2014 Feb 10. PMID: 24393101.
Herrera D, Roldán S, Sanz M. The periodontal abscess: a review. J Clin Periodontol. 2000 Jun;27(6):377-86. doi: 10.1034/j.1600-051x.2000.027006377.x. PMID: 10883866.
Silva GL, Soares RV, Zenóbio EG. Periodontal abscess during supportive periodontal therapy: a review of the literature. J Contemp Dent Pract. 2008 Sep 1;9(6):82-91. PMID: 18784863.
Ho MR, Acevedo M, Baker JE. Tooth fairy abscess. J Emerg Med. 2008 Aug;35(2):207. doi: 10.1016/j.jemermed.2007.02.033. Epub 2007 Aug 29. PMID: 17976758.