An abscessed tooth involves a pocket of pus forming in a part of the tooth as a result of a bacterial infection. The pain can be moderate to severe, and sometimes radiates to a person’s ear(s) or neck.

Pain

If you have a throbbing pain near a tooth or in your gums, and that pain came on suddenly and seems to be getting worse over time, you might have an abscessed tooth. What are some other signs of this kind of tooth problem? If you have pain radiating to your ear(s), jaw or neck, or pain that gets worse when you lie down, you might have an abscessed tooth. If you have facial redness/swelling, or swollen/red gums, those are other possible signs. When you chew or bite, if there’s pain, that’s yet another sign. And then there are plenty of others: tooth sensitivity, bad breath, a foul taste in your mouth, tender/swollen lymph nodes in your neck, and/or a fever… These are all red flags.

Should an abscess rupture on its own, you’ll feel relief immediately. You’ll also notice a bad taste in your mouth as the pus drains out.

Relief

If you suspect you have an abscessed tooth, or aren’t too sure “what’s going on,” see a dentist at Brockport Dental. Whether it has ruptured or not, get the area professionally checked and cleaned. You don’t want an infection to spread, so it’s important to have a dentist intervene– and you might even need to go to the emergency room if the tooth is associated with facial swelling, high fever, difficulty swallowing and a rapid heart rate.

For more info about abscessed teeth, contact Brockport Dental at 585-636-0555. Brockport Dental is located at 1000 Transit Way #200 in Brockport, New York. To schedule an appointment, see this page.