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Last Updated on February 26, 2023
Tooth Abscess: Signs, Risk Factors & Treatment (Home Remedies And Antibiotics)
Dental Abscess – What is it exaclty?
It can manifest as a small lump in your mouth but it could not even be visible also. The best thing you can do is to visit your local dentist to make sure.
Dental Abscess Types (3 Types)?
Gingival Abscess
The gingival abscess is also referred as gum abscess. It forms on your gum line on the surface of the tissue. Most of the time it happens because of trauma to the gum like food stick in the gum line or some form of damage from a toothpick or floss. A gingival abscess is treatable easily if caught early. If it is not treated early, it could progress into a periodontal abscess.
Periodontal Abscess
The abscess form into a periodontal abscess when the puss forms in the gum pockets. It happens when the puss has nowhere to go so it just spreads to the surrounding areas or even in the jaw bone!
Periapical Abscess
This type of abscess form because of a tooth decay. It usually starts in the pulp of the tooth and bacterias can easily get into the pulp which is where the nerve and the blood supply of the tooth is.
Because the wisdom teeth are more difficult to clean, this type of abscess is common among them. Wisdom teeth also make it harder for the dentist to notice cavities on them because of their emplacement.
Dental Abscess Causes.
It is important to take good care of your teeth because this could lead to important problems including abscesses.
Everyone’s mouth has bacteria — it’s a natural occurrence. So if you’re not cleaning that bacteria out on a regular basis, that can lead to plaque buildup which can lead to tooth decay. When your teeth begin to decay, you could end up with a myriad of oral health issues.
Another risk factor is a poor diet. If you have a high-sugar diet (like candy and most carbonated beverages), you are at a higher risk for a tooth abscess.
If you have a weakened immune system for any reason, such as diabetes or an autoimmune disease, you are also at a higher risk of tooth abscess.
On top of tooth decay, other causes of teeth abscesses include:
- Gum disease
- A cracked or damaged tooth
- Complications from a dental procedure (like implants, root canal, cavity filling, etc)
- Food lodged in your gums and teeth crevices
Obviously, none of these risk factors or common causes mean you will definitely get an abscess, but you should be aware just in case.
Symptoms Of Tooth Abscess.
Here is a list of the most common symptoms when it comes to teeth abscess.
-Fever
-Pain when chewing
-Increased sensitivity to hot and cold foods
-Swollen and tender lymph nodes
-Persistent tooth pain
-Swelling of your cheek and/or face
-Salty fluid in your mood that tastes bad and smell bad.
Tooth Abscess Treatment With A Dentist.
If you have a simple abscess, the dentist will probably do a root canal to remove the infection and save the tooth. If it is a larger abscess, then the dentist might be required to do a drainage and then do the root canal. The dentist will make a small cut in your gums to release the puss and then will proceed to clean and rinse the area.
Once the dentist is done with the cutting procedure, he or she will seal up the area and place a crown on top of the tooth in order to protect it.
The worst case scenario possible is if your dentist can’t save your tooth and has to extract it completely.
There is a high chance that your dentist will prescribe you antibiotics in order to keep away possible infections. He might prescribe you amoxicillin, clindamycin or caphalexin.
Best home Remedies For Tooth Infection.
Is garlic good for tooth infection? Is it true? Well first of all make sure to talk to a dentist to make sure you don’t have a severe case that requires something more serious than home remedies.
However, here is a list of the best home remedies when it comes to tooth abscesses, and yes, garlic is quite good for tooth infection!
- Garlic. Garlic is great for tooth infection because it is a natural antibiotic. Just chew a fresh clove of garlic, mix half a teaspoon of garlic powder with a pinch of table salt and put it on the affected area for about 5-10 minutes. Make sure to rinse afterward and you can also rub garlic oil on the affected tooth.
- Apple cider vinegar has anti-inflammatory and cleaning properties that will help with the pain. Simple rinse your mouth with one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar.
- Hydrogen peroxide. It has disinfectant and antibacterial properties that can kill bacteria and can also help a lot with the pain. Simply mix it with one tablespoon of warm water, rinse, spit and repeat everyday.
- Rinse your mouth with one tablespoon of extra virgin coconut oil for at least 5 minutes.
- Rinse your mouth with salt water a few times per day.
- Turmeric is a natural antibiotic just like garlic! Simply mix one teaspoon of turmeric powder with water, making a paste. Rub the paste onto the affected tooth and let it sit for about 10 minutes.
- Oregano oil can help a lot because it is high in antioxidants. Just put a couple drops of it on the affected tooth and let is sit for about 10 minutes.
Tooth Abscess Pain.
The best way to remove the pain caused by the tooth abscess is to simply drain the pus, which means you will have to go to the dentist or to the endodontist.
To help with the pain it is recommended to get some over-the-counter medicine like ibuprofen.
Abscessed Tooth Potential Dangers And Complications.
An untreated abscess can become a huge problem if it is not taken care of properly. It could result in perforated bone and damaged soft tissue, and even lead to osteomyelitis and cellulitis and spread to other parts of the body.
An abscess that bursts inside the tooth or gum tissue can lead to an infection which could spread to the rest of your mouth tissue so be careful! It could even lead to a blood infection called septicemia or even worse, a brain abscess.
Tooth Abscess Prevention.
Here is a simple list of things you can do in order to prevent an abscessed tooth.
-Floss every day.
-Do not eat too many sugary foods and drinks.
-Visit your dentist twice per year.
-Brush your teeth twice per day with fluoride toothpaste.
Conclusion.
Again, a tooth abscess can lead to some serious complication if not treated properly. Of course if you have money to spend we will recommend you to go to the dentist but be aware that some of these home remedies are super efficient.
Garlic for tooth infection for example is a super good way to treat your abscess. We provided you with instructions in the home remedies section.
