It’s challenging to start a new day with a good attitude when you have a throbbing pain in your jaw and a swollen cheek as an accessory; you can’t even drink a cold glass of water to calm down without receiving those sharp jolts through your teeth. In the best-case scenario, it could be just a routine toothache, or in one of the worst scenarios, it could be a dental abscess, an infection that will not let you sleep calmly.
What is a Dental Abscess?
A tooth abscess is a little pocket of pus that forms due to a bacterial infection. It often happens when a dental cavity isn’t treated or sometimes because of an injury or past dental work. This infection can lead to irritation and swelling, resulting in an abscess at the tip of the tooth root.
Signs of Dental Abscess
At South Plains Rural Health Services, we believe that overall health should always be a priority for every person. When we talk about oral health, we often encounter patients who ignore recommended practices to prevent oral infection and take their oral health for granted. Overlooking the signs of an infection is dangerous, so we have listed the ones that are more important to take into account:
1. Unrelenting Tooth Pain
The biggest clue that things might not be going as smoothly as we’d hope. A constant and nagging toothache can be one of the first signs of an abscess. If you find yourself feeling a radiating pain to your jaw, ear, or neck coming from a particular tooth- especially when you bite down or put pressure on it- it is a good idea to consider the possibility of a dental abscess.
2. Swelling in your Face
It is an annoying but easily detectable sign of dental abscess. It can generate swelling in your cheeks and around the infected tooth. When there is an infection, it’s normal that the gums surrounding the affected area get red, swollen, and tender.
3. Sensitivity to Hot and Cold Temperatures
When you have a dental abscess, the infection inflames your tooth’s nerves, making them hypersensitive. As you can imagine, it’s not a good idea to pressure them with chewing or expose them to extreme temperatures (Warm or Cold).
4. Bad Breath and Unpleasant Taste
The unpleasant taste is already a terrible punishment, but bad breath lets everyone in the room know how bad things are going in your mouth. If your bad breath (Halitosis) doesn’t improve with regular oral hygiene practices and you have an unpleasant taste in your mouth, this could be linked to a dental abscess. This happens in the presence of pus, bacteria, and decaying tissue, which emits a strong odor.
5. Pimple On Your Gums
Related closely to the second sign, among the swelling and tenderness of your gums, you can see the dental abscess itself in a pimple-like form. This is a clear sign of a dental abscess. We encourage you not to pop the bump since this can spread bacteria deeper into tissues. If you encounter this, we recommend that you visit us so we can help you.
Treatment for Dental Abscess: South Plains Rural Health Can Help You
Taking care of yourself is a courageous act. You deserve to be healthy in every aspect. At South Plains Rural Health Services, we are committed to providing compassionate and effective treatment. If you or someone you know is struggling with oral health issues, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We’re here to walk alongside you on your journey towards healing and recovery.
Contact South Plains Rural Health Services today. You can call us directly or schedule an appointment online using our convenient scheduling tool.