A dental abscess is a pocket of pus caused by a bacterial infection in the tooth or gum. It does not heal on its own. If the pain suddenly subsides, it doesn't mean it has gone away, but often that the infection has progressed. Treatment involves eliminating the infection and restoring the tooth through root canal treatment or, when the tooth can no longer be saved, extraction.<\/p>\n
It all starts with a focus of infection. Food debris combined with saliva forms dental plaque, which attacks the enamel. If the plaque is not removed regularly, through brushing and flossing, the bacteria multiply and reach the soft tissue inside the tooth or gum. That is where the abscess forms.<\/p>\n
In the vast majority of cases, the abscess arises from an infected tooth, most often from a untreated tooth decay<\/a>. It can also arise from an injury inside the mouth, but much less frequently, because saliva has mildly antibacterial properties and wounds in the oral tissue usually heal on their own.<\/p>\n An abscess is not something specific to the mouth. The same infected swellings occur anywhere in the body where bacteria can accumulate. The immune system fights them, but rarely defeats them on its own.<\/p>\n They are divided into three categories, according to the site where the infection originates.<\/p>\n The infection starts from the space between the gum and the tooth. It appears from bacterial plaque at the gum line or from food debris left there.<\/p>\n The infection starts from the periodontal pocket, the pocket that forms between the tooth and the surrounding tissue. It affects the ligamentous support that holds the root fixed in the bone.<\/p>\n The infection starts from inside the tooth, at the tip of the root. Bacteria from untreated cavities reach the pulp and, via the root canal, spread into the tissues beneath the tooth. This type also occurs in teeth with old or defective fillings or dental work.<\/p>\n The classic sign is pain, felt most intensely in the area of the affected tooth, along with swelling of the gum and sometimes the face. But pain is not mandatory, and its absence does not mean everything is fine.<\/p>\n Other signs:<\/p>\n The infected tooth usually darkens in colour due to dead tissue penetrating the porous areas. The pink swelling on the gum, which looks like a spot, is a fistula: the body is trying to get rid of the bacteria on its own. It needs to be drained by a dentist.<\/p>\n There is also the situation where the tooth is infected and doesn't hurt at all. This usually means that the tooth has died and can no longer transmit pain signals.<\/p>\n When symptoms are absent, the abscess is discovered during a routine check-up or on dental X-ray<\/a>. The dentist may touch the tooth to check if it hurts.<\/p>\n Dental abscesses never heal on their own. The problem with infections at the root of the tooth is that they occur below the gum line, where saliva no longer has a cleansing effect. As the infection progresses, the pulp is destroyed and the jawbone begins to resorb.<\/p>\n Here is the trap: during this period the pain may decrease.<\/strong> Not because the situation is improving, but because as the bone is affected, the nerve in the area also deteriorates until it dies. Meanwhile, the destruction of the bone causes the tooth to no longer stay firmly in its socket, leading to its loss.<\/p>\n An untreated abscess can evolve in two directions. It can rupture through the gum and drain pus into the mouth, in which case the pain eases because the pressure drops, but the infection remains. Or it can advance into the bone, infect the surrounding tissue and affect neighbouring teeth.<\/p>\n Possible complications include maxillary sinusitis, when the abscess is on the upper teeth, and the spread of the infection into the blood. Severe cases are rare today, precisely because treatment is simple and accessible. But the risk increases in people with a weakened immune system.<\/p>\n The short answer: a little, and only temporarily. Home remedies do not treat an abscess and will not make it go away. They only serve to help you get through the time until your appointment.<\/p>\n Avoid painkillers containing aspirin. Aspirin thins the blood and makes treatment on the infected tooth more difficult.<\/p>\n Do not squeeze or try to burst the lump. A burst abscess spreading uncontrollably spreads the infection.<\/p>\n The doctor may start with antibiotics to reduce symptoms and control the fever, and prescribe painkillers for the period leading up to the actual treatment. If the abscess is difficult to diagnose, they may refer you to an endodontist, who specialises in conditions of the dental pulp.<\/p>\n If the infection started from inside the tooth, the dentist makes an opening through which the pus is drained. Next root canal treatment<\/a>, then a filling or a crown.<\/p>\n If the abscess is large, an opening is made in the gum through the bone, which provides an exit route for the pus and reduces the risk of spreading.<\/p>\nTypes of dental abscess<\/h2>\n
Gum abscess<\/h3>\n
Periodontal abscess<\/h3>\n
Periapical abscess<\/h3>\n
How do you know if you have an abscess<\/h2>\n
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What happens if you leave it untreated<\/h2>\n
What you can do until you see a doctor<\/h2>\n
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What happens at the surgery<\/h2>\n