Dental abscess is defined as an infection that is usually caused by untreated tooth decay or gingivitis, or by a severe pulp injury, such as a fracture. The result is an accumulation of purulent substances, which often cause pain and, therefore, require immediate dental care to prevent the tooth from falling out and the spread of the infection to adjacent areas or even to the bones of the face and paranasal sinuses. If you have to wait a day or two for your visit to the dentist, there are some treatments you can use to relieve the discomfort caused by the abscess.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Waiting for Dental Care
Step 1. Contact your dentist
If you suspect a dental abscess, you should first make an appointment for a dental visit. Symptoms include fever, pain when chewing, unpleasant taste in the mouth, persistent bad breath, swollen lymph nodes in the neck, red and swollen gums, tooth discoloration, swollen jaw or jaw, or an open sore filled with pus on the gum.
- The tooth abscess is not necessarily painful because, in its final stage, the infection involves necrosis of the pulp within the root and, at that point, the tooth becomes numb. This does not mean that the problem is solved. The infection is still present and, if left untreated, causes further damage.
- Depending on the immune system and the bacteria causing the infection, an abscess can also cause facial deformities due to the constant accumulation of exudate in the tissues.
Step 2. Rinse with warm salty water
Do this after eating to prevent any food particles from further irritating the infected area. This way, you may also feel momentary pain relief.
- Mix 5g of salt in 250ml of warm (not hot) water and shake the solution in your mouth, then spit it out and repeat.
- Remember that salt water rinses do NOT cure a tooth abscess, even if they make you feel better. You still need to get checked by your dentist as your symptoms can worsen significantly if it's a rapidly spreading anaerobic infection.
Step 3. Take an over-the-counter pain reliever to manage pain and fever
Paracetamol (Tachipirina,) naproxen (Momendol) and ibuprofen (Moment or Brufen) help relieve toothache while waiting for the dentist's appointment.
- Take these medications according to the directions in the package insert, even if they do not completely relieve the pain.
- Be aware that they also lower your body temperature, so they can mask the fever caused by the infection. When taking them, keep an eye out for any symptoms that may indicate a resurgence of the infectious state.
Step 4. Don't hesitate to treat yourself if you have severe symptoms
It is possible that the infection of one tooth spreads rapidly and affects not only the surrounding ones, but also the whole organism. If you have any of the following symptoms, go to the emergency room immediately: noticeable increase in size of the abscess, swelling of the jaw or face, widespread swelling of the face or neck, paleness, fever, lightheadedness, loss of strength, vision problems, chills, nausea, vomiting, worsening or intolerable pain that does not relieve with over-the-counter medications.
Part 2 of 2: Get Medical Treatment
Step 1. Have the abscess examined and drained
Your dentist will most likely try to drain the abscess first by making a small incision, usually after anesthetizing the sore area, to allow pus to drain. After that, he will further evaluate the problem to determine the most suitable treatment.
Sometimes anesthesia is not necessary if the patient is not in pain. Purulent exudate may partially drain from a small lesion in the gum called a fistula
Step 2. Undergo devitalization
Your dentist will likely recommend this procedure, which will be done at their office or by a specialist. It consists of drilling the tooth, removing the diseased pulp, completely sterilizing the root canal, filling and sealing the internal cavity, filling the tooth by creating an inlay or even a crown when there is not enough dental element. Teeth undergoing this procedure can, with proper care, remain intact for the rest of life.
Step 3. Have the tooth extracted
In some cases, it is not possible to carry out devitalization and in its place it is necessary to remove the tooth. The extraction takes only a few minutes. The dentist will proceed to administer local anesthesia, then will remove all the gum tissue surrounding the tooth. Then he will use the forceps to grasp the latter and loosen it by swinging it, before pulling it out.
- Take care of the socket after the abscess. In this regard, the dentist will provide you with detailed instructions that you will need to follow correctly. They include: using gauze to control blood loss on the first day, letting blood clot in the alveolus, and keeping the mouth clean during the healing process.
- Call your dentist right away or return to their office if you have unstoppable bleeding or incessant pain.
Step 4. Take all prescribed antibiotics
They are essential in the treatment of the abscess because they allow the infection to be eradicated, preventing its reappearance. They can also help prevent pain from denuded bone (post-extraction alveolitis).
Step 5. Remember that a tooth abscess is a serious and dangerous accumulation of pus
It is important to take care of it correctly. If you don't have the money, try going to a clinic that has an agreement with the national health service and remember that any serious dentist should extract teeth for no more than € 50.
- If the abscess is visible, the pus-containing sac can be seen and touched on the gums. In this case, the dentist will not be able to extract the affected tooth right away. You will need to take an antibiotic for two days first to reduce the risk of bacteremia.
- Don't hesitate to go to the emergency room if you have symptoms of a serious infection. Doctors will likely not be able to cure the tooth, but the hospital is obligated to treat the infection.
