Dental Abscess Symptoms

What is a Dental Abscess?

An abscess is a pocket of pus that forms in your body’s tissues because of an infection (generally a bacterial infection). Dental abscesses affect the teeth and adjacent jaw tissue where you’ve had a tooth or gum infection.

There are two significant types of abscesses:

Periapical Abscess

This type of dental abscess occurs near the tip of the tooth root and is most common in children (especially children with poor dental hygiene).

These occur when the enamel and dentin erode, allowing bacteria to enter the pulp. When the pulp becomes inflamed, it can kill off nerves in the tooth, and the dead tissue becomes more vulnerable to infections.

Periapical abscesses are common in people who have long-term pulpitis, an inflammatory condition caused by bacteria buildup from cavities.

Periodontal Abscess

This type of dental abscess is most common in adults, as it is usually a byproduct of gum disease or tooth injury.

It typically starts in the alveolar bone and periodontium after the tooth becomes loose or inflamed. The pocket that forms between the tissue and the tooth is vulnerable to bacterial infections, which can form periodontal abscesses.

There is also a third type, pericoronitis, which is far less common. This type of abscess affects the operculum (gum flap) that covers a tooth that has not yet erupted through the gum.

All abscesses happen inside the tooth, as your teeth are made up of various layers.

The enamel is the outermost protective layer, which covers a softer protective layer called the dentin. But underneath them is the pulp, which holds the tooth’s nerves and blood vessels.

The pulp makes up the center of the tooth, which connects it to the jawbone. The pulp can become infected if bacteria gets inside, which can occur with cavities.

Symptoms of a Dental Abscess

Dental abscesses can be uncomfortable and even very painful if left untreated.

The symptoms of a dental abscess include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Inflammation surrounding the tooth
• Swelling surrounding the tooth
• Redness in the infected area and surrounding tissues
• Toothache
• Soft tissue feels tender in the infected area
• Bleeding gum tissue
• Tooth feels loose in jaw
• Sensitivity to hot foods and beverages 
• Sensitivity to cold foods and beverages
• Sensitivity to pressure/when tapping on tooth
• Slight raise of the tooth
• Swollen lymph nodes in the neck
• Loss of appetite
• Inability to chew
• Feeling generally sick
• Fever

Not everyone will experience all of the above symptoms. The quicker you catch the dental abscess, the milder your symptoms will likely be.

By regularly keeping tabs on your dental health, you’re sure to catch cavities that could lead to abscesses before they do.

Serious Symptoms of Abscessed Tooth 

An abscessed tooth infection can spread if the infected tooth is left untreated. If the pulp becomes infected, it can quickly spread to the jaw's bone to which it's attached.

If there is plaque (tooth decay) or you have gingivitis in the area of the dental abscess, either could exacerbate the infection, as well.

In severe dental infection cases, an abscessed tooth can cause the following symptoms:

• Throbbing pain in the mouth, face, and jaw
• Collection of pus
• Lockjaw
• Difficulty swallowing due to pain and swelling
• Difficulty speaking due to pain and swelling
• Difficulty breathing due to swelling
• Dehydration
• Fever (100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher)
• Swelling of other areas of the mouth, face, and jaw
• Severe pain that does not respond to over-the-counter painkillers like ibuprofen

If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms, you should contact your dentist immediately.

The longer you let a dental abscess go untreated, the worse these symptoms can get. If breathing becomes too difficult or your fever becomes too high, that’s when a dental abscess can become life-threatening.

Causes of Dental Abscess

Dental abscesses can happen to anyone. It occurs most commonly when you have a cavity that erodes through the enamel and dentin of your tooth, exposing the pulp to bacteria. But some people develop abscesses in teeth that haven’t yet erupted through the gum.

If you don’t brush your teeth, floss, or visit your general dentist at least twice annually, you increase your chances of developing a dental abscess or periodontal disease. The better you take care of your teeth, the healthier they’ll be.

Tooth Abscess Treatment Options

If you treat your dental abscess correctly, it is not life-threatening. Dentists can typically treat dental abscesses easily with antibiotics and/or a root canal. However, if the infection spreads and becomes more severe, you may need further treatment like an extraction and drainage of the swelling.

A root canal treatment involves removing dead and infected pulpal tissue from the affected tooth. Typically, the dentist will administer a local anesthetic to numb the parts of the mouth affected by the abscess for pain relief. After cleaning out the pulp, the dentist will smooth it out and replace the pulp with a filling.

If the infection is too severe and has spread, the dentist will likely prescribe antibiotics to kill off the bacteria. Antibiotics used to treat dental infections typically include penicillin and amoxicillin, though other options are available.

As always, practicing proper oral hygiene by:

• Brushing your teeth with a toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste at least twice a day
• Flossing daily
• Avoiding sugary foods
• Going to regular dental check-ups

Following these routines can help prevent abscesses from happening. Your dental health is important. The more you look after your teeth, the less you’ll have to worry about painful problems or costly dental procedures down the line.

Dental Abscess Healing Time

Root canals can usually be done in an hour or less. But you may still feel pain and tenderness in the area for a few days, and it can take a few weeks for your tooth to fully heal. Your dentist will schedule check-ups with you to make sure that you are healing properly. 

An extraction will be the definitive treatment option to clear up the infected tooth. Once extracted, the infection will naturally drain through the empty socket. It can take several days for an abscess to completely heal. 

While you may take time to recover from a dental abscess, there are some signs of which you should be aware that your dental abscess is not healing correctly.

You may still have an infection if you are experiencing:

• Extreme pain that isn’t going away with painkillers
• You have had or develop a fever
• You have had or develop difficulty eating, speaking, or breathing

When to Seek Emergency Treatment for Dental Abscess

If you are experiencing any of the above severe symptoms of a dental abscess, contact a dentist immediately.

While you may not be able to get to a dentist right away, an emergency visit to the hospital can at least get you the right antibiotics to keep the infection under control until a dentist can drain the abscess.