Abscess
When the inside of your mouth gets hurt or if it gets irritated then bacteria may enter. This can cause an infection, swelling, and pus. If the pus can not be drained then the area will get even more swollen and painful. This is an abscess. Your body forms an abscess in order to prevent an infection from spreading.
An abscess can form quickly. They can form one to two days after the infection began. There are two types of abscesses, the gum abscess and the tooth-related abscess. A gum abscess is also known as a periodontal abscess. This is caused by an infection in the space between the teeth and the gums. The infection can happen after food gets trapped in between the gum and the tooth. For people with severe periodontal disease, germs can easily build up under the gums.
A tooth-related abscess is also known as a periapical abscess. This occurs inside the tooth. This occurs when the tooth's nerve is dying or is already dead. This kind of abscess shows up at the tip of the tooth's root and can spread to the nearby bone.
Most abscesses are painful so people have it treated right away. Some people will ignore the pain and hope that it will go away on its own. In some cases, the infection does not cause any pain at all. If an abscess is not treated immediately, it can last for months and may continue for years.
If the abscess is not treated, it can damage the nearby tissues and teeth. Scar tissue can cause a hollow tunnel under the skin. This is called a fistula or a sinus tract. Pus from this abscess can drain through this tunnel all the way up to an opening at the surface. You may see or feel this opening inside your mouth because it looks and feels like a pimple. If the pus is draining through the fistula then you will notice a strange taste in your mouth.
In some cases, an abscess that isn't treated can form a fluid-filled bubble that looks like a cyst in the jaw bone. This cyst can be removed through surgery. In rare instances, the infection will spread and cause adverse health problems.
What can you do about an abscess?
Abscesses should be taken seriously because it can spread to other parts of your body. You should call your dentist immediately and schedule an appointment if you notice an abscess. If you can see or feel a pimple-like swelling on your gums then you must rinse your mouth several times a day with a mild salt-water solution. Use half a teaspoon of salt and eight ounces of water for this solution. It will help you draw out the pus and relieve any pressure. Even if the rinse seems helpful, you must still see your dentist as soon as you can.
What will your dentist do about the abscess?
Most gum abscesses will heal quickly after the following
- the area is cleaned exhaustively
- the trapped pus is given a chance to escape
- a treatment is given to the infection
If a tunnel is formed then your dentist must trace it back to the source of the infection. This tunnel is also known as a fistula. Your dentist will insert a probe into the tunnel and take an X-ray. When your dentist finds the source of the infection and cleans it, the fistula normally closes on its own.
If the infection began inside the tooth then your dentist must make a small hole in the tooth. This will help drain the abscess. Your tooth will need root canal treatment and afterwards, a filling or crown must be placed.
If your tooth abscess is very large or if the tooth is severely damaged then that tooth may need to be removed. A large abscess must be drained through a hole drilled by your dentist. This exit path will allow the fluids and pus to drain. It will also reduce the risk of infection and prevent it from spreading.
Small abscesses in the gums are treated by cleaning out and washing the affected area. Larger abscesses can also be treated in the same way. However, if a serious periodontal disease is causing the abscess then it must be treated in order to prevent another abscess from coming up.
Your dentist will give you prescription antibiotics and prescription painkillers. These drugs will help in healing the abscess and it will also prevent the infection from spreading.