What is an abscess? What Is Good For Tooth Abscess?
Contents
What is an abscess? What Causes Abscess?
What is a Tooth Abscess?
What are the Types of Tooth Abscess?
What Are the Symptoms of Tooth Abscess and Explosion of a Tooth Abscess?
What Causes Tooth Abscess?
What is Dental Abscess Treatment?
What Is Good For Tooth Abscess?
How Many Days Does a Tooth Abscess Pass?
What Can Be Done to Prevent Dental Abscesses?
An abscess is an inflammatory condition that often occurs as a result of the body’s response to bacteria. It can be seen in many different body parts such as mouth, teeth and anal area. Since abscesses with complaints such as pain, redness and swelling can have serious consequences, it is important not to be late in the diagnosis and to apply the appropriate treatment for a sufficient time. In the treatment of dental abscess, there are some simple measures that can be applied to provide relief at home, as well as the medical methods applied by the physician.
What is an abscess? What Causes Abscess?
An abscess is an accumulation of pus (pus) that can occur in any part of the body, inside or outside the body, and can have effects throughout the body. In the presence of infection in the body, the immune system starts to work to fight the microorganism that enters the body. White blood cells from the blood elements go to the area of infection and begin to accumulate in the damaged tissue. After this accumulation, inflammation occurs and an abscess filled with pus develops due to the resulting inflammation. Pus consists of active and inactive white blood cells, microorganisms, tissue fragments, and fluid.
What is a Tooth Abscess?
The reaction with infected material or pus on different parts of the tooth is known as a dental abscess. This condition is usually seen after a bacterial infection in the dental centre. It is often caused by rotten, broken, or chipped teeth. When the enamel is damaged, bacteria can coat the center of the tooth. The pus that accumulates inside the tooth after a tooth infection often leads to irritation and swelling that causes toothache. An abscessed tooth may have mild or severe pain that may spread to the ear or neck. If it is not diagnosed quickly or treated appropriately, the infection may progress to the bones that support the teeth after the tooth and tooth roots. In this case, life-threatening, severe reactions may occur. Complications secondary to a dental abscess can be fatal.
What are the Types of Tooth Abscess?
Abscesses seen on the teeth and gums can be of different types. Periapical abscess, periodontal abscess and gingival abscess are common types of abscess.
Periapical Abscesses: They are seen at the ends of the tooth root. Bacteria infiltrate the pulp part of the tooth, usually through a cavity. The soft, inner part of the tooth is known as the pulp. The pulp contains blood vessels, nerve fibers and soft connective tissue.
Periodontal Abscesses: It is the type of abscess seen in the gums located on the sides of the tooth root. It is often caused by gum disease; However, periodontal abscess development is possible due to traumas.
Gum Abscesses: It is seen as a result of foreign materials such as hard and thin pieces of consumed food, toothbrush bristles entering the gums and being embedded.
What Are the Symptoms of Tooth Abscess and Explosion of a Tooth Abscess?
The most common major symptom in an abscessed tooth is throbbing and pressing pain in the gums or root of the tooth. This acute pain is often progressive. Common dental abscess symptoms can be listed as follows:
Severe, throbbing pain that worsens at night radiating to the jawbone, neck, ears
Pain due to increased pressure with chewing and biting
Pain exacerbated by exposure to very hot and very cold substances
Swelling, redness and pain in the face or cheeks
tooth sensitivity
Bad breath and bad taste in the mouth
Swelling and increased tenderness in the lymph nodes in the neck and under the chin
High fever
If the tooth abscess erupts, immediate relief and pain relief can be felt. With the eruption of the abscess, a bad taste and odor occurs in the mouth.
What Causes Tooth Abscess?
Abscesses are usually caused by bacterial infections. However, foreign bodies, and in rarer cases, viruses, parasites and fungi can cause gingivitis and abscess. The microorganism isolated in most of the abscesses is Staphylococcus bacteria. The immune system and white blood cells activated by the entry of bacteria into the body cause inflammation and death in the tissue as well as the microorganism. The pocket formed by this process is filled with pus and forms the abscess. Some risk factors that cause tooth abscess can be listed as follows:
Poor Oral and Dental Care and Hygiene: It is important to brush and maintain hygiene of the gums, teeth and tongue at least twice a day, preferably after each feeding. The use of dental floss is also necessary for gum care. When adequate care is not taken in oral care, the risk of developing dental abscesses, gum diseases, dental caries and other complications increases.
High Dietary Sugar Consumption: Consuming foods with high sugar content such as chocolate, candy, sweets, fruit juices and carbonated beverages may contribute to the development of dental abscesses.
Dry Mouth: Dry mouth is a risk factor for many diseases, including dental abscesses and dental caries. Dry mouth can be seen due to aging, as a side effect of some drugs or as a complication of some diseases.
What is Dental Abscess Treatment?
In an abscessed tooth, treatment is planned to control the infection and pain. For the symptoms seen, the dentist may order a dental x-ray to view the roots of the teeth, and check whether the abscess has spread. Abscess is a disease that cannot be healed by itself, which should be treated by a specialist doctor by providing sterile conditions. There are different treatment methods according to the type of abscess and the severity of the symptoms.
Tooth Abscess Drainage: Also known as abscess drainage, it is the main treatment for abscesses. The dentist creates a small incision in the abscess to drain the pus and rinses it with a solution to keep the incision site sterile.
Root Canal Treatment: It is a method of opening a hole in the affected tooth to drain the abscess and remove the infected pulp. The channel is then filled and closed. Veneers may be necessary, especially on the posterior teeth.
Tooth Extraction: Extraction of an abscessed tooth is not correct in some cases. Extraction of an abscessed tooth may lead to the risk of infection and serious complications. If the damage to the tooth is severe, the tooth can be extracted without draining the abscess.
Antibiotics: If the infection has spread and the immune system is weak, the dentist may prescribe oral antibiotics.
Removal of Foreign Body: If the cause of the abscess is a foreign body in the gum, the foreign body is removed by the dentist and the abscess is emptied. The area is then cleaned with sterile solution.
What Is Good For Tooth Abscess?
In addition to the medications that should be used with a doctor’s prescription, additional treatments that can be preferred at home can also help to relax. Some of the methods that can be applied at home can be:
Mouthwash with salt water
Bicarbonate, which also has antibiotic properties,
Antibacterial and antioxidant effective thyme oil,
cold compress,
Clove oil, sesame oil, olive oil, which are known to have effects on toothache
Garlic, which has been known for its pain-relieving and antibacterial properties for many years, is also one of the methods that can be preferred at home.
How Many Days Does a Tooth Abscess Pass?
In abscesses that can be seen in the tooth root or gingiva, recovery is often observed in 2 to 3 days following the elimination of the causative factor and appropriate treatment. In an average of 1 week to 10 days, the symptoms are expected to completely regress. It is important that the dental abscess treatment is applied correctly by the dentist. Even if the abscess has spontaneously burst and drained, examination is essential to prevent the spread of infection. The infection can spread to different parts of the body, including the neck area, jaw, and brain. Rarely, it can enter the blood and cause sepsis. Sepsis is one of the most serious life-threatening complications of infection. In some cases accompanying an abscess, an emergency service may be required. These conditions can be listed as high fever, facial swelling, difficulty in swallowing, increased heart rate, blurred consciousness and confusion.
What Can Be Done to Prevent Dental Abscesses?
The most important precaution to be taken to avoid dental abscesses is to avoid dental caries. The applications that can be made for this purpose can be listed as follows:
Preferring fluoride toothpastes
flossing and cleaning between teeth daily
Replacing toothbrushes within 3 to 4 months or not using brushes with worn bristles
Eating healthy and limiting sugar consumption as much as possible
Going for regular dental checkups and using antiseptic or fluoride mouthwash