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Tooth abscess

Introduction

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A dental abscess is a collection of pus that can form inside the teeth, in the gums, or in the bone that holds the teeth in place. Its caused by a bacterial infection.

An abscess at the end of a tooth is called a periapical abscess. An abscess in the gum is called a periodontal abscess.

Dental abscesses are often painful, but arent always. In either case, they should be looked at by a dentist.

It's important to get help as soon as possible, because abscesses don't go away on their own. They can sometimes spread to other parts of the body and make you ill.

What to do if you have a dental abscess

You should see a dentist as soon as possible if you think you have a dental abscess. Avoid visiting your GP, as there is little they can do to help.

You can get help from:

  • your registered dentist if it's out of hours, they should have an answerphone message with details of how to access out-of-hours dental treatment
  • The emergency number who can give you details of dental services in your area
  • your local clinical commissioning group (CCG) who can tell you the phone number of your local dental access helpline
  • your local accident and emergency (A&E) department if there are no other options or you're having difficulty breathing

Relieving your symptoms

While you're waiting to see a dentist, painkillers can help control your pain.

Ibuprofen is the preferred painkiller for dental abscesses, but if you're unable to take it for medical reasons, you can take paracetamol instead. Aspirinshouldn't be given tochildren under 16.

If one painkiller doesn't relieve the pain, taking both paracetamol and ibuprofen at the doses shown in the medicine leaflet may help. This is safe for adults, but not for children under 16.

It may also help to:

  • avoid hot or cold food and drink if it makes the pain worse
  • try eating cool, soft foods if possible, using the opposite side of your mouth
  • use a soft toothbrush and temporarily avoid flossing around the affected tooth

These measures can help relieve your symptoms temporarily, but you shouldn't use them to delay getting help from a dentist.

Content supplied by the NHS Website

Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 28 Nov 2016

Articles for tooth abscess
Introduction

A dental abscess is a collection of pus that can form inside the teeth, in the gums, or in the bone that holds the teeth in place. Its caused by a bacterial infection.

Symptoms

Symptoms of an abscess in your tooth or gum may include: an intense, throbbing pain, pain that spreads to your ear, jaw and neck on the same side as the affected tooth or gum, pain that's worse when lying down, etc.

Treatment

Dental abscesses are treated by removing the source of the infection and draining away the pus. Depending on the location of the abscess and how severe the infection is, possible treatments are used like: removing the affected tooth, root canal treatment, etj.

Causes

Your mouth is full of bacteria, which form a sticky film on your teeth called plaque. If you don't keep your teeth clean, acids produced by the bacteria in plaque can damage your teeth and gums, leading to tooth decay or gum disease .

Prevention

You can reduce your risk of developing dental abscesses by keeping your teeth and gums as healthy as possible by use floss or an interdental brush at least once a day to clean your teeth, brush your teeth with a fluoride toothpaste twice a day, avoid rinsing your mouth with water or mouthwash after brushing, etc.

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