The dental abscess causes very severe pain and is caused, in most cases, by bacterial infections which, in turn, are favored by chipped or broken teeth, poor oral hygiene, and cavities. In addition to severe pain affecting the teeth, often accompanied by inflammation of the gums, the dental abscess presents itself with some aspects similar to the symptoms of periodontitis, such as swelling of the face, halitosis (bad breath), difficulty swallowing, fever, and swollen lymph nodes in the neck. When the tissues involved are those supporting the tooth, specifically the gum, it is a gingival abscess, also recognizable by the swollen gum among the most obvious symptoms. Generally, abscess can not heal on their own, so if you suspect an abscess, it’s best to see your dentist right away.
How long does a tooth abscess last?
The duration of dental abscesses is not precisely quantifiable: it can be said that after the first two or three days an antibiotic for toothache is taken, accompanied by the necessary dental care, the pain should go away, or at least be reduced. It is therefore important not to wait for the abscess to go away on its own, but to contact a dentist as quickly as possible. The pain is not your only worry; an untreated abscess can lead to serious consequences for general health. These complications can be perforation of bone and soft tissue, osteomyelitis, bacterial cellulitis, tooth loss, dental fistula, and septicemia (sepsis).
Symptoms of an abscess
Usually the first symptom is pain, located in an area of the mouth, or in a specific tooth, and after a few days the cheek swells and the abscess becomes visible. The abscess continues to develop and the cheek swells more and more until the treatment begins to take effect. During the course of the infection, the pain changes in intensity, initially very strong, and then decreases or disappears when the swelling has reached a visible and maximum dimension. We must pay great attention to dental abscess and cheek swelling due to the complications it can generate. Starting antibiotic treatment immediately is essential, which is why it is important to you see your dentist immediately!
How to cure it?
Natural remedies for tooth abscess are not very effective, except to reduce toothache. The solution is often to follow a specific antibiotic treatment. The dental abscess is treated, in general, with antibiotics and then a devitalization or a re-devitalization on any affected teeth after the inflammation from the infection has subsided. Devitalization is a procedure where the dentist removes the nerve inside the tooth canals where the dental pulp is.
If the issue becomes bad enough, extraction may be required.
What to do if you can’t see your dentist right away
In the treatment of dental abscess with cheek swelling, warm, moist compresses can alleviate pain, as well as over the counter painkillers such as ibuprofen. Even once you see your dentist, the warm, wet compresses can be repeated 2 to 3 times a day for 20 minutes each time. These serve to accelerate the effect of the antibiotic, and consequently the healing of the abscess. Once the swelling in the cheek has stabilized or begins to subside, the pain also decreases. However, please know that the abscess can recur when the cause that causes it is not removed. This simply means that the cause cannot be neglected, and please see your dentist as soon as possible.
