Do you have a bad toothache? Is the cheek on the painful side swollen? Do you feel pain and difficulty opening your mouth? If so, it could be due to a dental abscess! An abscess is a very common bacterial inflammation among adults and children, often difficult to recognize promptly and which, if neglected, can become particularly painful and develop into even serious problems.
Dental abscess: what is it?
The mouth is naturally inhabited by bacteria which, in case of incorrect or insufficient oral hygiene, form a transparent film, the plaque. Over time, the acids in plaque attack the teeth and gums, most likely causing an infection. A dental abscess is a more or less extensive swelling, caused by a bacterial infection that affects the supporting tissues of the tooth, i.e., the gum, jawbone, or dental pulp. It is a sack of liquid (pus) which forms as a defense mechanism to prevent the infection from spreading and which can be visible and very painful in the event of an acute dental abscess. But that's not always the case. In some cases, in fact, the abscess can develop in depth and progress in the absence of pain: it is the chronic dental abscess, identifiable only through a thorough visit to the dentist and dental radiography. This is where the importance of regular dental checkups comes into play. And don't be fooled: the absence of severe pain is absolutely not a valid excuse to overlook a possible abscess or to postpone dental treatment.
Causes of tooth abscess
There are several factors that can cause a tooth abscess to appear. Among the main ones:
- Poor or incorrect oral hygiene, therefore rough brushing and/or food residues not removed.
- Wisdom tooth erupting and, pushing out, breaks the gum (resulting in accumulation of food and infected bacteria).
- Poorly performed devitalization (with incomplete removal of the infection) or unsuccessful implants.
- Neglected caries that reaches the dental pulp causing nerve death, therefore infection.
- Untreated gingivitis that causes the unremoved plaque bacteria to necrotize the tissue.
- Dental trauma with an unhealed fractured tooth causing the spread of infectious cariogenic bacteria.
- Diabetes, cortisone therapies, a weakened immune system, smoking and alcohol can be considered aggravating factors as they favor the onset of inflammation.
How to recognize a dental abscess: symptoms
Unless it's a chronic dental abscess, which develops silently and painlessly, all other cases of abscess present with rather clear and annoying symptoms. However, we often tend to underestimate these warning signs from the body, confusing the clear symptoms of a tooth abscess with a simple toothache. Early recognition of the symptoms of dental abscesses is of fundamental importance in order to quickly resolve the problem and avoid complications. The first and most frequent symptoms of a tooth abscess are:
- Severe pain in the affected tooth, which could also radiate to the neck, ear and head in the most acute cases;
- Swelling of the abscessed area (caused by pus) which, in severe cases, extends to the cheek or even affects the lymph nodes in the neck;
- Difficulty opening the mouth, chewing, and swallowing due to swelling and pain;
- Bad breath and unpleasant taste in the mouth due to accumulation of infected fluid (pus);
- Dental hypersensitivity to heat and cold;
- Possible fever, brought on by infection;
- Feeling of general malaise.
It is not said that these symptoms necessarily occur, but certainly if you experience one or more of these discomforts, do not hesitate to contact your trusted dentist for a visit. Early intervention can help to prevent extraction.
