Besides being extremely uncomfortable and painful, tooth infections can lead to other dental problems if left untreated. A tooth or a dental abscess is among the tooth infections you may have to deal with at some point. An abscess begins as a tooth infection but can spread to your jaw, mouth, throat and face.
Poor dental health, periodontal disease, deep cavity, or a cracked tooth are some of the causes of a tooth abscess. Knowing the signs and symptoms that you may have an abscessed tooth is important. That's because you will be able to call your dentist early enough before you develop more dental issues. Therefore, here are the signs to watch out for.
Tooth Discolouration
If you notice that your tooth has become darker in colour compared to the surrounding teeth, chances are it is abscessed. An abscessed tooth is often a result of a necrotic (dead) pulp. As the pulp of your tooth dies, it releases certain by-products that may leach into the porous layer of your tooth. When this happens, the tooth will start discolouring.
In most cases, you won't experience any pain at this stage. Therefore, you need to be careful when brushing and flossing to identify any discolouration.
Pain
As the abscess or infection spreads, you'll start experiencing some pain. While the pain will in most cases be concentrated around the area of the infected tooth, you may feel it throughout the rest of your mouth. The pain is often a result of the abscess spreading and straining or creating more pressure on the bone as well as the surrounding structures of the tooth, including the gum.
In severe cases, the pain can be quite excruciating to a point where pain medications don't work. Therefore, ensure you talk to your dentist as soon as you can. Also, the pain can be accompanied by swelling, redness, and difficulty moving or opening your mouth.
Bad Breath
Bad breath, sometimes accompanied by bad taste in your mouth, is also another sign to watch out for. This may be common with other tooth infections too. In the case of an abscess, the bad breath is often a result of pus from the swelling. Pus drainage will also cause the bad taste in your mouth. You should never let the infection get this far. That's because if left untreated, you will start feeling ill and even develop a fever. Therefore, contact your family dentist as soon as you experience these signs and symptoms.
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