What Is a Dental Abscess?

Dental pain can be miserable. If you’ve ever woken up with a throbbing toothache, you know how scary and worrying it can be. Sometimes, that pain is a sign of a serious tooth infection called an abscess. If you think you might have a tooth abscess in Orlando, FL, our team at Lake Baldwin Dental can relieve your pain and help you get better fast.

Tooth infections can be serious, so it’s important to get prompt care. But how do you know if you have an infected tooth? What can you do to prevent them? And what is a dental abscess anyway? Let’s find out.

What Is a Tooth Abscess?

Infections can sometimes get trapped inside the body. When pus can’t drain like it should, it builds up in a pocket called an abscess.

There are several types of infections that can happen in the mouth:

Gingival abscess – when an infection develops in your gums
Periapical abscess – when an infection forms at the tip of a tooth root
Periodontal abscess – when the infection starts in the bone socket or tissues that support your teeth

Abscesses can happen anywhere in the body, but dental abscesses are one of the most common types. They usually start when bacteria sneak in through a crack, cavity, or old dental work that has started to break down.

These infections can spread and cause serious health problems, so it’s important to get them treated right away. But don’t panic! Our team is here to help you get the care you need for safe and effective dental abscess treatment in Orlando.

When to Go to the Emergency Room for a Tooth Infection

In rare cases, dental infections can cause sepsis, which is a serious condition that can damage organs like the heart or brain, or even cause death.

You should seek urgent medical attention if you or someone you’re caring for has a severe toothache or a known dental infection with any of the following symptoms:

High fever
Significant swelling in the face, jaw, or neck
Trouble breathing or swallowing
Feeling very sick or lethargic
A headache that won’t go away

If you’re not sure what to do about a toothache or think you might have an infection, call us! We can help you figure out what’s going on and whether it’s time to head to the hospital.

What Causes Dental Abscess?

The good news is that it’s fairly easy to avoid an abscess in many cases. Here are some common causes of abscesses.

Untreated tooth decay. If a cavity gets too deep, bacteria can reach the pulp, which is soft tissue inside the tooth where the nerves and blood supply are located. Treating cavities as early as possible can prevent them from causing an infection.
Gum disease. Bacteria that cause gum disease can spread to the bone socket, ligament, and other tissues around the roots of your teeth. Getting gum disease treatments and staying on top of regular cleanings can prevent this.
Cracked or fractured teeth. Like tooth decay, damage like cracks and fractures can let bacteria reach the inner part of your tooth. Some cracks can develop without symptoms, so getting regular check-ups is crucial to prevent this.
Injuries to the mouth. Trauma from sports injuries, car accidents, or a fall can damage the inside of a tooth even without visible damage to the outside. In some cases, this can cause an abscess to develop months or even years later.
Old dental work. When restorations like fillings or crowns start to leak, it can allow bacteria into the tooth without external signs of decay. We’ll check your dental work at every check-up to determine if it needs to be replaced.

Signs You Might Have a Tooth Infection or Abscess

While prevention is the best strategy, things can sometimes take a turn for the worst. Once an abscess starts to form, you’ll probably know about it. Here are some signs to watch out for:

Throbbing pain that doesn’t go away
Swelling in your gums, face, or jaw
A low-grade fever or feeling unwell
Tooth sensitivity, especially to heat
A sensitive tooth that’s suddenly not sensitive anymore
A bad taste or smell in your mouth
Pain when you bite down or chew
Swollen lymph nodes under your jaw or in your neck

If you notice any of these symptoms or think you might have an infected tooth in Orlando or Baldwin Park, don’t wait to get in touch with our team. Getting treatment as early as possible can help you avoid serious complications and get you back to feeling like yourself again.

What Is the Treatment for a Tooth Abscess?

The good news is that treating your abscess will usually help you feel much better very soon. Options for treating a dental abscess include:

Antibiotics to get the infection under control.
Draining the abscess to relieve pressure and clear out the infection.
Root canal therapy to clean out an infection from inside the tooth and around the root tips.
Apicoectomy to completely remove an abscess around a root if it can’t be fully removed with root canal treatment.
Tooth extraction to remove an infected tooth that can’t be saved.

At Lake Baldwin Dental, we’re proud to use the most advanced diagnostic imaging to accurately diagnose abscesses so you can get the right treatment and the best possible outcome. Whenever possible, we’ll handle your treatment right here in our Baldwin Park dental office. For very complex needs, we also partner with specialists throughout the Orlando area to get you the right care.

Tips for Preventing Tooth Abscess

No one wants to deal with the pain or stress of an infected tooth. Here are some simple steps you can take to keep your risks to a minimum:

Brush your teeth twice every day
Use high-quality fluoride toothpaste every time you brush
Floss every day to remove bacteria from your teeth and gums
Stay up-to-date with dental check-ups and cleanings
Complete recommended treatments as quickly as possible
Wear a mouthguard to prevent cracks if you grind your teeth or play sports
Don’t chew on ice, pens, or hard candies
Eat a balanced diet and try to keep sugary snacks and drinks to a minimum

Pro Tip: Treating problems like cavities or cracks right away ensures that they won’t have a chance to turn into bigger issues. That not only decreases your risk for abscess, it also helps you avoid unnecessary pain and keeps your care as affordable as possible.

Get Relief from Pain with Gentle Treatment for Your Tooth Infection in Orlando!

You don’t have to live with tooth pain, and you should never ignore it. If you think you have an infected tooth or you’ve been putting off treatment for a crack or cavity, our team is here for you.

At Lake Baldwin Dental, it’s our mission to help you get out of pain quickly so you can get back to living your life. Whatever your smile needs, we’re here to be sure you get it. Keep smiling, Orlando!