The truth about dental abscess and its risks

Dra. Claudia Bruns

‍

Although you probably understand what excruciating dental pain is, not everyone knows what a dental abscess is andonly go to the dentist's office when there is pain. It is important to know that, many times when the abscess is formed... the pain disappears without having gone to the dentist. This is because the bacteria that caused the initial pain have "escaped" and there is no longer pressure inside the tissues... BEWARE! You may have a ticking time bomb that can cause great damage to your overall health.

‍

Why does a dental abscess form?

It is worth starting there, and then understanding why it is a potential risk to our health. Of course we all know that most infections in our body are caused by bacteria, and that our mouth contains lots and lots of bacteria and other "bugs",which are somewhat blocked by our defenses and good diet and hygiene habits.

‍

However, when this balance is lost, the bacteria produce pus and generate a major inflammatory response from the body. All of this results in:

- pain, when eating hot or cold things, or when chewing

- MORE PAIN, which wakes you up at night

- swelling of the gums or cheeks

- red gums

- bad breath or bad taste

- discomfort when swallowing

‍

I don't know if you have heard anyone say that when they press on their tooth they feel a yellow liquid overflowing from the gums or feel an unpleasant taste.

What is very important to know is that bacteria and their toxins will always look for a way out, and they do so by DESTROYING TISSUES. That is why the abscess is formed, and it is not always accompanied by pain, which delays the visit to the dentist. BE CAREFUL! The abscess in the molar region is NOT always visible. When you look closely, you may notice a kind of little ball that looks like "mud on the skin" ... that is, the gum looks lumpy, with reddish edges and in some cases has that creepy little yellow dot that means that the pus is draining. IT IS BECAUSE OF THAT DRAINAGE THAT THERE IS NO PAIN.

‍

‍

Causes of a dental abscess

- An unattended caries.

- Poor restorations that carry bacteria into the pulp tissue inside the tooth and then into the surrounding bone.

- Bacteria inside the gums, leading to periodontal pockets

- Tooth root fractures

There are people who have special conditions such as autoimmune diseases, diabetes, cancer or pregnant women. In them, the risk of having a dental problem is HIGHER.

‍

So... what to do in this case?

WARNING! No matter how much you brush and floss your teeth, the abscess will not go away. Some people love home remedies and try everything to solve the problem...it's a WASTE OF TIME!

Please...FIND A DENTIST! Only the dentist will be able to address the problem in the best way, as he/she will analyze your history and evaluate clinically. It is also essential to take x-rays of your teeth to know exactly what the infection is.

‍

Dentists will address access in a variety of ways.

Ø Draining it

Ø Evaluating the need for channel treatment

Ø Consider the intake of antibiotics.

Ø Interconsultation with other specialists such as the periodontist, and although it hurts to say it

Ø Consider extraction of your tooth.

You should not delay treatment of an abscessed tooth. Just as we talk about bacteria and their escape. You should also consider that the body responds with inflammation that can become systemic, because all our organs are connected. That is why it is not uncommon to find people suffering from respiratory, cardiovascular, digestive or even neurological problems.

‍

The danger of delaying professional help is VERY HIGH: that is, the bacteria will continue to destroy tissue, and this can have serious, even fatal, complications. In some cases, hospitalization is already required.

PREVENTION IS ALWAYS BETTER THAN REGRET! Maintaining good oral health is very easy to achieve, if you have the discipline to visit a dental office at least twice a year. Keeping your teeth and gums healthy and detecting problems early is key to a long term healthy life.

‍