Not Treating a Tooth Abscess

A dental abscess is a serious infection that originates from either a tooth or the gums around it. If an abscess is not treated, not only it can lead to intense pain and swelling, but also to serious complications:

• When the abscess infects the gums around a tooth and the bone that holds it, tooth loss may occur because when too much bone is damaged, the tooth moves more and more and eventually may fall out.


• When the infection from a tooth abscess spreads to the brain through blood vessels, the person may have a brain abscess. This situation which is even more serious may lead to a coma.


• Tooth abscess can become a sinus infection because the roots of upper molars are located right beneath the sinuses. If the dental abscess produces pus, sinuses may fill with this pus coming from the infected teeth.


• When bacteria from a dental abscess reach the heart through blood vessels, this infection is referred to bacterial endocarditis.


• Ludwig’s angina is a serious infection which affects parts of the face and the lower jaw. It usually originates from an untreated tooth abscess. The danger is that it can grow enough to block the airways, causing suffocation and even death.

Source: What Might Happen if You Don’t Treat a Tooth Abscess?
Full Article: Dental Abscess
In French: Ne pas traiter un abcès dentaire

Preventing Tooth Abscess

A tooth abscess is an infection that might be of important significance. It usually starts from either a tooth or the gums that surround a tooth. Such an infection can be very uncomfortable, painful, and causing serious problems to a person’s health. Having a dental abscess is therefore not a pleasant experience and something to stay away from. Here are several ways to avoid it:

• Daily dental hygiene is crucial. This includes brushing 3 times a day or after each meal, and flossing at least twice a day.


• Seeing your dentist for regular dental checkups is important, preferably twice a year, in order to verify your teeth for cavities and your gums for gum disease.


• Regular dental scalings and cleanings, preferably every three or six months depending on the gums’ condition, in order to remove any accumulating plaque or tartar.


• Reducing the use of tobacco products, or stopping altogether. Smoking worsens gum disease if present, and makes it very hard to heal.

Source: How Can You Prevent a Tooth Abscess?
Full Article: Dental Abscess
In French: Éviter un abcès dentaire

Symptoms of Tooth Abscess

Usually when someone has sudden and intense pain in his mouth, he or she would immediately suspect a tooth abscess. But sometimes an abscess can develop slowly without really causing any pain.

An abscess is an infection that originates from either a tooth, or from the gums that surround a tooth. It can be so small that it’s only detected on an x-ray, or it might grow very big, causing swelling that might completely distort your face.

Whether there is pain or not does not necessarily depend on the size of the abscess. Pain comes from acute infections, which means infections that develop quickly. Chronic abscesses (slow infection) may grow in size for months and cause very little pain.

Here are the main symptoms that can help you become aware of having a dental abscess:

• Your gums might become red and puffy, with swelling around the infected tooth.


• Chewing food can become painful as the abscessed tooth is in contact with food or with opposing teeth.


• An abscess, which is an infection, can cause fever leading to general fatigue and even headaches.


• If swelling occurs, the pus might come out by itself and flow into your mouth. The pus’ taste is very bad, and it’s recommended to spit out the pus instead of swallowing it. There’s usually less pain after this happens.

Source: What Are the Symptoms of Having a Tooth Abscess?
Full Article: Dental Abscess
In French: Symptômes d’un abcès dentaire

I Have a Tooth Abscess?

When you hear the word abscess, and when you know that it is located in someone's mouth, all that you can think about is pain! Although an abscess can occur without being sore, it can sometimes become a very painful occurrence!

A tooth abscess is an infection caused by bacteria and other harmful microbes. It can either originate from the gums, or from the tooth itself. Either way the infection must previously be treated by drainage or by taking antibiotics. Proper treatment should be done next.

If the infection comes from the tooth itself, the main cause would have been either a cavity, a fracture or some trauma on that tooth that may have occurred recently or many years before. If the tooth can be fixed, it might need a root canal and then probably a crown.

If the abscess originates from the gums instead, then the infection should be controlled around that area. After the antibiotics treatment, you might need a curettage or gum surgery to get rid of all the infection in the gums.

An abscess in the mouth should be cared for urgently. If left untreated, the infection can reach other parts of the body and cause serious illnesses to other organs. It is known in the medical community that gum infections can worsen diabetes, heart disease and pregnancy.

Full article: How Can You Get Rid of a Tooth Abscess?

In French: J’ai un abcès dentaire?