Dental Abscess Causes Symptoms And Natural Remedies

Introduction To Dental Abscess 

Abscessed Tooth can be defined as a pocket of pus that forms around the root of an infected tooth. The abscess is a combination of pus which is a liquid produced in the infected tissue, consisting of bacteria, dead white blood cells, tissue debris and serum. An abscessed tooth is an infection around a tooth that has been spread surrounding the root. 

A dental abscess occurs when proper oral hygiene is neglected and when bacteria are allowed to accumulate inside the tooth. According to a survey report, the number of people who have been affected and hospitalized because of dental abscesses has increased by over 40% in the period between 2000 and 2008. 

Dental Abscess

Causes Of Dental Abscess 

A dental abscess can be formed inside a tooth, gum area or the bone surrounding the tooth. There are two types of abscess developed in the mouth. One is a tooth abscess also known as periapical abscess which is caused due to infection inside the tooth, due to tooth decay or cavities. The bacteria starts causing infection which can lead to severe pain. 

A gum abscess known as periodontal abscess may occur when the food gets trapped between gum and tooth. A gum abscess is not as significant as the tooth abscess. When the bacteria are in the glue, your body can fight them with white blood cells. Significant causes of Dental Abscess are - Cavity or tooth decay, gum disease or a cracked tooth. 

Symptoms Of Dental Abscess 

Signs of a Dental Abscess are: 

• Severe and intense pain in the affected tooth 
• Intense pain during tooth movement 
• Sensitivity to hot or cold drinks 
• A persistent toothache to the pressure of chewing 
• Swollen gums, cheeks, and loose teeth 

And finally, if the infection spreads, it can lead to other side effects like an increase in body temperature and can stop the movement surrounding the teeth. 

Prevention Of Dental Abscess 

Most prominent solution to any dental problem is maintaining oral hygiene which can be achieved by flossing and brushing twice a day or after consuming food. Apart from it, the following methods help eliminate or reduce the chances of Dental Abscess: 

Brush Your Teeth Regularly

• Visiting your dentist regularly for dental check-ups, at least twice a year. 
• Going easy or eliminating the consumption of sweet foods because sugar invites bacteria to cause infection. Try to intake more healthy food in your diet. 
• Replacing your toothbrush every 3-4 months 

Treatment And Cure

Treatments consist of antibiotics and therapies. Some of them are: 

• Root canal therapy: It is performed when the pus in the tooth becomes infected or damaged. During root canal therapy, the pulp is removed or drained, and the inside of the tooth is cleaned and sealed to avoid further infection. 
• Tooth Extraction: When the infection has reached its peak, and the tooth can't be saved, tooth extraction has to be done to prevent surrounding teeth from getting infected. 
• A small dental abscess may drain naturally and can disappear without having required any treatment. However, such is not the case with large abscess as only antibiotics can assist in the procedure. 
• If the infection is limited to the affected area, you may not need any antibiotics or medication. But if the infection has spread to the surrounding teeth or other areas, your dentist will prescribe you antibiotics which will stop it from spreading further. 

Natural Remedies

Some of the natural remedies for avoiding dental infections are: 

• Cloves: Cloves contains anti-inflammatory agents within it, which makes it great for the healing the pain and reducing the swelling and puffiness that comes with an infected tooth. 
• Turmeric: One of the most effective treatments for excessive bacteria growth is turmeric. It starts showing its result upon its first contact with the bacteria. 
• A dental abscess can cause severe pain to an individual. Hence, early diagnosis and taking care of the teeth is extremely important. Determining various factors that put an individual at risk of getting infected to a dental abscess, influence the spread of infection from the apex of a tooth to the skin and further life-threatening complications would help treatment decisions. 

Dr. Claudia Wood, a Danforth Dentist, says, "Preventative care is a substructure of dentistry and go to seeing your dentist on daily basis – normally two times in a year – for complete cleanings and analysis can prevent you from getting infected.”