A tooth abscess is basically an infection in the mouth, throat, face or jaw. This basically springs up from a decaying tooth or an infection. People with poor dental health can often find themselves suffering from this kind of an infection. It could affect anyone who doesn’t maintain proper oral hygiene and delays getting proper dental care or medical attention.
If you have a cavity, there are good chances that the bacteria from the tooth cavity may move into other parts of the mouth and cause abscess. If the infection is acute, it could also be accompanied by inflammation and in this case, the pain becomes unbearable. Due to the inflammation, pus could start collecting at the site of the infection. The pus needs to be drained and is usually taken out by a surgical procedure. The abscess may get ruptured itself too causing the pus to drain out in the mouth itself. That could spread the infection. Therefore it is important that you treat the condition immediately.
If the inflammation is a lot, the swelling could block airways and cause suffocation and difficulty in breathing. It can also cause fever, pain and general nausea.
Tooth abscess only plagues people who have teeth and therefore this can occur in any age. What makes it even more painful is the fact that the doctor may not always be able to give you a prompt appointment as a result of which you find yourself unable to chew or swallow.
Until such time that you get to see a doctor, there are several things you can do to make your toothache feel better.
If you take good care of your teeth and brush and floss twice a day, you will never have to worry about cavities. As they say, prevention is always better than cure. Maintaining good oral hygiene not only takes care of your teeth and gums but also makes sure that your mouth and throat remain healthy. If your tooth has got hurt by accident, it is best to see the doctor as soon as possible and get the tooth removed before it causes any more problems in your mouth.