Tips for when things go wrong
There are a variety of things that can go wrong with your oral health. Your mouth is a sensitive, delicate area, which means that it can easily get hurt or damaged. When this happens, it’s vitally important that you visit your dentist, because your overall health is strongly tied to your dental health. One very common mouth problem is abscesses. These can appear anywhere in the mouth and can cause pain and swelling and even trouble eating. So if you have an abscess, this is what you should know.
What is an Abscess?
An abscess begins as a gum infection that spreads and worsens until it affects your mouth, jaw, face or throat. They occur when bacteria from the original infection spreads to other parts of the mouth and throat. The original site becomes inflamed and filled with pus and can swell severely, obstructing or impeding your ability to chew or swallow and even restricting your breathing in some cases. The abscess itself will keep growing and causing more pain until it ruptures and drains. This can happen naturally, but it’s generally better if your dentist does this surgically.
The symptoms of an abscess usually include:
A reddened area around the site
Pain
Swelling
A bad taste in your mouth
As your condition advances, you may experience other symptoms such as a fever, vomiting, chills or nausea. If you experience any of these symptoms, make an emergency appointment with your dentist and make sure you see your doctor as well.
Abscess Causes
An abscess usually occur because of poor dental health. If you don’t look after your teeth and gums they can become infected. If the infection is still left untreated it can spread and become a painful abscess. At that stage, it will also negatively affect your overall health and wellbeing. The following behaviours worsen your dental health and can lead to an infected tooth or gum, which can worsen until it becomes an abscess:
Not brushing or flossing your teeth
Smoking
Drinking alcohol
A poor diet
Some medications
Neglecting small wounds in the mouth or surgical sites from previous dental visits.
How to Treat an Abscess
If you have an abscess, you need to visit your dentist immediately. This is especially important if you feel sick or have any other symptoms of an advanced infection. Your dentist will usually drain the site to get rid of the pus and give you painkillers and antibiotics to combat the infection. If the infection has spread into your neck or throat, it may have to be drained under anaesthetic.
If your abscess ruptures at home, before you can get to the dentist, rinse with warm water to help clear out all the pus and see your dentist as soon as possible.
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