What Causes an Abscessed Tooth?

by | Jun 25, 2014

Do you have a persistent, throbbing toothache? Does it hurt when you chew? Is your face, cheek or lymph nodes under your jaw swollen? You probably have an abscessed tooth.
When residents in Hendricks County eat a diet high in sugar and don’t take proper care of their teeth and gums – such as not brushing their teeth twice a day and flossing – plaque can develop and stick to their teeth. Bacteria, which thrive in plaque, can make their way into a tooth through any decay and fractures found in the tooth’s enamel. Or, the bacteria can settle in an area between the teeth and gums.
Out-of-control bacteria can lead to an infection that causes a painful accumulation of pus (a thick, yellowish fluid) to form inside your tooth or gums, known as an abscessed tooth. A tooth abscess can form rapidly – sometimes only in a day or two after the infection starts. If the pus cannot drain out, the infected area will become more swollen and painful.
There are two types of tooth abscesses:

  1. Periapical abscess. This type of abscess occurs when bacteria enters the soft inner pulp of a tooth. Eventually the bacteria will make their way into the bone surrounding the tooth. Pus will then build up at the tip of the tooth’s root in the jaw bone. A periapical abscessed tooth can occur due to an untreated tooth cavity, injury or prior dental work.
  2. Periodontal abscess. This type of abscess can develop when food gets trapped in the space between the tooth and gum. The food causes plaque and bacteria to build up in the periodontal pocket, leading to an infection known as a periodontal abscessed tooth. Sometimes gum damage or prior a dental procedure also can cause a periodontal abscess.

Since an abscessed tooth can be quite painful, you will likely want to get treatment right away. Call 317-745-4400 to schedule an appointment with Danville Family Dentistry in Hendricks County, IN. Dr. Jon Erickson can drain your abscessed tooth and prescribe antibiotics to help fight the infection. If your tooth can be saved, Dr. Erickson will perform a root canal. However, if the tooth cannot be saved, he may have to extract it.
No matter what – don’t ignore any pain or symptoms of an abscessed tooth! The infection from a tooth abscess will not get better on its own. And, it may spread to your other teeth, jaw bone and the surrounding tissues in your head and neck. An infection from an abscessed tooth can even lead to serious complications like sepsis, which is a life-threatening infection that spreads throughout your body.
So, get treatment as soon as possible at Danville Family Dentistry in Hendricks County if you think you may have an abscessed tooth.