What are dental abscesses?

Are pockets of purulent material (pus), which are formed in the vicinity of a tooth becomes infected. They are accompanied by pain and severe inflammation of the area, appearing when more severe fever.



Dental abscesses are infections that are located in the vicinity of teeth in poor condition.
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Why are dental abscesses?

They are usually caused by decay of the tooth-destroying or infection of the pulp cavity of a tooth (pulpitis). The germs of the oral cavity and multiply accumulate in the cavities or within the affected tooth, spreading throughout the nearby area. At this time the area will appear swollen and sore, and if treated properly, there will be a serious infection.

The body attempts to defend against this infection fighting germs , resulting in the formation of pockets of pus.

What I can do to prevent dental abscesses?

Knowing that dental abscesses are mainly due to caries and pulpitis, the best way to prevent it:



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Keep your teeth and gums, to get attempt to limit the consumption of sweet foods and liquids at meal times (avoid sticky sweets, because they stick to the tooth).

Always brush your teeth after meals, using a fluoride toothpaste.

Use dental floss to clean the spaces between the teeth or interdental brushes instead (always according to the recommendations of your dentist.)

If a tooth has decay or pain, we must seek the advice of the dentist to treat, and prevent dental abscesses.

Go to your dentist regularly for check-ups and, if necessary, treat any problems so early.

People with diseases that weaken their defenses ( AIDS ) or those in general that the infection can become more serious ( diabetes ) should pay particular attention to their teeth to prevent major infections originating in this area.

What I can do if I have a dental abscess?

The first thing is to go to a dentist, who will try to drain the pus accumulated potent antibiotic treatment guidelines and then assess the potential to save the piece that caused the infection. If any of the following symptoms, the infection can be serious and should consult with a maxillofacial surgeon:

High fever

Pus through the skin of the face

Great swelling of the face, being more serious when it affects the neck

Inflammation of the tongue or under it

Difficulty or inability to open mouth

Difficulty or inability to swallow

Shortness of breath.

How are dental abscesses?

Sometimes tooth abscesses are broken, leaving the pus into the mouth or skin, if not the dentist or oral surgeon must make an incision (cut) to remove the pus.

Then, if the size of the abscess require it to place a drainage tube (usually rubber or sheet) that serves to facilitate the discharge of pus that forms to the complete cure of the infection.

You need a potent antibiotic, usually oral (in severe cases, intravenous)

Never should we start our own antibiotic treatment, should always be supervised by a specialist who knows the most suited to our needs according to the type of infection.

No antibiotic treatment should be stopped despite improvement of symptoms, because germs can become resistant to this drug, being ineffective at other times when we need to use it for other infections.

By rinsing with warm water and salt (a heaping teaspoon per cup) about 15-20 times a day for about a minute.

Maintaining good oral hygiene by brushing after meals with fluoride toothpaste.

Take painkillers or anti-inflammatory as directed by the specialist, and not according to our needs, because to be effective pain relievers should be taken at regular intervals without waiting for the pain begins.

If the tooth is causing the abscess can be treated by the dentist performed a root canal (filled with the pulp cavity of the tooth), if foci of infection persist in the vicinity of the tooth (mandible, maxilla, maxillary sinus, etc.) Will the surgeon who performed a surgical scrub.

If, however, the tooth can not be treated as being too damaged, should be removed as soon as possible because that is the source of infection. This tooth extraction can be performed once the patient is taking antibiotics.

What can happen if I try a dental abscess?

Dental abscesses are infections that are located in the vicinity of teeth in poor condition, but sometimes more often than we think, can be extended.

May spread to the cheek, maxillary sinus (which may cause sinusitis ), nasal passages, under the tongue and neck among others.

A tooth infection can be transformed, to spread, serious illness that threatens our lives. Therefore, we must take care of our teeth our dentist regularly going to avoid getting into these situations.