Tooth Infection Can Lead to a Tooth Abscess

Your body is generally very good at fighting off infections, but when it comes to your teeth, your body has no way of getting antibodies inside your tooth. When there’s a problem with your tooth’s nerve, it will likely die. This may or may not cause symptoms. However, if the dead nerve is left untreated, it can lead to bacteria that can cause an infection.

Once this infection happens, it can quickly spread. If you simply have a tooth infection, your dentist will recommend root canal therapy in order to clean the infection out of your tooth’s nerve and seal up your tooth. This not only allows you to keep your natural tooth, but also prevents further infections or issues with that tooth from occurring.

If your infection is allowed to continue, the bacteria can accumulate and spread to the area between your jaw bone and your tooth. This is the beginning of a tooth abscess, and your body will react by trying to fight the infection. Your body may be able to effectively combat the abscess for a period of time, but the fact remains that your body will not be able to treat the source of the infection—your tooth’s root.

When the infection spreads to the jaw bone at the tip of your tooth, an abscess forms and generally tends to be swollen and painful. It may appear as a lump in your gums above your tooth. For some patients, abscesses are very painful. For others, they may not experience symptoms.

An Infection Will Always Be Present with an Abscess

Tooth abscesses are the result of an infection that often begins at the tip of your tooth’s root. If left untreated, the abscess can actually lead to a gum infection. If you catch a tooth infection or tooth abscess early, a root canal treatment may be all that’s needed. If an abscess is present, it will need to be lanced and drained in order to help your body heal once the source of the infection is removed.

If, however, your abscess has been going on for quite some time or the original tooth infection is not treated, an extraction of the affected tooth may be necessary. Tooth abscesses can spread and cause additional oral health problems. Remember, your body cannot respond appropriately because there’s no blood flow going to the dead root where the infection began.

Tooth Infections and Abscesses Require Professional Treatment

As we’ve addressed, your body can’t effectively fight off a tooth infection. You need to see your dentist for professional treatment to remove the infection and seal your tooth with root canal therapy. If the infection is left untreated, it can turn into a painful abscess, which can turn into a gum infection.

See your dentist if you’re experiencing any type of tooth pain or symptoms of a tooth abscess. The sooner you receive treatment for your infection, the better chance you have of saving your natural tooth and preventing further damage!

The post Tooth Abscesses vs. Tooth Infections—What’s the Difference? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Myth: It’s Painful
Root canals are infamous for being rumored to be painful. Most patients visit the dentist for a problem because their infected tooth pulp is causing them pain, so this can lead to feelings of anxiety about what will happen during the procedure.

Fact: Most Patients Experience No Pain
The majority of patients who get root canal surgery done experience no pain. Remember, your dentist or endodontist (root canal specialist) is a professional that has years of experience and training. The doctor performing this procedure knows how to keep you pain-free!

Myth: Pulling the Tooth Is Better
Many people think that because their tooth’s nerves are dying or dead, the tooth is dead and will need to be pulled eventually. So why not pull the tooth instead of getting a root canal procedure?

Fact: Saving Your Natural Teeth Is Always the Best Option
Although your tooth’s pulp may be infected or dead and need to be removed, removing your natural tooth is not the best option. Saving your natural tooth will always be preferable to removing it. Removing your natural tooth means you’ll need partial dentures, dental implants, or a bridge to help fill the space. All this means even more dental work when you could have the problem solved with one root canal procedure and save your tooth!

Myth: No More Dentist Visits After the Procedure
Some people think that once they have the root canal procedure done, they need not return to the dentist.

Fact: You Need a Follow-Up Visit to Complete the Procedure
Not only is a follow-up visit crucial in order to ensure all is well with your mouth after the procedure, but you’ll also need a crown affixed to the tooth in order to protect it from further damage. Sometimes this is able to be completed with the root canal procedure, sometimes it’s not. Regardless, that follow-up visit is important!

Myth: I Don’t Have Symptoms, So I Don’t Need the Procedure
While some people experience excruciating pain when the pulp of their tooth is infected, other people won’t have any symptoms at all. If you have no symptoms, why would you need treatment?

Fact: If Your Roots Are Dead, You May Not Be Able to Sense the Infection
Just because you may not experience any symptoms doesn’t mean there’s not something wrong! Often times, if your tooth’s nerve is dead, you may not be able to know there’s an infection. You may have other symptoms of an infection, such as gum pain or a bad taste in your mouth.

Root canal procedures are done by experts who know what they’re doing. Being anxious about dental work is normal, but remember that your doctors will take great care of you. Your root canal procedure is meant to alleviate your painful symptoms, not cause them!

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