Taking care of your teeth isn’t just about having a bright smile. Sometimes, what’s happening inside your mouth can affect your overall health. An abscessed tooth is a serious dental infection that can fly under the radar until it becomes severe. The 5 most common tooth abscess symptoms are:
- Severe, persistent pain
- Swelling and redness of the gums or face
- Bad taste or odour
- Sensitivity to hot and cold
- Fever or feeling rundown
Recognizing these symptoms early can save you a lot of pain and trouble. These symptoms don’t automatically mean you have an abscess, though. They can also point to problems like cavities or tooth decay. Your dentist can give you an accurate diagnosis during a dental exam.
If you have facial swelling along with trouble breathing or swallowing, go to the nearest emergency room or call 911. For a severe toothache without those symptoms, see our dental emergency page or call our team right away.
What Is an Abscessed Tooth?
An abscessed tooth is a pocket of pus caused by a bacterial infection. It can form in different parts of the tooth or surrounding gum. The most common types are periapical abscesses, which develop at the tip of the tooth root, and periodontal abscesses, which form in the gums next to a tooth root.
The infection can start from an untreated cavity, gum disease, or a cracked or chipped tooth that lets bacteria reach the inside of the tooth.
Risks of Ignoring an Abscessed Tooth
An abscess won’t go away on its own. When left untreated, it can lead to serious complications. The infection can spread to your jaw, neck, and other parts of your body, and in rare cases it can cause sepsis, a life-threatening reaction to infection.
An abscess can also lead to Ludwig’s angina, a rare but serious bacterial infection of the floor of the mouth, under the tongue, and the tissues of the neck. The swelling can block your airway and make it hard to breathe, which is why swelling combined with trouble breathing or swallowing is always an emergency.
5 Tooth Abscess Symptoms to Watch For
Any of these symptoms could point to an abscessed tooth, especially when several show up together.
1. Severe, Persistent Pain
One of the most telling symptoms is severe pain that doesn’t go away. The pain can be throbbing, sharp, spontaneous or constant, and it often gets worse when you chew or bite down. You may feel it radiate to your jawbone, neck, head or ear. This isn’t your typical toothache that comes and goes. Pain from an abscessed tooth is usually relentless.
2. Swelling & Redness
Another common symptom is swelling in your face, jaw, or cheek. The gum around the affected tooth may also look swollen and red. Pus buildup causes this swelling, and the area is often tender and warm to the touch. Some people notice a small, pimple-like bump on the gum near the tooth. This is sometimes called a gum boil and can release pus.
3. Bad Taste or Odour
An abscessed tooth can cause a foul taste in your mouth or bad breath that doesn’t go away, even after brushing. If the abscess ruptures, the pus can drain into your mouth and leave a salty or bitter taste.
4. Sensitivity to Hot & Cold
If a tooth suddenly becomes sensitive to hot and cold temperatures, it could be a sign of an abscess. This sensitivity is usually stronger and lingers longer than the occasional twinge many people feel.
5. Fever & Feeling Rundown
An abscess can sometimes cause a fever and a general feeling of being unwell. You might feel fatigued, notice swollen lymph nodes under your jaw or in your neck, or have difficulty swallowing or breathing.
Think about the last time you had the flu: tired, achy and run down. If similar symptoms come with a toothache, the infection may be spreading and affecting your body more broadly.
What Does a Tooth Abscess Feel and Look Like?
What it feels like: Most people describe a deep, throbbing pain that can spread to the jaw, ear or neck. The tooth is often very tender to touch and painful to chew on.
What it looks like: You may see a red, swollen area of gum near the tooth, a pimple-like bump on the gum, or swelling in your cheek or jaw. In some cases, the tooth itself looks normal, so you can’t rule out an abscess by appearance alone.
Early on, an abscess may only cause mild tenderness when biting or some sensitivity to temperature. It can also become less painful if the nerve inside the tooth dies, even though the infection is still there. And if an abscess ruptures and drains, the pain may ease suddenly. This doesn’t mean the infection is gone, so you still need to see a dentist.
Diagnosis & Treatment of an Abscessed Tooth
See your dentist as soon as you suspect an abscess. Early treatment helps prevent complications. Your dentist may start with:
- A physical examination: checking for swelling, redness, and tenderness.
- X-rays: to identify the presence and extent of the abscess.
- A pulp vitality test: to determine whether the nerve inside the tooth is still alive.
Treatment Options
An abscess needs prompt professional treatment, because the source of the infection has to be dealt with. Depending on your situation, your dentist may recommend:
- Drainage: draining the abscess to remove the pus and relieve pressure.
- Root canal treatment: removing the infected pulp and sealing the tooth.
- Extraction: removing the tooth when it can’t be saved.
- Antibiotics: prescribed in some cases, such as when the infection has spread. They support treatment but don’t replace treating the source of the infection.
Managing Symptoms Until Your Appointment
Home care can ease discomfort while you wait to be seen, but it won’t cure an abscess:
- Rinse your mouth with warm salt water to help reduce pain and swelling.
- Take over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen, following the package directions.
- Avoid very hot, very cold, or sugary foods and drinks.
- Hold a cold compress against the outside of your cheek to help with swelling and discomfort.
- Don’t try to pop or drain the abscess yourself.
Preventing Future Abscesses
Preventive care lowers your risk of emergencies like this one. Brush at least twice a day, floss daily, and use an antibacterial mouthwash to keep bacteria in check.
Regular Dental Check-ups
Regular check-ups and cleanings can catch problems before they become serious. A professional cleaning removes plaque and tartar that brushing and flossing miss, and a thorough exam can find and treat cavities before they reach the nerve.
Act on Small Problems Early
If you notice a cavity, a cracked tooth, or signs of gum disease, get it treated promptly. Small problems are much easier to fix than an infection.
Tooth Abscess FAQs
Can a tooth abscess go away on its own?
No. An abscess may drain or the pain may ease temporarily, but the infection usually remains until a dentist treats it. Untreated, it can spread.
How long can you leave an abscessed tooth untreated?
You shouldn’t wait. An abscess can worsen quickly and spread beyond the tooth, so see a dentist as soon as you suspect one.
Can you have a tooth abscess without pain?
Yes. If the nerve inside the tooth has died, pain may be mild or absent even though the infection is active. Swelling, a gum bump, a bad taste, or bad breath can still be warning signs.
Is a tooth abscess a dental emergency?
It can be. Swelling in the face or neck, a fever, or any trouble breathing or swallowing means you should get emergency care right away.
Does a tooth abscess always need a root canal or extraction?
Treatment depends on the tooth and how far the infection has spread. Your dentist will recommend a root canal, an extraction, or another approach after examining you.
Don’t Wait to Talk to Your Dentist
Recognizing tooth abscess symptoms early can make a big difference to your overall health. Prompt treatment prevents serious complications and gets you back to feeling like yourself.
If you think you have an abscessed tooth, call our team at Genesis Dental today, or book an appointment online. One of our experienced dentists can examine you, find the cause, and recommend the right treatment.
