A dental abscess is a painful swelling filled with a thick fluid that is yellow in color (pus). There are two types of dental abscess, a gum abscess (also known as a periodontal abscess) and a tooth abscess (also known as a periapical abscess).
A periodontal abscess is a pocket of pus in the tissues of the gum. It looks like a small red ball pushing out of the swollen gum. An abscess can occur with serious gum disease (periodontitis), which causes the gums to pull away from the teeth. This leaves deep pockets where bacteria can grow.
White pus around the tooth might also be observed. The pus accompanies sharp pain because it is released when your gums are under severe pressure. The puss will lessen the pain as it releases the pressure your teeth or gums are under.
A periodontal abscess looks like a boil or pimple on your gums. It's usually darker than other areas of your gum and looks swollen.
A gum abscess is a pocket of pus and bacteria from an infection in the gums. The abscess may develop due to poor oral hygiene or as a result of other infections or conditions. Treatments and home remedies may help clear the infection. However, a dentist will need to drain the abscess to prevent further infections.
You should not try to drain a tooth abscess by yourself. If you have a dental abscess, see a dentist as soon as possible. But if you can't see a dentist right away, there are some home remedies you can use to reduce the pain temporarily.
A dental abscess is a build-up of pus in the teeth or gums caused by an infection. It needs urgent treatment by a dentist. A dental abscess will not go away on its own.
A burst abscess constitutes a dental emergency and needs to be dealt with as quickly as possible.
If the abscess ruptures, the pain may improve a lot, making you think that the problem has gone away — but you still need to get dental treatment. If the abscess doesn't drain, the infection may spread to your jaw and to other areas of your head and neck.
Other complications associated with dental abscess include cysts and fistula. The underlying fact is that an abscess can last for several months without being drained on its own. But, at times the abscess may burst on its own, causing immense pain and discomfort.
Although pus is normally of a whitish-yellow hue, changes in the color can be observed under certain circumstances. Pus is sometimes green because of the presence of myeloperoxidase, an intensely green antibacterial protein produced by some types of white blood cells.
It's usually a light pink to red color. This is a sign that your body is healing the wound and isn't a concern in normal amounts. Purulent drainage: Purulent drainage, the thickest of the three types, is white, yellow or brown fluid. It indicates that bacteria entered your wound and caused an infection.
Pus is a whitish-yellow, yellow, green, or brown-yellow protein-rich fluid called liquor puris that accumulates at the site of an infection. It consists of a buildup of dead, white blood cells that form when the body's immune system responds to the infection.
If the infection spreads, you may also develop a high temperature (fever) and feel generally unwell. In severe cases, you may find it hard to fully open your mouth and have difficulty swallowing or breathing.
A: While most abscesses are usually soft and warm to the touch, occasionally they can feel firm or even hard to the touch. Anyone with a suspected abscess, jaw swelling, jaw pain or tooth pain who feels a hard lump in the mouth should see a dentist as soon as possible.
The dentist makes a small cut into the abscess, allowing the pus to drain out. The dentist then washes the area with salt water (saline). Occasionally, a small rubber drain is placed to keep the area open for drainage while the swelling goes down.
Eventually, the abscess will resemble a pimple on the gum. The body will attempt to drain the abscess. When this happens, bacteria begin to bore a small hole in the bone, creating a tunnel for abscess drainage. This appears as a small hole in the gums.
A tooth abscess can cause throbbing and localized pain and nausea and vomiting. In some cases, teeth even feel loose in their sockets because of infection. If you have these symptoms, it's important to seek immediate treatment from a dentist so that they can drain the pus and prevent further complications like sepsis.
A dental abscess can form in a matter of a few days. This infection does not go away on its own. Without treatment, an abscess can continue for several months, possibly even years. Most abscesses cause intense tooth pain, indicating to a patient that prompt treatment is needed.
Left untreated, a tooth abscess will eventually spread to the surrounding tissues and beyond, wreaking havoc on your oral and overall health. It can take weeks or months for the infection to spread — and it's impossible to know exactly how long that will take.
Tooth abscesses don't form overnight—there are multiple stages to formation, starting with enamel erosion and progressing to dentin decay, pulp decay, and finally abscess formation. This process can take weeks or even months.
Antibiotics are effective at preventing the spread of bacteria. However, they should never be used as the only means of removing an abscess.
Saltwater Mouth Rinse
Salt or sodium chloride draws the liquid in cells out of your body when it comes into contact with them. If the liquids are bacterial, they are also drawn out. This helps cleanse the area. This easy and affordable technique is a good way to find temporary relief from your abscess.
If the abscess ruptures, the pus drains. It leaves a bitter, salty, and/or metallic taste in your mouth. While you may feel instant pain relief after a rupture, this can also be a sign that the infection is spreading. If you suspect a rupture, please contact an emergency dentist.