The Pain of a Dental Abscess: Why Prompt Treatment Is Vital

In this blog, you can learn all about how to make the right dietary choices for your oral health. You can learn what to drink and what to eat.

The Pain of a Dental Abscess: Why Prompt Treatment Is Vital

The Pain of a Dental Abscess: Why Prompt Treatment Is Vital

17 July 2018
 Categories:
Dentist, Blog


In terms of potentially painful dental conditions, an abscessed tooth can rank rather high on the list. In terms of pain free dentistry, the relief can be immediate upon visiting your dentist. An abscessed tooth can be extremely painful only when left untreated in the misguided hope that the situation will rectify itself, which is simply not the case.

Whether it's a periapical abscess (a bacterial infection forming in the base of the dental pulp), or a periodontal abscess (a bacterial infection forming in the gum next to the base of the dental pulp), the discomfort can be immense. Having the abscess treated can offer a speedy respite from the pain, even though the underlying cause for the abscess will need to be treated.

Draining the Abscess

The abscess will have created a swelling, which might be visible or might be contained within your gums, close to the dental pulp of the tooth in question. In any event, this swelling (created by the accumulation of pus) will put pressure on the sensitive dental pulp, leading to that characteristic abscess pain. Your dentist will be able to drain the affected area, removing a significant portion of the pus, and the pain relief can be immediate. If you are particularly sensitive to dental pain, your dentist might even be able to administer a local anesthetic prior to drainage.

Clearing the Infection

Draining the pus is only the first step, and antibiotics will generally be required to clear up the bacterial infection. This means that any subsequent pain during the healing process will quickly subside as the antibiotics allow your body to combat and banish the infection. Over the counter pain relief can be helpful, and again, if you're particularly sensitive to dental pain (or if the infection was acute), your dentist might provide you with a prescription for pain relief.

Fixing the Underlying Cause

Preventing reinfection is key, and this might require a root canal treatment. In some cases, the affected tooth might need to be removed, perhaps to be replaced with a dental implant at a later stage. Once again, this work can be performed under a local anesthetic with the possibility of post-operative pain relief.

Essentially you should never delay visiting a dentist with your abscessed tooth, fearing further pain. The abscess needs to be treated immediately, and a prompt visit to your dentist is the most effective way to prevent pain.

About Me
Improving Oral Health through Diet: Cavity-Free Foods

All kinds of things affect your oral health including your genes, how often you brush and the food you eat. As a mum, I feel like that last one is always overlooked, and I have created a blog to address that concept. In this blog, you can learn all about how to make the right dietary choices for your oral health. You can learn what to drink, what to eat and how to make healthy snacking easy. I have included posts for busy adults as well as tips on how to help your kids make healthy choices. I hope you enjoy the ideas here and that they benefit your oral health.