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Posts Tagged ‘Dental Abscess’

What is an Oral Abscess and How are They Treated?

Monday, May 18th, 2015

585811_blogOral abscesses develop in the mouth. There are two main types: periapical abscesses and periodontal abscesses. Periapical abscess develop beneath the tooth, while periodontal abscesses, which are not as common, form in the gums and bone structure.

About dental abscesses

Dental abscesses are pus-filled sores that tend to be very painful. They are caused by bacteria collecting in the mouth. The most common sign of a dental abscess is severe throbbing pain, which comes on suddenly and usually gets worse with time. If you think you may have a dental abscess, you should arrange to see your dentist urgently. Other symptoms to look out for include swelling (which may affect the whole of the side of the face), tenderness and sensitivity. Some people also suffer a high temperature and generally feel unwell when they have an abscess.

Dental abscesses are usually caused by poor oral hygiene, which results in bacteria collecting in the mouth. Your diet can also increase the risk of oral infections, especially if you consume a lot of sweet or starchy foods. The best ways to prevent a dental abscess are to practice good oral hygiene at home, eat a healthy, balanced diet, stick to the recommended daily sugar intake and visit your dentist for regular check-ups.

Treating a dental abscess

Unlike other types of abscess, dental abscesses must be treated by a dentist rather than a doctor. To treat an abscess, it needs to be drained and removed. Occasionally, antibiotics may be prescribed to reduce symptoms. Dental abscesses don’t get better with time and for this reason they should be treated as a dental emergency.

Do You Have a Tooth Infection? Signs and Symptoms

Wednesday, February 11th, 2015

364999_blogDental infections can cause sudden, severe pain. If you have a dental infection, don’t suffer in silence! Our amazing City Dental team is here to help.

What is a dental infection?

Dental infections are caused by bacteria. Often, the first sign of an infection is decay, which erodes the enamel, causing a hole known as a cavity to form. Cavities can be treated easily with a filling. However, if they are left untreated, there is a risk that infection can spread to other parts of the tooth, increasing the risk of more severe infection and the development of dental abscesses.

Symptoms of a cavity include pain, weakness in the tooth, tenderness in the tooth and sensitivity. In some cases, you can also feel the hole when you run your tongue over the surface of the tooth. It may also be possible to see the cavity when you look very closely at your mouth in the mirror.

About dental abscesses

Dental abscesses are fluid-filled sores that can develop inside the tooth (periapical abscess) or between the teeth and gums (periodontal abscess). Abscesses contain pus, which is a yellow fluid that contains bacteria. Abscesses cause pain, which may be severe and throbbing, tenderness and inflammation and they can also cause you to suffer from fever and make you feel under the weather.

Normally, abscesses are treated by doctors. However, in the case of dental abscesses, these must be treated by a dentist. Dental abscesses are treated in a different way and they need to be drained and removed, rather than treated with a course of antibiotics.

If you think you may have a dental abscess or you have severe dental pain, call us and we will do our best to see you and free you from pain as quickly as possible.

Which Hot And Cold Foods Can Cause You Dental Abscess Agony?

Thursday, September 18th, 2014

3534882_blogDental abscesses can be very painful and often, eating can contribute to throbbing, severe pain. There are certain foods and drinks, which may cause you to feel more pain and it’s best to avoid these. Here are some tips for handling dental abscesses and helping to reduce pain:

Dealing with pain

Abscesses can cause severe pain and it is particularly painful when you catch an abscess by mistake, you accidentally touch it or you eat or drink something that is sharp, acidic or very hot or cold. We advise our patients to take over the counter painkillers to reduce discomfort, but we strongly advise reading the dosage instructions and checking with us or a pharmacist beforehand if you have any queries. We also recommend applying an ice pack to the affected tooth; this will soothe pain and also reduce inflammation.

Seeing your dentist

When you have an abscess, it’s important to see your dentist as soon as you can, so that they can provide you with suitable treatment and relieve your pain. Unlike other abscesses, dental abscesses must be treated by dental professionals, other than doctors and if you see your GP there is only a limited amount of help they can give you. The reason for this is because dental abscesses need to be drained; this is to ensure that all harmful bacteria and fluids are removed from the mouth.

Watching what you eat and drink

If you have an abscess it’s best to avoid eating very hard or chewy foods, such as boiled sweets or candies, sharp foods, such as crisps and crusty bread, acidic flavours such as sour sweets and very hot foods and drinks, such as pies and pastries, hot coffee and tea and hot soup. If you’re eating a hot meal, try to wait for it to cool for longer than you would usually.