Abscess Relief

What is an abscess?

A dental abscess is an infection that occurs in the soft tissues of the mouth or inside the tooth, following a bacterial infection of some kind. They are characterised by pus-filled pockets around the teeth or severe pain inside the teeth, red and inflamed gums, and a general sickly feeling. Abscesses are caused by bacteria, food debris, and saliva, which together form a sticky, yellow film called plaque; this destroys the enamel surface of the teeth. Waste products from the bacteria in plaque eat through the mineral layers and allow bacteria to enter the delicate central chamber, which holds the nerves and roots of the teeth. If nothing is done to stop the spread of infection, the bacteria can irreparably damage the teeth and surrounding tissue.

There are two types of abscess:

Periapical abscess – This is the most common type of abscess, it occurs when the infection reaches the inside chamber – more often than not, it is the result of extensive tooth decay.

Periodontal abscess – This is not as well-known, but can be much more serious because it infects the gums.

Is there treatment available?

Abscesses can be very nasty, and without treatment a whole host of problems can arise, such as tooth loss, bone deterioration, and even blood poisoning – all the while, remaining very painful. However, there are procedures that can help to stop the disease progressing so far, as well as several home remedies that can alleviate the pain between appointments.

The first step when dealing with an infection of this level is to drain the fluid from inside the abscess, the pus contains infectious bacteria and has to be washed away before any surgery can be performed. This isn’t as painful as it sounds; you will be given anaesthetic to numb the area. The main surgical procedure is different for each type of abscess; if you have a periapical abscess, your dentist will use a root canal treatment to clean out the infected pulp. The tooth is drilled into and the pus drained out to allow the area to be cleaned, then the central pulp is removed and the area filled with composite material to stop further deterioration. For periodontal abscesses, your dentist will need to drain the pus from the periodontal pocket, and then remove any dead or infected tissue from the area using a process called planing. They will also have to smooth the root surfaces using a technique called scaling, this is to make sure the tooth heals properly and doesn’t succumb to infection again.

More extreme cases may require a session with an oral surgeon, they will be able to remove any severely infected tissue and rebuild damage to the teeth. The Pearl Dental Clinic employ highly qualified oral surgeons, who know how to deal with even the most extensive surgical complications, make an appointment if you are worried about recurring abscesses – it may be that the infected tissue was not sufficiently removed before the surgery was completed.

Is there any other kind of abscess relief?

If you can’t get to the dentist to deal with your problem, you could ask your GP for help dealing with the pain of abscesses. Although, there are emergency dental clinics available in the UK, they operate twenty-four hours a day and can usually refer patients for treatment with in a day.

Painkillers – If you suffer from abscesses, you’ll know that it is a very painful affliction that can be distracting and exhausting to deal with on a daily basis. Over the counter anti-inflammatories can help take the edge of the ache, but your GP may be able to give you something stronger if you’re in severe discomfort. If you are prescribed some medication or you buy some from the local pharmacy, make sure you don’t take more than the recommended dose, and make your dentist aware that you’ve taken some painkillers. Remember, pain relief is not a cure, seek dental treatment as soon as you can, or the problem will only get worse.

Antibiotics – For severe infection, your doctor may decide to prescribe you a course of antibiotics. This is usually necessary if the face or glands have become swollen, there are signs of the infection spreading to the blood, or the immune system has been weakened by some other treatment – for example, chemotherapy. Again, use of antibiotics will fight the infection but won’t cure the problem, get to a dentists surgery immediately if you are in this situation.

Which home remedies can help me?

There are several ways you can help relieve the discomfort from painful abscesses at home, whilst waiting to see a professional. They shouldn’t be used as a long term solution, and should be considered temporary relief.

Salt rinse – Salt has great cleansing properties and can help soothe the pain of a toothache caused by an abscess; it draws out the infection, whilst cleaning the inflamed area. Rinse your mouth out with a salt water solution a couple of times a day; you should notice the pain is significantly reduced after a few days.

Pain killers – Over the counter painkillers don’t need a prescription, so pick up a packet of Ibuprofen at the pharmacy. NSAID’s – Non-Steroid Anti-Inflammatories are best for this job, they not only dull the pain, they also work on the swelling.

Avoid hot or cold foods – That’s not to say you should eat your dinner at a luke-warm temperature, just don’t eat very hot soup or drink an icy cocktail when your abscesses are bothering you. The extreme change in temperature will aggravate the problem and cause you a lot of pain.