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Dental Abscess
A dental abscess is an infection that can spread beyond the tooth or gum and needs urgent professional care.
Overview
A dental abscess is a pocket of infection around a tooth root or gum. It may cause throbbing pain, swelling, pus, fever, bad taste, or difficulty opening the mouth. Antibiotics alone often do not solve the source; dental treatment is usually needed.
Key takeaways
- ✓Abscesses can spread to the face, neck, eye area, or airway.
- ✓Do not try to drain or pop a dental abscess at home.
- ✓Pain may reduce if an abscess drains, but the infection can remain.
- ✓Urgent dental treatment protects both oral and general health.
What you can do
- 1Use a cold compress on the outside of the face for swelling.
- 2Rinse gently with warm salt water for comfort.
- 3Avoid heat, alcohol, tobacco, and chewing on the affected side.
- 4Seek dental care urgently even if symptoms temporarily improve.
When to book a dentist
- !There is gum swelling, pus, bad taste, or throbbing pain.
- !A tooth feels raised, loose, or painful to bite on.
- !Swelling returns after previous antibiotics or pain medicine.
Emergency warning signs
- !Fever, facial swelling, eye swelling, or neck swelling.
- !Difficulty breathing, swallowing, or opening the mouth.