TREATING AN ABSCESSED TOOTH
With proper dental care and hygiene, you should be at a low risk of an abscessed tooth. However, infections can happen at any time. To avoid getting any sort of dental abscess, consult your dentist on proper dental care near Naples. In case you think you have an abscess due to pain, discomfort, or visible changes to the soft tissues in your mouth, call your dentist right away.
Determining the Type of Abscess
You should have your dentist make an official diagnosis, as there are two common dental abscesses he will treat: an abscessed tooth and a gum abscess. An abscessed tooth occurs when the nerve of a tooth is dead or dying. The abscess itself is inside the tooth, and can spread to the surrounding bone and jaw. A gum abscess typically occurs when food is trapped between the gum and tooth. The infection will be in the gum tissue, and it can spread through the gums, skin, and bone.
Staying Comfortable Until Treatment
Make an appointment with your dentist right away, because abscesses can cause serious problems if the infection spreads. Until you can see your dentist, you should rinse your mouth with a mild salt and water solution. Do this several times a day to help relieve pressure from the infection and, hopefully, draw any puss out of the abscess.
Undergoing Care at the Dentist’s Office
If the gum abscess has opened up—commonly called a fistula—the dentist will trace this hole back to the infection source. Once he finds the original infection—usually with the help of an X-ray—he will clean and sanitize the area. If you have a tooth-related abscess, your dentist will drill a small hole into the tooth. The infection will drain, and your dentist will perform a root canal and fit your tooth with a crown. In extreme cases where the infection is very bad or has spread, your dentist may have to extract the infected tooth. Then, you may receive prescriptions for antibiotics and painkillers to keep any residual infection from spreading
