A mouth abscess can become extremely painful and you should not ignored it if you feel that you may have one. Many people wonder whether they can treat a dental abscess at home or if they need to see an emergency dentist immediately.
There are a few things you can do at home to ease the pain until emergency treatment is acquired. These include taking paracetamol or ibuprofen and avoiding hot food and drinks. However, it is important to know that a mouth abscess will rarely heal on its own. Most of the time, the root cause of the problem should be treated by a dentist in order to prevent complications.
If you think that you may have a dental abscess, the best approach would be to seek medical attention fast enough.
What is a Mouth Abscess?
A mouth abscess or a dental abscess is the pocket of pus resulting from the bacterial infection. It can occur in case of bacteria entering the tooth, gum, or surrounding tissues due to the injury, decay, gum disease, and crack in the tooth. Without getting the treatment, the infection may spread to the other teeth, gums, jawbone, or even the rest of the body.
Signs of a Mouth Abscess
If you are unsure whether you have a mouth abscess here are some of the signs that are normally experienced:
- Extreme pain in the affected area.
- A pus-filled lump in the gum region.
- Spread of the pain from the affected area to the jaw, cheek, ear and neck.
- Sensitivity to hot and cold food and beverages.
- Looseness and tenderness of the tooth.
- Swelling and reddening of the face.
- Difficulty with bad breath or bad taste in the mouth.
- Pain worsened by lying down hence interfering with sleeping abilities.
Can you cure a Mouth Abscess at home?
Home treatment may help you cope with the pain, however unfortunately, it cannot fully cure a dental abscess. The infection itself must be treated by a dentist. However, while you are waiting for your appointment, you could try the below to find temporary relief:
- Take painkillers
- Use warm salty water to rinse your mouth
- Avoid very hot, cold, or sugary foods and drinks
- Keep the area around your abscess as clean as possible
- Sleep with your head slightly elevated.
These methods might give you some relief but will not cure the infection.
Options for treatment
Depending on the nature of the abscess and its location, some procedures may be more effective. Our experienced dentists will assess the problem and recommend the most efficient way of treating it.
Root Canal Treatment
When the infection occurs inside the tooth, root canal treatment is often the preferred solution. Infected tissues are cleaned out, the roots are washed out, and the function of the tooth is recovered.
Abscess Drainage
In case of excessive swelling and pus accumulation, the abscess may need to be drained. This provides immediate relief from pressure and helps remove the source of infection.
Tooth Extraction
In cases where the tooth cannot be saved, a tooth extraction may be necessary to stop the infection spreading.
Antibiotics
Antibiotics may be prescribed if the infection has spread beyond the tooth or if significant swelling is present. However, antibiotics alone are rarely a complete solution and are usually combined with other dental treatment.
When is it an Emergency?
Dental abscess should always be taken seriously. You should seek emergency dental care immediately if you experience: 
- Fast swelling on your face
- Trouble with breathing or swallowing
- Fever or feeling generally unwell
- Fever and feeling ill
It is essential to receive proper treatment on time.
Book an Emergency Dentist Today!
If you think you may have a mouth abscess, don’t wait for the symptoms to get worse.
Pearl Dental Clinic is open 7 days a week, from 9am to 10pm, providing fast access to emergency dental care when you need it most.
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