Abscessed tooth

An abscessed tooth is an infection in or around the tooth. It can be very painful. If the infection isn't treated right away, it can spread and you can lose your tooth or have other health problems.

When you have an abscessed tooth, you may have:

• Throbbing pain, especially when you chew.
• Red, swollen gums.
• A bad taste in your mouth.
• Swelling in your jaw or face.
• A fever.
• A red, swollen bump in your mouth. It may have blood or pus oozing from it.
• A tooth that is very tender or sore to the touch.

Over time as the infection spreads, the bone in your jaw may start to dissolve. When this happens, you may feel less pain, but the infection will still be there. If you lose too much bone, your tooth will become loose and may have to be removed.

Your dentist will ask about your symptoms and look for swelling and other signs of infection in your mouth. Your dentist may tap on the tooth and apply heat or cold to the tooth. Your dentist may also take dental X-rays.

An abscessed tooth needs treatment right away. You and your dentist will decide what's right for you. Your dentist may:

• Give you antibiotics to kill the bacteria causing the infection.
• Make a hole in the tooth to drain the infection and relieve the pain.
• Do a root canal to remove the infected pulp in the tooth.
• Remove the tooth. This may be needed if you don't want a root canal, or if you have one and it doesn't work.

• Help your child brush and floss gently.
• Reduce pain and swelling in your child's face and jaw by putting ice or a cold pack on the outside of your child's cheek for 10 to 20 minutes at a time. Put a thin cloth between the ice and your child's skin.
• Be safe with medicines. Give pain medicines exactly as directed.
  • If the doctor gave your child a prescription medicine for pain, give it as prescribed.
  • If your child is not taking a prescription pain medicine, ask your doctor if your child can take an over-the-counter medicine such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin). Be safe with medicines. Read and follow all instructions on the label.
• Give your child antibiotics as directed. Do not stop using them just because your child feels better. Your child needs to take the full course of antibiotics.