Dental Emergency: Tooth Infections

EMERGENCY DENTAL CARE

Tooth infections can occur for a variety of reasons, but they are generally due to a lack of proper oral hygiene. When you have a tooth infection, you can experience pain, discomfort, and swelling. The pain can become so intense it is no longer bearable or tolerable. Fortunately, you can have your tooth infection treated the same day at URBN Dental at one of our dental offices in the Houston area. We reserve appointment times daily, just for dental emergencies.

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How Do You Know If You Have An Abscessed Tooth?

An abscessed tooth occurs when you have a bacterial infection in the gums or tooth root. Generally, the symptoms you experience will let you know you have an abscessed tooth.

Symptoms Of A Tooth Infection

Pain: You can experience pain in the location of the abscess, as well as in the tooth, ear, jaw, and neck. The intensity and frequency of the pain can vary based on the severity of the infection.
Pus: When an abscess ruptures, there will be pus that drains out into your mouth. Pus usually has a foul odor and can taste salty.
Bleeding gums: Some infections will cause the gums to bleed easily.
Funny taste in your mouth and bad breath: A bitter taste and constant bad breath could indicate a tooth infection.
Swelling: The area around the abscess can become swollen.
Tooth sensitivity: The infected tooth can become highly sensitive to hot or cold food and beverages.
Redness: The gum tissue in the location of the abscess will become red.
Other symptoms: Headaches, fever, and swollen lymph nodes on the side of the neck are other common symptoms of an abscessed tooth.

Causes Of Tooth Infections

Some of the more common causes of tooth infections include:

Untreated cavities: If you have cavities that have not been removed, the bacteria released can spread further into the tooth’s pulp and down into the tooth root, jaw, and gum tissue.
Cracked, broken, or chipped teeth: The bacteria that causes tooth infections can get into any opening in the tooth’s enamel layer and develop into an infection.
Tooth trauma: If you are involved in an accident, your teeth can be more susceptible to infection.
Periodontal (gum) disease: Periodontal disease is where the gum tissue is inflamed and causes the tissue to recede and pull away from the teeth. This exposes the base of the tooth and can allow infection-causing bacteria to get down into the gum tissue, jaw, and tooth

Factors That Increase The Likelihood Of Experiencing A Tooth Infection

Some of the common risk factors associated with tooth infections are:

Smoking/vaping: Smoking and vaping are not good for oral health. The chemicals in cigarette smoke and vaping liquids can irritate the gum tissue and can increase the likelihood of developing an abscess.
Dry mouth: People with xerostomia are at risk of abscesses because bacteria thrive more easily when there is less saliva.
Poor oral hygiene: People who do not brush twice daily, floss daily, and keep up with bi-annual dental checkups have a higher risk of cavities, gum disease, and tooth infections.
Weakened immune system: Certain medications, chronic health conditions, and diseases can weaken the immune system, making it more difficult for the body to fight infections.

Impacted wisdom teeth: Wisdom teeth that do not develop correctly and are impacted can become infected and lead to a tooth infection.

Consequences Of Untreated Tooth Infections

Untreated tooth infections can lead to further complications and problems, such as:

The spread of the infection to other teeth, the jawbone, and gum tissue
The bacteria that causes the infection could cause sepsis (blood infection), which can be life-threatening
Extreme pain and discomfort
Difficulting biting and chewing
Potential tooth loss
Jawbone density loss

Tooth Infection Temporary Home Treatments

Until you can see an emergency dentist at URBN Dental, there are several temporary things you can do to help treat the tooth infection at home, including:

Ice packs: Apply an ice pack to the area where it hurts or is swollen. Leave it on for 15 to 20 minutes at a time. You can reapply the ice pack once every hour.
Over-the-counter pain relievers: You can take acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or another over-the-counter pain reliever, but you should not take aspirin.
Tea bags: You can apply a tea bag to the infected area and leave it for at least 20 to 30 minutes. Tea is a natural treatment for inflammation and swelling.
Saltwater rinse: Mix half a teaspoon of salt with a cup of warm water. Swish the mixture around your mouth for about a minute, but do not swallow.

How A Dentist Diagnoses And Treats Tooth Infections

A dentist diagnoses tooth infections by performing a visual exam of the infected area. They can also take X-rays to see the precise location of the infection and how widespread it is. The dentist will numb the area with local anesthesia before treating the tooth infection. In some instances, sedation dentistry may be used before treating the infection. Some of the different treatments that are used to treat tooth infections are:

Root canals: The infection is removed from the tooth, root, and gum tissue. A follow-up visit is scheduled to attach a porcelain crown over the base of the tooth and restore its appearance.
Pus drainage: A small incision is made to help remove pus buildup, and the pus is drained out of the abscessed tooth.
Antibiotics: Part of treating tooth infections will involve taking antibiotics for a specific period to help boost your immune system and fight off any remaining infection.
Tooth extraction: If the infection is too widespread and the tooth cannot be saved, a tooth extraction will be performed to remove it.

FAQ

How Soon After A Tooth Infection Treatment Will You Feel Better?

Each patient’s recovery will vary based on the extent of their infection. Generally, pain relief should be noticeable after the tooth infection is treated. You can experience some sensitivity and minor soreness for a few days following treatment. It can also take a few days before swelling fully subsides. If you are prescribed an antibiotic, you should complete the entire prescription even if you are feeling better.

Will A Tooth Infection Go Away On Its Own?

A tooth infection will not go away or heal on its own. In some situations, the pain may subside because the nerve endings inside the tooth die. This does not mean the infection has cleared up. Instead, the infection can continue to spread into the surrounding gum tissue, other teeth, and the jawbone. When you experience any of the symptoms of a tooth infection, you need to see an emergency dentist as soon as possible.

How Long Can A Tooth Infection Go Without Treatment?

You should never allow a tooth infection to go without treatment. Untreated tooth infections will continue to spread to other areas. It could be weeks or even months before the infection worsens. You may even notice that your symptoms have improved, but the infection is still spreading. The longer you wait to have a tooth infection treated, the more damage it can cause to your teeth and beautiful smile.

How Can You Reduce Your Risk Of A Tooth Infection?

Several things you can do to reduce the risk of a tooth infection include:

Quit smoking or vaping
Brush your teeth twice daily and floss once a day
See a dentist at least once every six months for cleanings and preventative care
Have dental issues, like chips, cracks, or other problems resolved quickly
Avoid excess amounts of sugary drinks, foods, and snacks
Drink plenty of water to keep the mouth hydrated
Limit the amount of caffeinated beverages you drink

Sources:

Dental Cavities: What You Should Know. (2024).

Periodontal Disease & How You Can Prevent It. (2024).

The Effects of Smoking on Teeth. (2023).

Dental Emergency Patient Testimonials

URBN Dental provided great service and they were all so nice. They did a great job communicating with me and i would recommend to all.

I had a root canal and a crown done here, the entire process took about an hour. Will be back in 2 weeks for my final crown! Great doctor, great staff.

I am not the biggest fan of the dentist, however this was the BEST dentist experience I have ever had! Everyone was so kind and I got everything I needed done in one visit!

Very knowledgeable and informative, explaining all your x-ray and imagery and in creating a course of treatment. The staff is friendly and definitely concerned with their patients. Comfortable environment.

Excellent service. Great first impression! Best cleaning I’ve had in several years, my mouth feels amazing. They even took the time to show me how to brush more effectively. My teeth are back to being pearly white.

They were very prompt and professional. I felt very comfortable in the visit. They have good exam specials without any hidden fees. I have found me a permanent dentist office. Thanks URBN staff.