Tooth Abscess Pain Relief, Causes and Treatment
Ian C. Langtree - Writer/Editor for Disabled World (DW)
Published: 2009/03/17 - Updated: 2025/04/30
Publication Type: Instructive / Helpful
Topic: Dental and Teeth - Publications List
Page Content: Synopsis - Introduction - Main - Insights, Updates
Synopsis: This article provides a clear and accessible explanation of tooth abscesses, detailing their causes, symptoms, and treatment options. It outlines how infections can develop from untreated tooth decay or gum disease, leading to the formation of pus-filled pockets that cause severe pain and swelling. The article distinguishes between periapical and periodontal abscesses and emphasizes the importance of prompt dental intervention to prevent complications such as jawbone deterioration or tooth loss. Treatment approaches discussed include antibiotics, root canals, and drainage procedures, with a caution against immediate tooth extraction while the infection is active. This information is particularly useful for individuals with disabilities or seniors who may face challenges accessing timely dental care, as it underscores the urgency of addressing dental infections to avoid more serious health issues - Disabled World (DW).
Introduction
Abscesses are very serious conditions, and can lead to serious matters if they aren't treated immediately. When the pulp of a tooth dies due to damage or decay, bacteria will begin to grow from the dead tissue that is left. This bacteria will eventually spread from the root of the dead tooth into the tissue that is below and create a pocket of pus - the abscess.
Focus
The symptoms of an abscessed tooth are easy to see, as they include severe pain in the affected area, red or swollen gums, a bad taste in your mouth, swelling around the area or the jaw, and possibly a high fever. If you have a weakened immune system and you leave a tooth abscess untreated, your risk of a spreading infection increases even more.
The Two Types of Tooth Abscess
- A periapical (per-e-AP-ih-kul) abscess occurs at the tip of the tooth root.
- Periodontal (per-e-o-DON-tul) abscess occurs in the gums at the side of a tooth root.
Gum disease is also a cause for a tooth becoming abscessed:
Gum diseases causes the gums to pull back and away from teeth, leaving pockets behind. When one of the pockets becomes blocked, the bacteria can grow and spread, or get backed up. When this happens, an abscess will start to form under the surface of the gums and become apparent with swelling as it gets bigger and spreads.
Once the infection has started to spread, your jawbone may start to dissolve as it makes room for the swelling in the area that has been infected. Once the bone starts to dissolve, the pressure will be greatly reduced, although the infection will still be there. Even though you will get relief, the infection will get worse - and the pain will always come back. Once more of the bone has been dissolved, there will be nothing left to support the tooth, meaning that it will become loose and end up needing to be extracted.
Tooth Abscess Pain and Dental Treatment
Pain is excruciating with an abscess, normally affecting the area in a bad way. No matter what you do, the pain seems to intensify - See some home remedies for toothache pain. The buildup of pressure causes the pain of an abscess. Draining the abscess through a fistula reduces the pressure. The pain will disappear. However, the infection still needs to be treated.
Abscesses mostly occur with back teeth, although they can happen in the front as well. Once your tooth has become abscessed, your dentist won't immediately pull it. If a tooth that has abscessed is extracted once the infection is still present, it can quickly spread. Your dentist will instead prescribe you some antibiotics that can help to destroy the bacteria.
The dentist can also perform a root canal, in an attempt to remove dead or decayed tissue.
Last but not least, he can also drill a hole in the tooth to give the infection a chance to drain and try to remove any dead pulp.
The most common treatment with an abscess is to use antibiotics to kill the infection, then get the tooth removed.
You should never let it get that bad - as an abscess is something that can destroy your jawbone.
Insights, Analysis, and Developments
Editorial Note: Tooth abscesses demand swift action-ignoring them risks irreversible bone loss and life-threatening infections. While temporary pain relief might occur as pressure eases, underlying infections persist, requiring professional intervention. Prioritizing dental health isn’t just about preserving teeth; it’s a safeguard against broader health crises, especially for vulnerable populations - Disabled World (DW).
Author Credentials: Ian is an Australian-born writer, editor, and advocate who currently resides in Montreal, Canada. He is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Disabled World, a leading resource for news and information on disability issues. With a global perspective shaped by years of travel and lived experience, Ian is a committed proponent of the Social Model of Disability-a transformative framework developed by disabled activists in the 1970s that emphasizes dismantling societal barriers rather than focusing solely on individual impairments. His work reflects a deep commitment to disability rights, accessibility, and social inclusion. To learn more about Ian's background, expertise, and accomplishments, visit his full biography.