What To Do With Wisdom Tooth Abscess

04 Sep What To Do With Wisdom Tooth Abscess

An abscess is a pocket of trapped pus that can develop in your tissues, organs and other places in your body. One of the most common cases is a wisdom tooth abscess. If left untreated, an abscessed tooth can be fatal. You should contact your doctor immediately if you think you have an abscessed tooth.

What Is A Wisdom Tooth Abscess

An abscessed tooth carries an infection from the root of the tooth to its tip. Once a tooth becomes weak and is unable to fight off infection, bacteria may invade inside the tooth and cause an infection. This infection can get strong enough to reach the bone, which is why it’s important to catch and treat an abscessed tooth early on. 

A wisdom tooth abscess is very common because wisdom teeth are situated in the back of our mouths which makes them harder to clean. It’s also easy for our wisdom teeth to decay since we can’t see them as well as our other teeth. Luckily, wisdom teeth are typically removed so it’s possible to avoid a wisdom tooth abscess. 

Abscess Symptoms & Risks

If you experience any of the following symptoms please see a doctor as soon as possible:

• Tooth discoloration
• Pain while eating
• Loss of appetite
• General discomfort in the abscessed area
• Fatigue
• Swelling in your abdomen
• Swelling in your face, jaw, lymph nodes, and/or gum line

A wisdom tooth abscess can spread the infection to other parts of your body and in some cases lead to sepsis. Sometimes, if the tooth has lost all feeling, you may not feel any pain at all. It’s important to see your dentist twice annually to keep oral health concerns like an abscess in check. 

How To Treat An Abscess

Please do not try home remedies for an abscessed tooth. While a home remedy may alleviate pain temporarily, it will not cure the infection or stop the infection from spreading. Since abscesses can lead to more serious conditions, it’s best to have your tooth checked out by a doctor or professional. 

Most abscess teeth are treated with a small drainage procedure. A small cut is made around the tooth and the pus is drained out to rid of the infection. Antibiotics may also be prescribed.