Usually, serious tooth pain requires a visit to a dentist, who will then examine your mouth to determine what’s causing the pain. If your Memphis, TN dentist discovers a tooth infection, they will give you advice that you must follow seriously. A tooth infection does not go on by itself. Your dentist may treat the infection with medication or perform a procedure that directly targets the affected tooth.
How a Tooth Infection Occurs
Each of your teeth is alive, containing blood vessels, nerves, and connective tissues. If your teeth have cavities or get cracked or chipped, bacteria can enter and reside in the dental pulp, causing an infection. This infection can spread throughout the tooth’s interior and down to its root. When this happens, the tip of the root swells and becomes inflamed. As pus builds up around the root, you can have an abscessed tooth.
What Puts You at Risk for Tooth Infection
A lot of things can increase your risk of having an abscessed tooth. A diet full of sugary foods and beverages can increase your risk of developing dental cavities, letting bacteria enter. Also, improper and insufficient dental hygiene increases your risk of gum disease and tooth decay.
Tooth Infection Symptoms
You can experience serious, throbbing pain in your infected tooth. Usually, this pain radiates out into your ears, jawbone, and neck. Even if you do not experience pain, you may feel sensitivity to hot or cold temperatures with liquids and foods, as well as sensitivity when you chew or bite. If you have a tooth infection, you may have a fever, and the lymph nodes under your jaw or in the neck may swell. Also, the side of your cheek or face where the infection occurs will swell.
How Your Dentist Can Address a Tooth Infection
Your dentist may recommend treatment for your infected tooth based on the severity of the abscess. Typically, they will advise you on how you can prevent the problem from recurring. To clear the infection, your dentist may prescribe an oral antibiotic, which will address the bacteria and ensure it does not spread. If you have a simple abscess, you may need to undergo a root canal procedure to eliminate the infection and preserve the infected tooth. If you have a more serious abscess, your tooth may need to be drained before you undergo a root canal treatment. If the case is quite serious, the infected tooth may need to be extracted.