If you have an abscess you will know about it! It is a painful condition caused by a tooth nerve dying, then getting infected. The tooth nerve usually dies because of untreated tooth decay, a deep filling/crown, or having a trauma to the tooth. Bacteria get into the dead nerve and spread. When they reach the end of the root, they start to spread into the bone surrounding it. This causes the pain associated with an abscess. The pressure build-up on the bone makes the tooth painful to bite on.

If these symptoms sound familiar, it is very important to seek dental treatment as a matter of urgency so that your dentist can drain the infection. You may also need to take anti-biotics. Dental abscesses can spread to give you a swollen face - which can be dangerous if untreated.

If you have a dental abscess, you need to have the source of the infection removed, by either root treating or extracting the tooth. If you decide to try to save the tooth by having it root filled, it will need a filling or crown afterwards. If you decide to have the tooth extracted you can leave a gap, or you can replace the tooth with a denture, bridge or implant. Your dentist can advise you of the best choice.
Painkillers such as paracetomol and ibuprofen can help to control the pain. If you take these, carefully read the instructions on the package and make sure you don’t exceed the dose stated on the box. Your pharmacist can offer advice on this if you are unsure. To relieve the pain properly, the infection has to be drained and usually antibiotics are prescribed.