Experiences with

Dental abscess

Check if you have a dental abscess

Signs of a dental abscess include:

• intense toothache or pain in your gums
• redness inside the mouth, or outside the mouth on the face or jaw
• sensitivity to hot or cold food and drink in the affected area
• a bad taste in your mouth
• difficulty opening your mouth and chewing food
• a swollen face or jaw
• a high temperature

• you think you have a dental abscess

Do not go to a GP surgery as they will not be able to give you dental treatment.

• you are finding it hard to breathe
• have a swollen or painful eye, or suddenly start having problems with your eyesight
• have a lot of swelling in your mouth

How to ease the pain caused by a dental abscess

There are some things you can do to help with the pain until you can get dental treatment.

• take painkillers, such as ibuprofen or paracetamol (children under 16 should not take aspirin)

• eat soft foods like soup, scrambled eggs, mashed potatoes and yoghurt

• use a soft toothbrush to clean your teeth

• avoid having sugary, or very hot or cold, foods and drinks

Treatment for a dental abscess

Dental abscesses are usually treated by a dentist. The dentist will drain away the pus.

If a problem with your tooth has caused the abscess, you may need root canal treatment, or the tooth may be removed. You'll be given a local anaesthetic, so you do not feel any pain.

You may be offered painkillers to take for a few days after treatment and may also be given antibiotics.

Causes of a dental abscess

Dental abscesses usually happen when pus builds up beneath your teeth or gums when you have an infection in your mouth.

You may get a dental abscess if:

• you have a tooth that has not grown out of your gums properly (an impacted tooth)
• you have tooth decay or gum disease
• you have injured your teeth, gums or mouth
• you're having radiotherapy or chemotherapy

How to prevent dental abscesses

There are some things you can do to help prevent dental abscesses.

• brush your teeth with fluoride toothpaste at least twice a day - spit after brushing, do not rinse

• clean in between your teeth every day using floss or interdental brushes

• replace your toothbrush every 1 to 3 months

• have regular dental check-ups so problems can be spotted early

• do not use mouthwash straight after brushing your teeth

• do not smoke

Symptoms of a dental abscess include intense toothache, painful gums, a bad taste in your mouth and a swollen face or jaw.

A dental abscess will not go away without treatment. A dentist will need to drain the abscess and treat the cause of the infection.

While waiting for treatment for a dental abscess, you can ease the pain by taking painkillers, eating soft foods and using a soft toothbrush.

Causes of a dental abscess include an impacted tooth, tooth decay, gum disease, and injuries to the teeth or gums.

Related links

Dental abscess

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