Reduce pain and swelling in your face and jaw by putting a cold pack of ice on the outside of your cheek. Put a thin cloth between the ice and your skin and do this for 10 to 20 minutes at a time.

Take pain medicines exactly as directed.

If the doctor wrote you a prescription medicine for pain, take it as prescribed. Ask your doctor if you can take an over-the-counter medicine if you are not taking a prescription pain medicine.

Take antibiotics as directed until the full course is finished, even if you feel better. In order to ensure that the infection has cleared, you need to take the full course of antibiotics.

There are ways to relieve the pain and swelling associated with your infected tooth, including saltwater rinses with or without baking soda, hydrogen peroxide rinses, and cold compresses. While these treatments can all help with symptoms, a dentist will be able to let you know whether you need further treatment.

Your dentist will start at the source of your infection, in this case, the abscess. An abscess is a pocket of pus that forms around the tooth as a result of an infection. Your dentist will drain it intentionally if the abscess doesn’t burst on its own. If the abscess is serious enough, you may require a root canal or tooth removal.

While getting rid of the abscess is important, you might also require antibiotics to get rid of any bacteria that are still in the area.

With the proper treatment from a dentist, an abscess should go away within a week. Complications can arise that extend the healing period, and if the infection spreads, it could last for several weeks.

You may feel relief from your tooth pain if a tooth abscess has ruptured. Too often, patients do not think that they need to see a dental specialist to treat their infection since their pain is gone. However, this is actually the most vital time to seek emergency dental treatment. A ruptured tooth abscess can cause an infection to spread expeditiously throughout the body and sometimes lead to a life-threatening infection known as sepsis.

Contact your dentist right away for treatment if you notice any of these early signs of a tooth infection or abscess:

• A severe, throbbing toothache or sharp, shooting pain that won’t go away
• Extreme sensitivity to both cold and hot temperatures and also while chewing
• Swelling in your face
• Swollen glands under your neck or jaw
• A swell on the gum line next to the tooth in pain
• A sudden foul-tasting and foul-smelling fluid in your mouth along with pain relief

It is important to seek emergency medical care if you notice any of the following symptoms of a tooth infection spreading:

• Fever or low body temperature
• Swelling around the face and neck
• Malaise and feeling “unwell”
• Headache
• Dizziness
• Hot and cold flushes
• Chills and shivering
• Rapid heartbeat
• Fast breathing
• Agitation or change in mental status
• Abdominal pain
• Diarrhea or vomiting
• Decreased urine output

If you or someone you know has a tooth abscess, come to Ideal Endodontics today! Our professional and caring staff are experienced in treating abscesses, and can help you find relief! To speak with one of our specialists, contact our office today. Visit us online or simply contact us to book an appointment.