Do You Have an Abscessed Tooth?

Are you suffering from toothache pain? If your tooth is hurting or you have swelling or redness in your gums, a fever or a bad taste in your mouth you could have an abscessed tooth. An abscessed tooth stems from an infection usually caused by problematic tooth decay, periodontal disease or a cracked/fractured tooth. All of these tooth problems can allow bacteria to enter the pulp of your tooth. The health of your tooth pulp is vital for a tooth to remain healthy. The pulp is the soft tissue of your teeth that contains the nerves, bloods vessels and connective tissues in your teeth. When bacteria attacks and leads to infection pus can build up at the tip of the root in the jaw bone, forming a pus-pocket called an abscess. An untreated abscess can lead to serious dental concerns including an infection in the jaw bone, teeth and surrounding tissues.

If you have any abscessed tooth symptoms you should call your dentist immediately. Symptoms of an abscess include:

  • Oral pain
  • Gum swelling
  • Redness or tenderness in the gums
  • Unpleasant, unusual taste in the mouth
  • Fever that accompanies any of the above mentioned issues

Your dental professional could use a number of options to treat an abscessed tooth, depending on the severity of the infection. Antibiotics may be used to eliminate and destroy the bacterium that is causing the infection. Your dentist may need to drain the infection.

  • Antibiotics, to destroy the bacteria causing the infection
  • Drainage of the infection
  • If the problem stems from gum disease your dentist will comprehensively clean the space between the tooth and the gum.
  • When an abscess is caused by decay or a cracked/fractured tooth you may need a root canal to remedy the problem.


Maintaining regularly scheduled dental exams/cleanings alongside good personal oral hygiene habits can significantly reduce your risk of developing a tooth abscess.

Posted on behalf of Grateful Dental

2000 Powers Ferry Rd SE, #1, Marietta, GA 30067

Phone: (678) 593-2979