What is Dental Abscess
Dental abscess is an area of pus in or around a tooth. It comes from an infection. It can cause pain and other symptoms. Treatment will help with symptoms and prevent the infection from spreading.
Follow these instructions at home:
Medicines
- Take over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your dentist.
- If you were prescribed an antibiotic medicine, take it as told by your dentist. Do notstop taking it even if you start to feel better.
- If you were prescribed a gel that has numbing medicine in it, use it exactly as told.
- Do notdrive or use heavy machinery (like a lawn mower) while taking prescription pain medicine.
General instructions
- Rinse
out your mouth often with salt water.
- To make salt water, dissolve ½–1 tsp of salt in 1 cup of warm water.
- Eat a soft diet while your mouth is healing.
- Drink enough fluid to keep your urine pale yellow.
- Do notapply heat to the outside of your mouth.
- Do notuse any products that contain nicotine or tobacco. These include cigarettes and e-cigarettes. If you need help quitting, ask your doctor.
- Keep all follow-up visits as told by your dentist. This is important.
Prevent an abscess
- Brush your teeth every morning and every night. Use fluoride toothpaste.
- Floss your teeth each day.
- Get dental cleanings as often as told by your dentist.
- Think about getting dental sealant put on teeth that have deep holes (decay).
- Drink
water that has fluoride in it.
- Most tap water has fluoride.
- Check the label on bottled water to see if it has fluoride in it.
- Drink water instead of sugary drinks.
- Eat healthy meals and snacks.
- Wear a mouth guard or face shield when you play sports.
Contact a doctor if:
- Your pain is worse, and medicine does not help.
Get help right away if:
- You have a fever or chills.
- Your symptoms suddenly get worse.
- You have a very bad headache.
- You have problems breathing or swallowing.
- You have trouble opening your mouth.
- You have swelling in your neck or close to your eye.
Summary
- A dental abscess is an area of pus in or around a tooth. It is caused by an infection.
- Treatment will help with symptoms and prevent the infection from spreading.
- Take over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your dentist.
- To prevent an abscess, take good care of your teeth. Brush your teeth every morning and night. Use floss every day.
- Get dental cleanings as often as told by your dentist.
