Dental abscess

Symptoms 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
• swollen glands on each side of your neck
• a high temperature

There are some things you can do to help while you wait for treatment if you have pain from a dental abscess.

• 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 food or drink that is very hot or cold

• do not take more than the recommended dose of any painkiller – taking a higher dose will not make them work better, but it can be very dangerous

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.

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

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 between your teeth every day using floss or interdental brushes

• replace your toothbrush every 2 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.