Symptoms and Treatment of Tooth Infection

An abscess is a bacterial tooth infection that leads to a build up of pus or fluid at

your tooth's root.  Tooth infection symptoms require medical treatment by a dentist or

dental surgeon, and left untreated can develop life-threatening complications.

Symptoms of an abscess is usually upper jaw pain and hypersensitivity to certain

foods.  Look for a darkness of the tooth which is a sign that the pulp is dead.


Major Tooth Infection Symptoms


Pain

An abscess on the upper jaw can cause you toothache that persist even if you use

over-the - counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen. This pain comes from the action

of the abcess that is present in the root of the tooth.  You may feel pain along your

upper jaw and palate, in your cheeks, and from your ears to your temples due to having

an abscess in the maxilla.


Fever

The bacteria that is present in the abscess in your teeth can cause you symptoms such

as a fever of 101 degrees Fahreinheit or more to develop along with chills and sweats


Fluid

Unpleasant taste and foul odor coming from the mouth is another sign of having an

tooth infection. If the abscess bursts in your tooth, you can create a sudden mouthful

of liquid that tastes and smells bad and can cause one to experience gagging or

vomiting.


Sensitivity

An abscess in your jaw may cause sensitivity when you eat very hot food, cold drinks

or foods to chew firm or hard.  This relentless pain is caused by the gums and bone,

near the abscessed tooth, feeling pressure due to the spreading infection in the

tooth.


Swelling

You may notice swelling of your face, especially around your cheeks and the area near

where the abscess is located, but also in the lymph nodes in your neck.


Treatment for Tooth Infection


The treatment of an abscessed tooth may be in the form of a root canal.  For many,

this is a nightmare experience due to of all the dental horror stories.  But remember

the dentist is able to numb the area.  The tooth will be opened, the nerves will be

removed, and the cavity will be flushed clean  The tooth is then filled and the

procedure is completed. Another method of treatment is to pull the abcessed tooth. If

there is any bacteria left behind then a root canal may still be necessary to clear

out any lingering problems.