Overview
A tooth abscess is a pocket of pus from a bacterial infection at the root of a tooth or in the gum, usually following untreated decay. It causes severe throbbing pain and facial swelling, and the infection can spread dangerously to the jaw and neck. It always needs a dentist — antibiotics alone do not fix the source.
Symptoms
- Severe, persistent throbbing toothache
- Pain spreading to the jaw, ear or neck
- Facial or gum swelling
- A tender lump on the gum, sometimes leaking pus
- Fever
- Bad taste in the mouth
- Pain on biting or touching the tooth
Causes & risk factors
- Untreated tooth decay reaching the nerve
- Cracked or broken tooth
- Advanced gum disease
- Failed or incomplete previous dental treatment
Treatment & self-care
A dentist drains the pus and treats the source — root-canal treatment or extraction — often with a course of antibiotics; painkillers and warm salt-water rinses help while awaiting care. Do not press, lance or apply substances to the swelling at home. Untreated abscesses can spread to the neck and become life-threatening.
See a doctor urgently if
- Facial swelling with fever
- Swelling spreading toward the eye or neck — emergency
- Difficulty opening the mouth, swallowing or breathing — emergency
- Severe toothache not controlled by simple painkillers