How is an abscessed tooth diagnosed?

There are several signs that you may be experiencing an abscess. Those are:

• pain  
• swelling
• redness in the gums
• bad taste in the mouth
• fever

An abscessed tooth can be treated with various treatments, depending on the severity of the infection. Here some of the treatment methods a dentist may consider:

• Antibiotics, to destroy the bacteria causing the infection.
• Drainage of the infection.
• Cleaning the space between the tooth and the gum if the cause is from gum disease
• Root canal treatment if the abscess is caused by decay or a cracked tooth

Throbbing pain, especially when you chew, may signal an abscessed tooth, but it's important that you see your dentist for a definite diagnosis. An abscess is an infection of the tooth. Holes in your tooth enamel allow bacteria to dig deep inside your tooth. As these bacteria infect your tooth, it becomes filled with pus--a mixture of dead tissue, white blood cells and bacteria.

Your dentist will examine the tooth and touch it. If the dentist's touch makes you jump, and/ or if your gums are swollen and draining a thick substance, you may be diagnosed with a tooth abscess. Your dentist also may take x-rays  of the affected tooth to see if there is a hole inside and do lab tests to find out what kind of bacteria is causing the abscess so she or he can give you the right antibiotic to fight off the infection.