When should I seek immediate help if I have an abscess?

If you are experiencing an abscess, visit your dentist as soon as possible. That's because if the abscess is not treated, it can lead to a serious infection in the jaw bone, teeth and surrounding tissues. The most common symptoms of an abscess include pain, swelling, redness in the gums, a bad taste in the mouth and fever.

Depending on the severity of the infection, there are a variety of treatments a dentist can use for abscessed tooth. 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