ACCORDING TO THE ADA, the main culprits of tooth infections are untreated tooth decay, gum disease, or a cracked tooth. What they all have in common is they give bacteria a path to the pulp chamber at the center of a tooth, where it can cause a buildup of pus at the root’s tip (called an abscess).
The most obvious symptom of a tooth infection is severe toothache. Others are a foul taste, red and swollen gums, bad breath, a loose tooth, a pimple on the gums, and tooth sensitivity. Tooth infections can become life-threatening without treatment, and if a fever, difficulty breathing or swallowing, or swelling accompany those symptoms, it’s time to seek medical attention.
A cavity that hasn’t reached the pulp can be treated with a filling. Beyond that, it will require root canal therapy. That process involves clearing out the diseased pulp, filling and sealing the pulp chamber and root canals, and getting rid of the source of the infection — all without removing the tooth itself. Abscesses can be drained with a small incision and washed with saline, and antibiotics will help prevent the spread of infection.
It’s better to prevent infection from taking root than having to treat it, and we do that with good oral health habits: twice-daily brushing, daily flossing, and regular dental exams and cleanings.
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