What is a Tooth Infection / Abscess and how I can treat it?
Infected teeth can be extremely painful, affecting your ability to eat, speak and go about your daily routines. The infection can also lead to an abscess in your tooth or gum, which requires urgent treatment to prevent it from getting worse or causing the infection to spread
Pulpitis is the inflammation of the dental pulp, which is the soft tissue inside the tooth containing nerves and blood vessels. This inflammation is typically caused by bacterial infection, tooth decay, or trauma to the tooth.
If left untreated, Pulpitis can progress to a more severe condition known as a tooth abscess. An abscess occurs when the bacterial infection spreads beyond the dental pulp and into the surrounding tissues, causing a buildup of pus and swelling.
The pain associated with Pulpitis can vary in severity, ranging from mild to intense. In the early stages, the pain may only occur when eating or drinking hot or cold foods or when pressure is applied to the tooth. However, as the inflammation progresses, the pain may become constant and severe.
When a tooth abscess develops, the pain may become even more intense and throbbing, accompanied by fever and swelling in the face or neck. The area around the affected tooth may also become red and tender to the touch.
Treating Pulpitis typically involves removing the inflamed dental pulp and sealing the root canal to prevent further infection. This procedure is known as a root canal treatment.
What I recommend for Pulpitis is 1 mg Paracetamol and 600 mg Ibuprogen taken together 4 x daily ( YES, IT WORKS ).
Voltorol is another painkiller, but as an opioid, I don’t like this drug.
Co-codamol can also be used, but again, other systemic effects can have adverse outcomes.
No antibiotics are required in these cases just treat the symptom, and that means opening and draining the tooth or extract.
In cases where a tooth abscess has developed, the condition will need to be drained, and the tooth may also need to be extracted. If systemic infection is evident, such as a fever or swelling in the face or neck, antibiotics may be prescribed to help fight the disease.
This is when antibiotics are needed.
Three days of Antibiotics are typically what is required, and a review.
Pain relief medication may also be recommended to help manage the discomfort associated with Pulpitis or a tooth abscess( as above ) It is essential to seek prompt treatment for Pulpitis to prevent the condition from progressing to a more severe abscess or infection, which can lead to tooth loss and even systemic health complications and sepsis
It is a “tale” that if you have an abscess, you can’t have the tooth out or drained – what you need is drainage, the provision of local anaesthetic in the correct place and treatment can be provided on that very visit.
If you have an infected tooth, our priority is getting you out of pain and trying to save your natural tooth in the process, typically with root canal treatment. In some cases, however, an extraction will be needed to stop the infection in its tracks and get you back to full oral health.
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