Dental abscess

Symptoms

Signs of a dental abscess include:

• intense toothache or pain in your gums
• redness inside the mouth, or outside the mouth on the face or jaw
• sensitivity to hot or cold food and drink in the affected area
• a bad taste in your mouth
• difficulty opening your mouth and chewing food
• a swollen face or jaw
• a high temperature

Causes

Dental abscesses usually happen when pus builds up beneath your teeth or gums when you have an infection in your mouth.

You may get a dental abscess if:

• you have a tooth that has not grown out of your gums properly (an impacted tooth)
• you have tooth decay or gum disease
• you have injured your teeth, gums or mouth
• you're having radiotherapy or chemotherapy

Treatment Options

Dental abscesses are usually treated by a dentist. The dentist will drain away the pus.

If a problem with your tooth has caused the abscess, you may need root canal treatment, or the tooth may be removed. You'll be given a local anaesthetic, so you do not feel any pain.

You may be offered painkillers to take for a few days after treatment and may also be given antibiotics.

How to ease the pain caused by a dental abscess

There are some things you can do to help with the pain until you can get dental treatment:

• take painkillers, such as ibuprofen or paracetamol (children under 16 should not take aspirin)
• eat soft foods like soup, scrambled eggs, mashed potatoes and yoghurt
• use a soft toothbrush to clean your teeth
• avoid having sugary, or very hot or cold, foods and drinks

Prevention Tips

There are some things you can do to help prevent dental abscesses.

Do:

• brush your teeth with fluoride toothpaste at least twice a day - spit after brushing, do not rinse
• clean in between your teeth every day using floss or interdental brushes
• replace your toothbrush every 1 to 3 months
• have regular dental check-ups so problems can be spotted early

Don’t:

• do not use mouthwash straight after brushing your teeth
• do not smoke

When To See A Doctor

See a dentist urgently if:

• you think you have a dental abscess

Do not go to a GP surgery as they will not be able to give you dental treatment.

Call an ambulance or go to emergency department if:

• you are finding it hard to breathe
• have a swollen or painful eye, or suddenly start having problems with your eyesight
• have a lot of swelling in your mouth

​Do not drive to emergency department. Ask someone to drive you or call and ask for an ambulance. Bring any medicines you take with you.