What Is an Abscessed Tooth?
In the US, there have been an increasing number of emergency room admissions and hospitalizations for an abscessed tooth and related complications. An abscessed tooth is a dangerous medical condition that can lead to life-threatening complications and needs to be immediately addressed. But what is an abscessed tooth? How do you recognize it? And how is it treated? An Abscessed Tooth Is an Infection You probably know that tooth decay, also known as cavities or dental caries, is caused by bacteria in your mouth that eat sugars and excrete acids. These acids etch away the surface of your tooth, your dental enamel. When there’s enough of these acids in one place, it creates a cavity. A cavity can shelter more bacteria, which then excrete more acid, enlarging the cavity. Eventually, a cavity will break through the tooth enamel and the dentin (the next layer of your tooth), into the tooth pulp, sometimes called the nerve. This is the living part of the tooth. When bacteria get inside your tooth, they are even more protected. They will feed on your tooth pulp, take nutrients from your blood supply, and grow. Once inside a tooth, bacteria can travel through the inside of the tooth root, through the root canals, into the jawbone, your sinuses, and other teeth. Symptoms of an Abscessed Tooth If you have developed an abscessed tooth, you may experience these symptoms: Sensitivity to hot or cold foods and beverages that causes lasting pain (a half hour or more) Touch sensitivity in teeth Tooth pain that doesn’t respond to over-the-counter medications or persists for days on end Repeated sinus infections Blisters or pimples on your gum Severe discoloration of a tooth Other times, you may not experience many symptoms at all. The best way to ensure the health of your teeth is to have regular visits to your dentist. How an Abscessed Tooth Is Treated An abscessed tooth is treated with a root canal or endodontic procedure. This involves removing the infected material within your tooth and replacing it with an inert substance that can work as a structural support but won’t get infected. Then the tooth is covered with a protective dental crown. If you suspect you may have an abscessed tooth that needs treating, please contact Ascent Dental in Denver today for an appointment.
Treating Bleeding or Swelling Gums
Unfortunately, up to a third of Americans think it’s normal to see some blood in the sink after brushing and flossing. Although this is common, it’s not normal. It’s a sign of gum disease. Minor gum disease, gingivitis, can lead to painful, bleeding, or swelling gums. These can be uncomfortable and unattractive. Gingivitis can also progress to periodontitis, a serious form of gum disease. Periodontitis is when your gums are badly infected, resulting in bone loss around your teeth, infections that can spread to your blood or elsewhere in your body, and eventually tooth loss. Gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss among adults. If you have bleeding or swelling gums, it’s best to get treatment before it’s too late. Visiting Your Dentist If you haven’t been to the dentist in a while, it’s time to go now. Gum disease is often associated with hardened plaque deposits, called tartar or dental calculus, that build up around the gumline. These deposits cannot be removed by you at home, and they can provide shelter for bacteria that are infecting your gums. Your dentist can also evaluate your gums and decide whether you need aggressive treatment or simple changes to your oral hygiene routine will be sufficient. Changing Your Oral Hygiene One of the things you can do to improve the state of your gums is to change your oral hygiene habits. You can do this even before going to the dentist, but don’t consider these changes a substitute for seeing your dentist. Some changes to consider: Make sure you’re brushing at least twice a day Make sure that every time you brush, you brush for at least two minutes If your teeth still don’t feel clean after brushing, try switching to an electric toothbrush Floss every day Floss before brushing to ensure toothpaste penetrates between your teeth Your dentist may also recommend other changes, such as using a mouthwash, changing your toothpaste, or other suggestions. Reducing Bacteria below the Gumline If your gums are seriously infected and you have lost significant amount of bone around your teeth, your dentist may recommend periodontal treatments to remove bacteria that are building up around your tooth root. There are many ways to do this, from manually scraping the deposits away and smoothing the tooth root to reduce the amount of bacteria that can attach there to lasers that can be used to sterilize these areas. Your dentist will talk to you about which one is best in your case. To learn more about your gum disease treatment options, please contact Ascent Dental in the Cherry Creek area of Denver today.