Abscessed Tooth

Tooth decay causes damage to the core of a tooth, called the pulp. When this happens, the pulp can get infected and swollen, and pus may build up near or in the jaw bone. When left untreated, an abscessed tooth can cause other serious health problems such as destruction to surrounding tissue and bone.

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The most common form of treatment for an abscessed tooth is a root canal, which involves removing the infected tissue, cleansing and sealing the canal of the tooth, and then restoring the tooth with a crown or a cap.

An Abscessed Tooth Makes a Toothache Sound Pleasant!

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There are no words strong enough (or appropriate to say to a general audience) that can describe the level of pain one feels when suffering a severely abscessed tooth.

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Other abscessed tooth symptoms one will feel (when not focusing on the pain) include fever, sensitivity to hot or cold food and beverages, a bitter taste in the mouth, bad breath, redness & swelling of the gums, swollen neck glands and upper or lower jaw area, an open sore on the side of the mouth, general discomfort (such as uneasiness or even illness) and of course extreme pain, can we say OUCH!

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An abscessed tooth will hurt when you eat when you try to fall asleep when you shower when you watch TV when you are driving no matter what you are doing, it hurts! 

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Luckily, the pain may stop when the infection eats away enough bone to drain into your mouth. However, this does not mean "everything is okay now." The infection continues to spread and destroy tissue. For that reason, it is absolutely critical to see a dentist if you are experiencing any of the previously mentioned symptoms even if the pain does subside.