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What is a Tooth Abscess?

  • Posted On  August 7, 2012
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What is a Tooth Abscess?

Perhaps the only thing you’ve ever known about tooth abscesses is that you don’t want one. But why is it so bad? What exactly is it? Frankly, it’s something you definitely want to avoid. A tooth abscess is a collection of pus at the tip of a single tooth; a pocket of fluid within the tissue surrounding the tooth’s apex. It’s often a result of an infection in the pulp of a tooth. This pulp infection can be caused by a serious gum disease, tooth decay or maybe something as simple as a chipped tooth. It sounds bad enough as it is, but does it hurt?

The actual infection of the pulp may not cause any pain, but once an abscess has formed, there is usually an ongoing, extreme pain in the tooth and the gums surrounding it. Using that tooth to chew or putting any sort of heat to it will only cause more pain and the abscess may also cause swelling in the gums or cheek. Luckily, the swelling can be managed by pressing the usual ice pack to the affected tissue. Yet, with an acute abscess, the swelling may occur but the pain may not. In any case, if there are any symptoms of a dental problem, a dentist should be consulted immediately.

In some serious cases, the abscess could get through the bone and drain into nearby facial tissues. This can cause a more serious case of swelling and puff up more than just some gums and a little bit of your cheek. The abscess may also affect the lymph glands in the neck, which may become tender and a little swollen. If the abscess is bad enough, it may even cause pain similar to a migraine. But, generally, pain in the gums surrounding the infected tooth is common and the tooth itself is extremely tender to the touch.

Abscess Treatment

Obviously, it sounds like a lot of painful possibilities rolled up into one. It’s definitely something you want to get rid of immediately. Truly, the only way to get on the path to recovery is to visit your dentist. They can help identify whether or not that pesky pain is caused by a tooth abscess and, if it is, they can help you get rid of it and return to happy dental health. Unfortunately, the treatment of a tooth abscess isn’t always a skip in the park. What is done to solve the problem may depend on how bad the infection is and can go something like this:

If there is, in fact, a tooth abscess, the dentist will do their best in reducing the infection in the tooth. This can be done by either antibiotics or drainage, but whether or not the tooth will stay nested in your gums or not depends on the state of the tooth itself.
If the tooth looks like it can be saved, a root canal procedure will be performed to remove as much of the infection as possible.
If the tooth is too far gone, then it will be extracted completely and some of the surrounding tissue will be removed in order to reduce the infection as much as possible.
It sounds like a lot of scary bits and pieces, but it will be worth it. If the tooth is still hanging on and was treated with a root canal procedure, the tooth will be checked at a year mark and also at a two year mark to make sure that everything is properly healed and the problem is not reoccurring.

Now that you know about tooth abscesses, be sure to visit the dentist if you suspect you have one. Even if isn’t an abscess, it’s better to be safe than sorry and may prevent worse issues that can result if you wait.

How to Get Rid of a Canker Sore

  • Posted On  August 7, 2012
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How to Get Rid of a Canker Sore

They annoy, they irritate, and—most of all—they sting. Canker sores are not pleasant and can often get in the way of enjoying everyday life. With a canker sore, that salsa is suddenly not as delicious as it usually is, or that lemonade has become the bane of your existence. That canker sore can create enemies out of your favorite foods until you’re finally free of its stinging existence. Naturally, you want it to go away as quickly as possible. There are more than a several ways to go about getting rid of that sore, ranging from pills to foods to a combination of home supplies.


Over the Counter

There are certainly over the counter treatments that can help with your canker sore, but be sure to read the label carefully. Some products may have ingredients that can cause an allergic reaction, such as those that use bee byproducts. There are pills that can be taken or gel patches to apply directly to the sore, depending on what works best for you. Some pills help prevent future outbreaks, if it’s a common occurrence, by building up the immune system. Gel patches can help with instant relief and healing, but won’t be as handy for prevention. There are also some liquid medications that can be swished around in your mouth like a mouthwash that will also help with healing and relief. Here are a few pharmacy products to try:

ACIDOPHILUS: Acidophilus is a probiotic often found in yogurt. It stimulates the immune system and helps the sore heal and get out of your hair. To get rid of the sore as quickly as possible, pick up the pill form from your nearest pharmacy. Take it two to four times a day with a healthy dose of milk.
ALOE JUICE: Aloe Juice can be purchased at a pharmacy and helps relieve and heal that canker sore. Aloe Vera does wonders for stings, burns and bites and it does the same for sores. Unfortunately, it doesn’t have the most pleasant of tastes. Apply the juice to the sore several times a day for maximum relief and healing.
MILK OF MAGNESIA or MYLANTA: Both of these remedies are antacids and can help with that oral ulcer. They can be applied directly to the sore by dabbing a little onto the sore or just swishing it in your mouth to coat the sore. These help prevent an infection as well as helping the healing process.

But, if the sore is already infected, do not use either of these, as they will only protect the bacteria that causes the infection.

GO AHEAD and try a few until you find a product that works best for you. Or, if you’re not really into trying out such products, there are also plenty of home remedies to try.

Home Remedies

If you don’t want to make a trip to the store for an over the counter product, a home remedy might be more your thing. You might have a few of these things lying around the house to be put to use, or maybe you don’t get canker sores often enough to purchase that bottle of pills. These remedies might be an easier solution for you:

BAKING SODA: This home product can easily be mixed with water and helps clean the sore so it will heal better. Just mix half a teaspoon of baking soda with a dab of water to make a paste. Apply the paste directly to the sore.
SALT WATER or SALINE SOLUTION: Salt water is also very helpful in clearing away bacteria in the sore. Mix a single teaspoon of salt with a cup of warm water. Swish the solution in your mouth for about thirty seconds. To speed up the healing process, repeat this treatment up to three times a day.
MOUTH WASH: That minty cleanser helps keep that canker sore clean and bacteria free so it will heal faster. But be careful not to use it too often, as it can get rid of the good bacteria hanging out in your mouth. You’ll want to keep those buddies, but flush out the bad.
HYDROGEN PEROXIDE: Make a mixture of half 3% hydrogen peroxide solution and half water. Swish it around in your mouth, but do not swallow it and don’t overuse it. It will clear out the good bacteria, just like the mouth wash. If this is used in the early development of a canker, it could help prevent an actual sore.
ALUM: You can find this little guy in the spice section in the store. Of course, being a spice, it has a stinging effect that can be very painful. If you’re ready to brave this remedy, be prepared for a bite of pain. Apply it directly to the sore once or twice a day and then rinse thoroughly afterwards.
COPPER SULFATE (A.K.A Bluestone): This is an old remedy from a couple centuries ago and is rather difficult to find. It helps the skin contract to close the sore, but it also has a bit of a kick to it. If you happen to find it, be sure to consult your doctor before you try using it.
SAGE TEA: A simple cup of sage tea can help your canker sore heal up nicely. With each sip, go ahead and swish it around in your mouth a bit before swallowing.
CLOVE OIL: Applying clove oil directly to the sore will actually help numb it if the pain gets to be too much to bear.
PLUM JUICE: Sip up a couple of tablespoons of plum juice and swish it around for about two or three minutes . If you’re not one for swishing, go ahead and soak a cotton ball with plum juice and hold it against the canker sore.
WET TEA BAG: After making a cup of tea, it can be helpful to press the used tea bag against the sore. While it helps the canker sore to heal, it also relieves some of the pain.
RAW ONION: If you’re brave and love a good onion, this remedy might be your style. Take a chunk of an onion and hold it directly to the sore for a few minutes. It won’t help in the relief area, but it will help the sore heal faster than usual.

BASICALLY, A GOOD RULE to go by is to keep you canker sore clean and bacteria free. It will help the sore heal faster and keep it from being infected. When you have a canker sore, it’s best to keep away from certain foods. Spice, salty, acidic and crunchy foods may only aggravate the sore and bring a fresh round of pain. Although, ice cream and yogurt are helpful in relieving discomfort and irritation of the sore.

Most of the time, a sore is a sore. But, sometimes, a sore can be something more. If you develop a fever with your sore, take a trip to the doctor and see if everything’s okay.

Hopefully, with the extensive list of remedies, there will be a treatment out there that works best for you in getting rid of the awful canker sore. Try a few to see if one is right for you. Better yet, try them all if you can so you can pinpoint that perfect process.