No one wants to experience an abscessed tooth. The pain is often excruciating. Worse yet, sometimes the dentist can’t work on the tooth until a round or two of antibiotics has been absorbed into the body. Unfortunately, many people will get at least one abscessed tooth in their lifetime. The problem is that not many people recognize the early symptoms of an abscess. That means they may not know they have a problem until it is too late.
Instructions
1. Recognize any bitter or metallic tastes within the mouth. This is one of the earliest clues that an abscess might be forming.
2. Recognize bad breath. Although most people don’t want to admit it, they have at least an inkling of suspicion when their breath isn’t what it should be. This condition is an early clue that an abscess could be forming.
3. Fever, whether it is low-grade or high, usually means that there is an infection in the body. If it is experienced in conjunction with any of the other symptoms listed here, chances are good that an abscess has happened.
4. Suspend eating temporarily when the simple act of chewing causes pain. Try to localize from where the pain is coming. If possible, determine exactly which tooth is causing the problem. This will be helpful to the dentist prior to the examination.
5. Steer clear of hot or cold foods once you realize that they seem to irritate the condition. This will make it a bit easier to survive the pain until a dental visit can be made.
6. Call a dentist when any kind of unusual pain in the mouth or jaw can’t be explained away. It matters not if the pain is sharp, shooting, dull or throbbing--any of these symptoms could spell abscess.
7. Report to a dentist as quickly as possible when gums become unusually red or badly swollen. This is a clear indication that an abscess already exists, and immediate antibiotic treatment may be called for.
8. Recognize when the mouth, jaw, throat and/or neck areas are swollen. Such swelling may be difficult to spot in early stages. However, as it progresses and becomes more evident, that indicates infection is rapidly spreading into other tissue. The more serious the infection, the more difficult the abscess may be to treat in a timely manner.
9. Identify any sores that may be or have already formed on the mouth or gums. Report open sores, especially any that may be draining or bleeding, to a dentist immediately. This could indicate a serious situation.
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