San Diego dentist states that a tooth infection is a complication of tooth decay. It may also result from trauma to the tooth, such as a broken tooth or chipped tooth. Openings in the tooth enamel allow bacteria to infect the center of the tooth (the pulp). Tooth infection may spread out from the root of the tooth and to the bones supporting the tooth.

Pacific Beach dentist claims that a tooth infection is usually caused by a dead tooth. Everything inside the dead tooth breaks down and liquefies and there is nothing to fight bacterial growth. This mixture of living bacteria and rotten tissue leaks out of the end of the tooth and causes tooth infection.

There are three basic types of tooth infection:

• Infection inside your tooth, in the living pulp tissue
• Tooth infection which occurs in the bone around the end of the tooth (tooth abscess)
• Gum infection. This dental infection occurs in the gum tissue

The most common type of tooth infection is dental abscess. It’s an infection of the mouth, face, jaw, or throat that begins as a tooth infection or cavity. These infections are common in people with poor dental health and result from lack of timely, proper dental care.

One of the first signs that a tooth infection is out of control is the presence of pus and swelling of the tissues within the tooth. Pus can cause a foul taste and foul smell. It is a thick yellowish white material made up of living and dead bacteria, white blood cells and dead tissue.

This causes a painful toothache. If the root of the tooth dies, the toothache may stop, unless an abscess develops. This is especially true if the infection remains active and continues to spread and destroy tissue.
Tooth Infection Care and Treatment

San Diego Dentist says that the goals of tooth abscess treatment is to eliminate the tooth infection, preserve the tooth and prevent complications. The dentist may need to drain the pus from the infected tooth. During this procedure, you’re likely to be given gas or numbing medication to help you relax and minimize the pain. You’ll probably be given antibiotics to treat the infection, and pain medicine to ease your discomfort.

The treatment of a tooth infection depends on the cause and the amount of treatment a patient is willing to pay for. The easiest way to eliminate the problem is a dental extraction. The tooth may also be extracted, allowing drainage through the socket. Another way to solve the problem is a root canal that can often save the tooth for the rest of a patient’s life. In this procedure the dead material inside the tooth is removed and filled. Periodontal (gum) treatment is recommended if the surrounding gums are the cause of the tooth infection.

Most infections cause dental pain but many remain silent and painless for years. You can have a tooth infection without feeling the tooth infection, tooth abscess and without having a toothache. That’s why it’s important to see your San Diego dentist regularly.

Without dental treatment, a tooth infection and dental abscess will continue to get worse, and may eventually lead to the destruction of the surrounding bone.

Call your San Diego dentist Now!