The human body is a miraculous thing — it has its way of fighting infections and diseases. When the body is in combat mode, it always gives out signals. However, more often than not, we choose to ignore these signals.
How many times does it happen that we experience pain in some part of our body and instead of trying to understand why is this happening, we conveniently ignore this sign? It also often happens that a tooth starts hurting abruptly, spoiling our night’s sleep and day’s peace, but we do nothing about it. Why? Because some of us think it’s nothing big and the problem will eventually disappear on its own and the rest of us are simply too afraid to see a dentist.
However, when a tooth starts hurting, do not ignore this sign. A toothache can be indicative of a bigger problem that needs immediate fixing. You must immediately see a dentist if a specific tooth is hurting and you have been experiencing redness and swollenness around the area that hurts. If there is pus and an unfavorable taste in the mouth, you are likely dealing with an abscessed tooth, which is a serious condition and needs immediate treatment.
What is an abscessed tooth? An abscessed tooth is a tooth that has become infected due to an untreated crack or cavity or periodontal disease. Cracks, cavities, and periodontal disease make way for bacteria to enter the soft tissue of a tooth and damage it completely. This damage eventually reaches the blood vessels, nerves, and connective tissues underneath the tooth. When this happens and no action is taken for long, pus begins to form at the tip of the jaw bone, resulting in the formation of an abscess or pus pocket. A tooth abscess is a serious condition and can lead to tooth loss. It can even become life-threatening if left untreated for far too long. Thus, if you think you are dealing with an abscessed tooth, do not delay seeing your dentist. Set up an appointment immediately.
Your dentist will explain to you the treatment they will be opting for. They will decide the treatment option based on the severity of the infection. If the infection is not very severe, they will put you on antibiotics. If the infection has become severe, they will drain out the pus and perform root canal therapy to save the abscessed tooth. If the infection has spread a lot, they may feel compelled to remove the abscessed tooth to save the remaining tooth.
Other than an abscessed tooth, there is one more oral condition you must never ignore: periodontal disease or gingivitis. Gingivitis affects the tissues surrounding the teeth. Gingivitis or periodontal disease manifests itself in the form of bleeding gums, swollen and tender gums, and bad breath. If you have been seeing any of these signs, consult your dentist as soon as you can.
If you do not want to experience these conditions ever, practice good oral hygiene. Quit smoking and consuming tobacco in any form. Brush regularly and floss after every meal. However, if medical drugs and physical ailments are responsible for you experiencing the above two conditions, you will have to see your dentist. The good news is the damage caused by both the conditions mentioned in this article can be reversed. All you need to do is act immediately.
If you are looking for a dentist, HPS Advanced Dental Care would love to see you. Dr. Heather is gladly accepting new patients.
We are located at 4741 24 Mile Rd. Shelby Township, MI 48316, and we can be reached at (248) 652-0024. We look forward to meeting you!
