How Do You Treat Facial Swelling From A Tooth Issue?
The Correlation Between Dental Abscesses and Cheek Swelling
An abscess can be extremely dangerous and point to a spreading infection in your mouth. While there are a handful of symptoms to look out for when dealing with infection and an abscess, a swollen face or mouth can be an indicator that you need treatment. Once an infection reaches this point, it’s important to seek care quickly. Swelling is an indicator that there is pressure, and the abscess should be drained before it ruptures. While a swollen face may not feel like a dangerous symptom, it should not be ignored when the patient is simultaneously experiencing a severe toothache or other symptoms of infection. Contact Buckeye Immediate Dental to get emergency dental care today.
Reducing Face Swelling While Seeking Treatment
It’s important to seek medical help if you’re experiencing a dental emergency, but there are some ways you can help manage pain and swelling before getting treatment. Be very gentle with your teeth and the area surrounding the infection when brushing or flossing. A cold compress or ice pack can help reduce swelling and pressure on the nerves. Place a cloth or a t-shirt between the cold pack and your cheek. Taking NSAIDs can help reduce inflammation; however, if you’re seeking medical treatment, speak with your doctor or dentist to determine what is best. If your doctor or dentist has prescribed antibiotics for the infection, take them as prescribed. All of these remedies can help reduce facial swelling, but they are not a replacement for medical treatment. Seek treatment as quickly as possible for your safety and to reduce the chance of losing your tooth.
Abscess Tooth Treatment Options
Once you seek dental care and find out your tooth is infected, the dentist will choose a treatment plan that best suits your situation. Because the tooth is infected, the dentist will almost always prescribe an antibiotic to fight the infection and reduce inflammation. This will help reduce the chance that the situation worsens. An abscess tooth scenario will require them to drain the abscess. This will relieve the area of pressure and allow them to clear your mouth of as much infected material as possible. If possible, the dentist will then proceed with a root canal treatment. The best possible outcome of a root canal is that the abscess is cleared and the tooth is saved. If the dentist doesn’t see enough evidence that the tooth can be saved, they may perform a tooth extraction. A tooth extraction will help stop the spread of infection. While not all of the treatment options are ideal, a dentist will make an informed decision with your overall health in mind.
What Are the Signs and Symptoms of an Abscessed Tooth?
Infections can be life-threatening and should always be treated with urgency. Infections typically result in a throbbing, swelling toothache. This sort of toothache may cause pain to spread to other areas of your face, cheek, and mouth. Your tooth may experience extreme sensitivity to hot and cold foods, or anytime there is pressure from chewing. Inflamed lymph nodes and foul smells are also symptoms to look for. If a tooth abscess is properly treated by a dentist, they may be able to save the tooth through a root canal. If the infection has gone on too long or the decay within the tooth is too severe, they may resort to a tooth extraction. Anytime an infection becomes a dental abscess, the patient should seek immediate treatment.
Never Ignore a Swollen Cheek While Experiencing Tooth Pain
Swelling is usually a sign that something in your body needs attention. Sometimes, minor swelling can occur from everyday mishaps, like hitting your gums too hard. If you’re experiencing cheek swelling and simultaneously experience tooth pain, the situation becomes more concerning. If you’re experiencing a severe toothache and having multiple symptoms, swelling can be a sign that your tooth is infected. Tooth infections can easily become abscessed, which can be a painful and dangerous experience. If an infection spreads to other areas of the body, the danger greatly increases. Ignoring this issue can lead to losing a tooth, infection spreading to other areas in the jaw, or even a life-threatening infection spreading to your brain. If you are experiencing facial swelling, seek emergency dental care.
Should You Get a Tooth Extraction?
Nobody in a dentist’s office ever wants a patient to lose a tooth. We do our best with every patient to provide them with the best treatment plan that provides them with the best quality of life. If a patient has an abscess or an infection, we will make every effort we can to save the tooth. When possible, we will perform a root canal as a way to save the tooth. We will remove all of the decay and infection, filling the tooth, and possibly adding a crown to protect it.
In some circumstances, the decay within the tooth is too severe for a root canal; we will have to extract the tooth. This is always our last resort, and we only select this treatment when necessary. We always recommend that patients listen to their dentists when it comes to treatment plans.
How to Prevent Future Infections
Taking care of our teeth is a marathon, not a sprint. If you want to prevent cavities, dental abscesses, root canals, and infections, you have to implement a rigorous care plan. Brushing your teeth twice each day will reduce bacteria and plaque buildup. Use a fluoride toothpaste for best results. Flossing regularly removes debris that is otherwise stuck. Clearing out the space between and around your teeth reduces the chance that bacteria can steadily grow. Using a dentist-recommended mouthwash will also help reduce debris and help maintain the health of your teeth.
Stick to a check-up schedule with your dentist to ensure they can monitor the health of your teeth and catch any small issues before they become serious concerns.
Buckeye Immediate Dental’s Emergency Dental Services
Buckeye Immediate Dental provides emergency dental care to patients in medical crisis. With our walk-in clinic hours, patients can receive on-the-spot care without having to schedule an appointment. If you are concerned about a tooth or have signs of an abscess, contact Buckeye Immediate Dental today.