Dental Abscess

Symptoms of a dental abscess

Symptoms of a dental abscess include:

intense toothache or pain in your gums
redness inside the mouth, or outside the mouth on the face or jaw
sensitivity to hot or cold food and drink in the affected area
a bad taste in your mouth
difficulty opening your mouth and chewing food
a swollen face or jaw
swollen glands on each side of your neck
a high temperature

Ask for an urgent dentist appointment or get help from NHS 111 if:

you think you have a dental abscess

Do not go to a GP surgery as they will not be able to give you dental treatment.

To see a dentist in an emergency or out of hours:

call your dentist - if they're closed, their answerphone may tell you what to do

If you do not have a dentist or cannot get to an emergency appointment:

call 111 or get help from 111 online - they can tell you where you can get help for your symptoms
find a dentist near you - ask if you can have an emergency appointment

You may have to pay for your appointment. Find out more about NHS dental charges.

Call 999 or go to A&E if you:

are finding it hard to breathe, speak or swallow
have a swollen or painful eye, or suddenly start having problems with your eyesight
have a lot of swelling in your mouth
are finding it hard to open your mouth

Find your nearest A&E

Do not drive to A&E. Ask someone to drive you or call 999 and ask for an ambulance.

Bring any medicines you take with you.

How to ease the pain caused by a dental abscess

There are some things you can do to help while you wait for treatment if you have pain from a dental abscess.

Do

take painkillers, such as ibuprofen or paracetamol (children under 16 should not take aspirin)
eat soft foods like soup, scrambled eggs, mashed potatoes and yoghurt
use a soft toothbrush to clean your teeth
avoid having food or drink that is very hot or cold

Don't

do not take more than the recommended dose of any painkiller - taking a higher dose will not make them work better, but it can be very dangerous

Treatment for a dental abscess

Dental abscesses are usually treated by a dentist. The dentist will drain away the pus.

If a problem with your tooth has caused the abscess, you may need root canal treatment or the tooth may be removed. You'll be given a local anaesthetic so you do not feel any pain.

You may be offered painkillers to take for a few days after treatment and may also be given antibiotics.

Causes of a dental abscess

Dental abscesses usually happen when pus builds up beneath your teeth or gums when you have an infection in your mouth.

You may get a dental abscess if:

you have a tooth that has not grown out of your gums properly (an impacted tooth)
you have tooth decay or gum disease
you have injured your teeth, gums or mouth
you're having radiotherapy or chemotherapy

How to prevent dental abscesses

There are some things you can do to help prevent dental abscesses.

Do

brush your teeth with fluoride toothpaste at least twice a day - spit after brushing, do not rinse
clean between your teeth every day using floss or interdental brushes
replace your toothbrush every 2 to 3 months
have regular dental check-ups so problems can be spotted early

Don't

do not use mouthwash straight after brushing your teeth
do not smoke

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