{"id":5511,"date":"2025-05-01T23:01:15","date_gmt":"2025-05-01T21:01:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/acostacubero.com\/?p=5511"},"modified":"2026-10-22T11:16:56","modified_gmt":"2026-10-22T09:16:56","slug":"dental-abscess-symptoms-prevention","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/acostacubero.com\/en\/dental-care\/dental-abscess-symptoms-prevention\/","title":{"rendered":"Dental abscess: symptoms and how to prevent it"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A <strong>dental abscess<\/strong> is a bacterial infection that can develop in different areas of a tooth. It often goes unnoticed for a while, so most people who have one only come to the dentist once the infection is already quite advanced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A dental abscess is also commonly known as a gumboil. It is a frequent problem, but it is also very easy to prevent once you know how. As soon as you notice the first symptoms, the best thing to do is see a professional urgently so the problem can be dealt with quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What are the symptoms of a dental abscess?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The pain comes from swelling in the gum, caused by an infection or by tooth decay that has not been detected. When the inflammation and pain get worse, you need to visit your dentist to get rid of them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The symptoms to look out for are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Intense pain<\/strong> that can spread to other areas such as the ear, neck or jaw.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Sensitivity<\/strong> to changes in temperature, both hot and cold.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sensitivity when eating, due to the <strong>pressure<\/strong> of chewing.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Fever<\/strong>, caused by the infection.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Swelling<\/strong> in the cheek, which can even make talking uncomfortable.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Intense pain in the <strong>lymph nodes<\/strong> in the neck or under the jaw.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>An <strong>unpleasant<\/strong> smell and taste, and sometimes a salty fluid in the mouth. If the abscess bursts, the pain eases, but <strong>pus<\/strong> may appear on the gum.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you have any of these symptoms, or <a href=\"https:\/\/acostacubero.com\/en\/general\/recommendations-and-tips-to-act-in-the-event-of-a-toothache\/\">toothache that won&#8217;t go away<\/a>, see your dentist as soon as possible to treat the infection in your mouth or gum. If you have difficulty breathing or swallowing and the pain is getting worse, go straight to A&amp;E at your health centre or hospital.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What causes it?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A dental abscess forms when bacteria get in through a deep cavity or a crack in the tooth. From there they reach the root of the tooth, where the blood vessels, tissues and nerves are found, and the inflammation can spread to the tip of the root.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Factors that can increase the risk of dental abscesses include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Poor oral hygiene.<\/strong> Not brushing your teeth properly or not using dental floss is one of the causes of dental abscesses, tooth decay and other oral diseases.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Eating foods high in sugar.<\/strong> A diet with lots of sweets or fizzy drinks encourages tooth decay and, in turn, a possible dental abscess.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How can you prevent it?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Drink <strong>fluoridated tap water<\/strong>, as it helps keep your mouth clean.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Brush your teeth<\/strong> at least twice a day with a good-quality toothpaste.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Use <strong>dental floss or mouthwash<\/strong>: they are important and should be used every day.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Change your toothbrush<\/strong> every 3 or 4 months, because worn-out bristles don&#8217;t clean properly.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Cut down<\/strong> on sugar and <strong>stick to<\/strong> a healthy, balanced diet.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Visit your dentist<\/strong> regularly and have professional dental cleanings.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you already have a dental abscess, your dentist will assess your individual case to find the most suitable solution; when the infection affects the inside of the tooth, <a href=\"https:\/\/acostacubero.com\/en\/treatments\/endodontics\/\">root canal treatment (endodontics)<\/a> may be needed. If you notice any of these symptoms, <a href=\"https:\/\/acostacubero.com\/en\/book-your-appointment\/\">book your appointment<\/a> at Acosta Cubero Dental Clinic.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A dental abscess is a bacterial infection that can develop in different areas of a tooth. It often goes unnoticed for a while, so most people who have one only come to the dentist once the infection is already quite advanced. A dental abscess is also commonly known as a gumboil. It is a frequent [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1044,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[62],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5511","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-dental-care"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/acostacubero.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5511","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/acostacubero.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/acostacubero.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/acostacubero.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/acostacubero.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5511"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/acostacubero.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5511\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5513,"href":"https:\/\/acostacubero.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5511\/revisions\/5513"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/acostacubero.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1044"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/acostacubero.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5511"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/acostacubero.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5511"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/acostacubero.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5511"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}