How to Prevent Another Dental Abscess

Maintaining optimal dental health involves keeping good habits. Unfortunately, millions of adults struggle with doing this, resulting in dental problems. In fact, over 26% of American adults are dealing with untreated tooth decay, and 46% of adults over 30 are struggling with periodontal disease.

These dental challenges can cause other issues, including dental abscesses, which can cause severe damage to teeth and gums. If you’ve experienced an abscess, you know how unpleasant the experience is and want to avoid it in the future. Let’s look at ways to reduce your risks of this recurring condition by examining what an abscess is, the common signs and causes, and tips to avoid it.

If you live in Mamaroneck, New York, or Stamford, Connecticut, and are dealing with a dental abscess or another dental emergency, Dr. Gennadiy Kravets and our team at All Bright Dental can help you relieve the symptoms and get a healthier smile.

Defining a dental abscess

An abscess refers to a pocket of pus, which can happen anywhere on the body. In your mouth, it occurs due to: 

Gingival abscess: develops in the gums 

Periapical abscess: occurs near the tip of your tooth root

Periodontal abscess: happens in the gums at the side of the root 

It appears as a swollen bump, pimple, or boil in the infected area of your mouth, and the infection can quickly spread to neighboring parts of your gums, bones, or other teeth.

Common causes and symptoms

An oral abscess results from a bacterial infection in the gums or teeth. The bacteria are present in the plaque. Left untreated, this infection can lead to many serious dental issues that can damage tissues in other areas of the head or upper body.

Aside from the swelling and pus associated with a dental abscess, you may also experience pain, sensitivity to hot and cold foods and drinks, a foul taste or odor in the mouth, difficulty opening your mouth, fever, or problems swallowing.

Methods of prevention

Here are some ways you can avoid dental abscesses:

Dietary changes

Sugary and starchy foods cause cavities (dental caries), increasing your risk of abscesses. Limit the amounts of these foods to reduce your risk.

Optimal dental hygiene

Brushing and flossing reduce the risk of abscesses by removing plaque and bacteria.

Routine checkups

Visiting our dental team every six months maintains your oral health. We can provide treatment if you are dealing with dental issues or decay.

Dental abscesses can damage your gums and teeth. Make an appointment with Dr. Kravets and All Bright Dental today to get the treatment you need.