As a parent, it can be quite alarming to find an abscess near your child’s teeth, especially if your child is in pain. It’s important to schedule an appointment immediately with your child’s dentist, so the abscess can be properly treated.
What Is A Tooth Abscess?
A tooth abscess is a swollen part of the gumline near a tooth. This bump can have a white head that resembles a pimple or solely appear red and inflamed. What causes this abscess to form involves the presence of bacteria in plaque over time.
This bacteria initially exists in the plaque of a tooth that is damaged, decayed, or surrounded by diseased gum. Left untreated, this bacteria eventually pushes itself between the tooth and gum line where it forms this painful pocket of inflammation.
Because children’s teeth fall out to make way for their adult teeth, this can leave them particularly vulnerable to bacterial infections, decay, and sometimes an abscessed tooth.
Pain Remedies For An Abscess
It’s vital to seek emergency dental care for your child as soon as possible. Here, your dentist will likely prescribe your child antibiotics. They might perform an additional treatment to remove the abscess if it’s clear the medicine alone won’t stop this infection.
As you wait for your child’s emergency dental appointment, it’s important to keep them as comfortable as possible and take steps to reduce swelling. This can include:
- Applying a cold compress to the area of the face closest to the abscess
- Provide them with acetaminophen or ibuprofen under the guidance of their primary care physician
- Allow your child to gently brush and floss their teeth as part of their routine
Under no circumstances should you or your child attempt to pop the abscess in your child’s mouth as this could cause the infection to worsen.
Can An Abscessed Tooth Make You Sick?
Yes, this infection can make your child sick. Like most bacterial infections that affect our sinuses, it’s also possible for your child to experience more than just pain with an abscessed tooth. Bad breath, a bad taste in their mouths, fevers, and swollen jaws are all symptoms that can occur as a result of this infection.
If your child is experiencing shortness of breath, pus leaking from the abscess, the abscess rupturing, red streaks appearing near the site, or increased swelling of the gums or face, then you should take them to an emergency room immediately.
The Emergency Pediatric Dentist Of Dallas, Texas
If your child is facing a dental emergency in Dallas, it is imperative that you schedule them with Rio Dental immediately. A dental abscess is a dangerous infection that can spread to other parts of the body if it’s left untreated. Please contact our staff immediately, so we can address your child’s dental emergency.
