Prevent Abscesses From Forming With Good Dental Hygiene

There are many things that can happen if you have poor dental hygiene and we want to discuss with you what an abscess is and how it is formed. The experts at Colgate explain that, “an abscess is a limited area of pus formed as a result of a bacterial infection. The body’s immune system reacts to the infection, and sends white blood cells to the area to try to get rid of the bacteria. The pus in an abscess is a mixture of live and dead white blood cells, enzymes, and parts of destroyed cells and tissues. When there is no way for pus to drain, it forms an abscess.”

There are many ways an abscess can form in your gum tissue, in the roots of your teeth, and even in the surrounding areas of the tooth. Colgate shares that they can be caused by:

• Food or debris embedded deep in the gum
• By bacteria that enters through a cavity and gets into the dental pulp
• From a deep periodontal pocket

“If you have a lowered resistance to infection then you have an increased risk of developing an abscess. An abscess may cause a severe toothache because the nerve can become infected. This infection can burrow through the gum, which can form a visible boil that has the potential to rupture in the mouth. After the abscess ruptures, the pain may decrease significantly, but you should still seek dental treatment. If it does not drain, the infection can spread to other areas of the head and neck and can become life threatening,” Colgate explained.

You can prevent abscesses by:

• Practicing good oral hygiene
• Keeping teeth and gums free of food and debris
• Having regular dental checkups

Good oral hygiene habits can help prevent problems such as abscesses. Schedule an appointment at Artistic Touch Dentistry to ensure the health of your teeth and gums.