Tooth Infection: Symptoms, Causes, Treatment and More

Most people know that tooth infections are best avoided. Tooth infections are painful and they can result in teeth needing to be pulled. Worse, they can cause very real health complications that extend far beyond the mouth. 

Everyone has germs in their mouths. In fact, bacteria cover our teeth, tongue, and every other surface of the mouth. But a healthy mouth has natural protection against infection. When cracks appear in that armor — through cavities, gum disease, or dental trauma — bacteria can find their way in and start to cause trouble. 

Tooth infections can affect the tooth itself, or they can cause pockets of infection in the tooth root and nearby gums. These pockets of infection are called abscesses. Keep reading to find out what to do if your tooth is causing you trouble.

Tooth infection symptoms

Pain is often the most common sign of a tooth infection — but the pain isn’t always limited to the affected tooth. Because our teeth are connected to so many nerves, pain from an infected tooth can extend into the jaw, face, and neck. 

Other signs to look for include:

  • Tooth sensitivity to heat, cold, and/or pressure

  • Tenderness around the tooth

  • Swelling of the mouth, jaw, or face

The difference between an abscess and a tooth infection

If a tooth infection invades the tissue around the root, it can cause a pocket of pus to form at the root’s tip. This is called an abscess. 

Tooth abscess

A tooth abscess develops when a tooth infection invades the deep tissue in the root of the tooth or the surrounding gums. Pus from the infection can collect around the tooth’s root or in a pocket of gum tissue around the tooth. As the infection spreads, pressure from the trapped pus builds up on the inner walls of the tooth, which can cause intense pain. 

Tooth infection stages

A tooth infection progresses through several stages to become an abscess.

  • Enamel decay. The sticky film (plaque) that forms on your teeth between brushing contains bacteria. Over time, these bacteria release acid, which can damage the enamel, or outer layer of the tooth.

  • Dentin decay. Bacteria breaks through the outer surface of the tooth and infects the layer underneath. This is a softer layer of the enamel, also known as the dentin.

  • Pulp decay. The bacteria progress to the center of the tooth, called the pulp — which is even more vulnerable — and attack the nerve.

Left untreated, a tooth infection can continue to grow and spread beyond the center of the tooth. This can lead to the formation of a pocket of pus, called an abscess, that becomes trapped in the tooth, jawbone, or gum tissue.

Tooth infection causes

Tooth infections and abscesses are usually caused when bacteria get into the tooth and surrounding tissues. As mentioned earlier, this can happen if there is damage to the natural protective defenses in the mouth, such as the tooth enamel and gums. Tooth infections in particular, tend to surface as a result of:

  • Cavities

  • Gum damage (periodontal disease)

Cavities and gum damage are both caused by poor oral hygiene and the buildup of dental plaque on and around the teeth.    

Other less common causes of dental infections include dental trauma, such as a cracked tooth, or dental procedures. 

Tooth infection treatment

Treatment for a tooth infection will depend on your symptoms and how far the infection has progressed. Most people will need antibiotics and pain relief medications. 

In some cases, people may need surgery to drain an abscess and remove dead tissue. More complicated or extensive infections may require antibiotic treatment for weeks or even months. 

Let’s take a closer look at the different treatment options below. 

Antibiotics for tooth infections

You’ll likely take antibiotics for 7 to 10 days to get rid of your tooth infection. Dentists usually have a few different options of antibiotics that they prescribe, which we’ll cover below.

Penicillin antibiotics

Penicillins are a group of antibiotics including:

  • Penicillin 

  • Amoxicillin

  • Amoxicillin/potassium clavulanate

Amoxicillin is usually the first choice for tooth infection treatment. If your tooth infection is more serious, your dentist may prescribe a combination of amoxicillin and another drug called Clavulanate. This combination is stronger and more effective against tooth infections.

Clindamycin

In some cases, the bacteria causing your tooth infection can be resistant to amoxicillin. If so, your dentist may prescribe clindamycin. Or, if you have a penicillin allergy, you might be prescribed this Dentist in Washington DC instead.



Metronidazole

Metronidazole is another antibiotic that could be useful for treating a tooth infection, but it’s not used by itself. Dentists often prescribe penicillin and metronidazole together in order to combat strains of bacteria that may be resistant to penicillin alone. 

Just be mindful to avoid all alcohol or alcohol-containing products — mouthwash, for example — while taking metronidazole. Consuming alcohol with metronidazole can make you seriously ill.

 

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