When you get a cavity in your tooth, it is important to bring it to your dentist for treatment as soon as you can. A failure to do so puts you at serious risk of developing a debilitating infection that will cause you significantly more pain than a cavity would. Such an infection is what dentist know as a dental abscess.
An abscess happens when the oral bacteria that is causing your cavity penetrate into the soft tissues of your mouth and infect the area around your jawbone. When this happens, you will experience pain around your mouth, jaw, throat, and face. You may also experience any of the following symptoms.
- Redness, swelling, or tenderness in the area of your mouth or face
- Nausea and vomiting
- Fever
- Chills
- Diarrhea
- Pus drainage
- Difficulty opening your jaw
- Difficulty swallowing
If the damage is extensive enough, a dental abscess may require that you have dental implants or other extensive reconstructive dentistry done. Talk to your dentist to learn more if you think that you may have a dental abscess.