If the pain suddenly stops, it does not mean the infection has gone away. Rather, it probably means that the nerve inside the tooth has died. The infection could continue to spread and affect nearby tissues.
A disappearing toothache usually means that the nerve inside the tooth has died. The infection that caused the problem in the first place may still be present and continue to attack the surrounding tissues. Without treatment, the infection could seriously damage the jawbone and even cause systemic illness.
Dental abscesses are often painful, but aren't always. In either case, they should be looked at by a dentist. It's important to get help as soon as possible, because abscesses don't go away on their own.
It can come and go or be constant. Eating or drinking can make the pain worse, particularly if the food or drink is hot or cold. The pain can also be mild or severe.
It is important to know that that some abscesses are painless. Painless abscesses, luckily, often still show identifiable symptoms such as gums and cheeks that are swollen. Should the abscess occur in a tooth that has undergone root canal treatment, pain may be entirely absent as the nerve is already dead.
Acute oral infections take between three and seven days to resolve, but you may take antibiotics for longer. You may get a deep cleaning to open the tooth and remove the infected contents. If needed, your doctor will make an incision or drainage point on the soft tissue to relieve pressure and remove pus.
In reality, a tooth can continue to hurt long after it has died. The pressure on the nerve tissue within the pulp chamber may continue to refer pain signals into the jaw, while related infection in the surrounding gum tissue can also cause pain.
Signs of an infection spreading
A person who has a suspected tooth infection and develops any of these symptoms should seek immediate medical attention: a painful tongue and mouth. swelling of the face, cheeks, or neck. difficulty swallowing.
Tooth pain can go away on its own in certain situations. For example, if you have irritated gums from biting into something hard, your discomfort will likely go away in a day or two. But a true toothache — pain that originates from the tooth itself — usually means you have an issue that needs treatment.
You should not neglect brushing the affected tooth, as this will accelerate the rate that bacteria builds up in and around the cavity. This build up of bacteria may make the swelling, and hence the pain, even worse. Brushing your teeth will not, however, make the toothache go away (sadly).
Don't stop your oral hygiene routine: Continue to brush and floss. Don't be fooled if your dental abscess stops hurting: Pain associated with a dental abscess may go away if the tooth root has died.
Rinsing with salt water creates a saline mixture to safely begin sterilizing the infection. Mix 1/2 teaspoon of table salt with 1/2 cup of warm tap water. Swish in your mouth for a few minutes before spitting. Repeat every few hours if needed.
Tooth abscesses don't form overnight—there are multiple stages to formation, starting with enamel erosion and progressing to dentin decay, pulp decay, and finally abscess formation. This process can take weeks or even months.
Tooth Sensitivity or Pain – As the nerves that lead to a dying tooth begin to die away, they may become extra sensitive, causing you a tooth ache or sensitivity to hot or cold foods. You may experience pain while chewing at or around the site of the dead tooth.
Antibiotics will not cure toothache, they will only mask the problem until you have something done about the tooth itself. They may stop the pain for a few days, weeks or even months, but it will always come back with a vengeance!
The dying nerve or an infection usually causes an increase in pain. Some people wonder why they experience pain if the nerve is dead. However, the pain is not coming from inside the tooth but from extremely sensitive nerve endings around the outside of the tooth, called the periodontal membrane.
If you have a severe tooth infection, your dentist may prescribe a course of antibiotics to prevent it from spreading. 1 Antibiotics may prevent tooth loss and other serious health complications.
Dentists are permitted to extract infected teeth to benefit your dental and overall health. Tooth infections left within your mouth can create jaw bone infections that are more severe to manage.
Research shows that when a person begins to take antibiotics for a tooth infection, they begin to feel some pain relief within 24 hours. After 24 hours, the pain intensity may increase slightly. After 7 days, it may reduce slightly again.
Saltwater rinse
Not only does salt help to reduce bacteria, but rinsing with warm salt water can also remove debris from your mouth, break up pus around the tooth, and help ensure proper wound healing. To create a saltwater rinse for a tooth infection, simply mix a half teaspoon of salt with a half cup of warm water.
Tooth infections that have traveled to the jawbone can lead to severe dental abscesses and jawbone infections. Osteomyelitis in the jaw causes persistent pain, jaw stiffness, swelling, and tenderness. Additionally, bacterial infections of the teeth can also spread to the bloodstream and cause sepsis.
If the infection is limited to the abscessed area, you may not need antibiotics. But if the infection has spread to nearby teeth, your jaw or other areas, your dentist will likely prescribe antibiotics to stop it from spreading further. Your dentist may also recommend antibiotics if you have a weakened immune system.