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Caring for a Tooth Abscess
Filed Under (Health, dental care) by admin on 03-03-2011
If your tooth abscess is already being a jerk giving you too much pain to mind your own life, maybe it’s time for you to have it checked? No, really, if you find out that you have tooth abscess then you should really get some help. Tooth abscess can be serious trouble if left untreated. With serious complications, it could cause death, not only to the infected tooth, but also the patient. The worst thing you can do when caring for a tooth abscess is wait for it to get worse. If you’re not sure what to do, going to a dentist is a good start.
Tooth abscess has many methods of treatment but the top three most common cures involve:
1. Antibiotics – these are drugs commonly used to kill infections caused by bacteria, yes, including tooth abscess. This method usually takes a long time to heal as the patient will have to wait for the drug to take effect which usually takes months! A regular visit to the dentist is also involved for checking the progress of the healing. Once the drug kills the bacteria, the body will be responsible for repairing the tooth.
2. Root Canal Treatment – if you’re not familiar with this method, it’s currently one of the most feared dental procedures in the US. Possibly because a lot of people think it’s painful. But modern dental root canal treatment has been said to be relatively painless – with the use of anesthetics, of course. A worthy option for brave souls and believe me, it’s worth it.
3. Tooth Extraction – tooth extraction is usually performed on cracked or decayed teeth, but is also an option to cure tooth abscess. The method generally consists of removal of the tooth, cleansing the area, including the gums, allowing the wound to heal. Again, not painful with the use of local anesthetics.
“But I don’t want to go to the dentist!”
Okay, I hear ya. Here’s a do-it-yourself way to cure tooth abscess:
Rinsing with salt water – make a mixture of salt and warm water on a cup and hold it in your mouth for about 10 minutes. This helps get rid of the bacteria residing on the tooth. It’s advisable to do this several times a day.
Whichever method you want to go with, it is best if you don’t get one at all — prevention is better than cure. Taking good care of your teeth by regular flossing is a good way to keep them healthy. Don’t be scared! Visit your dentist regularly for check-up and consultation.

