A bacterial infection can cause pus in a tooth, leading to pain, swelling, and other symptoms. Treatment includes antibiotics, pain relievers, and potentially a root canal or tooth extraction. Serious infections can lead to life-threatening complications and require hospital treatment.
Pus in a tooth is caused by a bacterial infection. A tooth infection or abscess can cause significant pain, swelling, and a buildup of pus. Although a tooth infection typically causes local symptoms, pus from the tooth can cause symptoms of an infection throughout the body. This type of infection can cause fever, chills, nausea, and body aches. Also, a dental infection can result from an untreated cavity or previous oral surgery.
Local reactions from an abscessed tooth include swollen glands, a bitter taste, and sensitivity to heat or cold. While pus in a tooth is common, it may not always be present, especially in the early stages of the infection. Pain is typically moderate to severe when a dental infection is present, however, when the pulp of the tooth dies, as can be common in infection, the pain may dissipate or cease altogether. This does not mean that the infection has cleared up, and when it does, prompt dental treatment is needed to reduce the risk of tooth loss or worsening of the infection.
Treatment for an oral infection that produces pus from a tooth includes antibiotics, salt water rinses, and over-the-counter pain relievers. If the pain is particularly severe, your dentist may prescribe prescription pain relievers. These medications, however, can cause significant side effects such as drowsiness, dizziness, and incoordination. Driving or operating dangerous machinery should be avoided while taking prescription pain relievers.
In severe cases, the appearance of pus from a tooth can signal the need for a root canal. This can save the infected tooth, however, sometimes it may be necessary to extract the tooth or drain the abscess. Left untreated, an oral infection that produces pus from a tooth can cause life-threatening complications, although this is rare. When the symptoms of a dental infection do not respond to antibiotic treatment, the dentist should be notified for further evaluation and treatment of the condition.
Complications of a serious dental infection can include a blood infection known as sepsis, the infection spreading to the jaw bone or soft tissue, and the infection spreading to the lungs, brain or heart. Generally, when these serious complications arise, the individual will need to be treated in hospital. Treatment may include intravenous fluids and antibiotics, oral surgery, and prescribed pain relievers. Also, the patient may need intravenous potassium or magnesium to reduce the risk of heart abnormalities.
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