The problem of tooth abscesses in children requires urgent medical attention, and many children suffer from problems in the mouth and teeth, including tooth abscesses. In this article, we will learn about the causes of tooth abscesses in children, and what requires treatment. 

What is a tooth abscess in children?

Many children suffer from the appearance of a tooth abscess, which causes them to feel severe pain. An abscess is a pus-filled swelling that forms inside the gums, causing a feeling of pain. Bacteria penetrate the tooth wall, cracks, and cavities in the gums, forming pus, which is called an abscess. The formation of this pus leads to swelling and redness of the gums and a feeling of severe pain, and the face may swell due to the swelling of the gums.

In addition, bacteria may enter deeper parts of the tooth through a deep cavity or crack in the tooth, causing infection and pain in the roots of the teeth. Most often, an apical tooth abscess occurs due to untreated tooth cavity or the presence of injuries and tooth decay that has not been treated, so bacteria enter and form this abscess, or a tooth abscess may occur due to tooth decay, which is the main cause due to the accumulation of food debris inside the teeth.

It may also occur due to improper dental fillings, or exposure to a broken tooth and failure to clean the teeth properly. To treat this abscess, the doctor needs to drain the fluids and pus that have been formed through medications, and in some cases the tooth may need to be extracted permanently.

Cause of gum abscess in children

An abscess is a pus-filled pocket that occurs as a result of a bacterial infection. These bacteria penetrate the tooth when there are cracks and cavities inside it.

There are several reasons that can lead to tooth abscesses in children, and the most important reasons include the following:

•  tooth decay, It is the main cause and occurs due to the accumulation of food debris and bacteria on the teeth, causing the destruction of the outer layer of the teeth (enamel).
• The presence of a fracture or crack in the teeth, As a result of a blow or trauma to the tooth, the crack allows bacteria to enter the tooth.
• gingivitis It can contribute to the formation of an abscess.
•  defective dental fillings, Sometimes, these procedures can lead to the occurrence of an abscess.
• Not brushing teeth Effectively, it leads to plaque buildup as well Gum infections And tooth decay, which increases the risk of abscesses.

What are the symptoms of tooth abscess in children?

When a child suffers from a tooth abscess, he shows some symptoms, including the following:

• Severe pain in the gum area.
• Gum swelling and redness.
• Difficulties in swallowing and difficulty breathing.
• Allergy to hot or cold drinks.
• Severe pain while sleeping.
• Pain in the neck, ear and jaw.
• Having a strange taste in the mouth.
• The mouth smells bad.
• Loose teeth.
• Tooth pain appears gradually and increases over time.
• High body temperature.
• Swelling in the face, neck, or cheek, which may cause difficulty breathing.
• Visible hole in the teeth.

Types of tooth abscesses in children

There is more than one type of abscess that a child is exposed to, including the following:

• Maxillary abscessThis type occurs due to infections in the tissues surrounding the tooth or infections in the mucous membranes and bones.
• Dental sinus abscessIn this case, the pockets in the gums surrounding the teeth become infected, and food deposits, bacteria, and plaque collect in them due to decay, leading to inflammation and the appearance of abscesses.
• An abscess inside the toothThis abscess occurs if the roots of the tooth are infected and exposed to inflammation. Bacteria and dead cells form inside the roots of the tooth. This abscess is accompanied by swelling and redness in the affected area.
• Gum abscess: It occurs in the case of severe gum infections, where dead cells and dead bacteria accumulate in the gum pores. This abscess may be painful and cause redness and swelling in the gums.

Learn about: التهاب لثة الاسنان An infection that threatens to lose your teeth

Tooth abscess for children without pain

In some cases, a painless abscess may form under the molar, which is a pocket of pus resulting from a bacterial infection, as the abscess occurs at the tip of the tooth root. 

 A painless submolar abscess occurs as a result of failure to treat the tooth cavity from a previous abscess effectively, or as a result of a previous tooth injury, or as a result of incorrect dental treatment.

 Therefore, the dentist must treat a tooth abscess in a very careful way, by draining the abscess well and getting rid of the infection in the area. 

In this way, the dentist may be able to save the tooth through root canal treatment, and in some cases the doctor may need to extract the tooth so that the damage does not increase in the place of the molar in the jaw itself. 

Leaving a dental abscess untreated may lead to serious complications that, over time, could threaten the patient’s life, because the mouth is considered the gateway to the human body. With the abscess present for a long period, all these microbes enter the human body. 

What happens after treating a tooth abscess in children?

After the doctor treats a tooth abscess, there are a group of procedures that should be taken to reduce the feeling of pain, which are:

• Place bags of ice on the face where the swelling is to reduce pain and swelling in the jaw, and leave the ice on for between 10 to 20 minutes.
• Place ice in a piece of cotton cloth and do not place it directly on the face to avoid cold burn.
• Giving the child painkillers and medications prescribed by the doctor to reduce the feeling of pain.
• Giving the child antibiotics prescribed under the supervision of a doctor, and not stopping taking them except with the doctor’s instructions and completing the entire dose.
• Wash your mouth with warm water and salt, as it reduces the feeling of pain and reduces swelling in the gum area.
• Get the child used to brushing his teeth at least twice a day with toothpaste that does not contain fluoride.
• Choose a toothbrush for your child that has soft bristles so that it does not irritate the gums.
• Provide healthy foods to the child and avoid drinking sugar-sweetened drinks.
• Apply cold compresses to the affected tooth.
• Chew food on the opposite side and avoid eating food at the abscess site.
• Sleeping on a high head pillow.
• Do not eat spicy or acidic foods.
• Get the child used to drinking enough water, because water contains fluoride, which protects against tooth decay.
• Make sure to visit your doctor regularly to detect any tooth decay from the beginning before getting an abscess.

Antibiotic to treat tooth abscesses in children

Using antibiotics alone, without taking other measures, is not the best option for treating tooth abscesses for children or adults, as antibiotics do not treat the abscess itself, but only reduce the chance of the infection increasing and spreading to the surrounding area.

It should be noted that the use of antibiotics cannot be considered an alternative to visiting the dentist and postponing other therapeutic measures. 

Examples of antibiotics used to treat tooth abscesses for children and adults include:

• الأموكسيسيلين. 
• Penicillin. 
• الميترونيدازول. 
• Azithromycin. 
• Cefoxetine. 

Of course, there are details related to the use of each antibiotic for tooth abscesses, the period of use, the type of antibiotic, the health status of the child and the severity of his condition, and the dose is also determined based on the weight and age of the child. 

How do I treat tooth abscesses in children?

Treatment of tooth abscesses in children depends on the severity of the infection and requires the intervention of a dentist. Treatment methods include the following:

• Abscess drainage: Where the dentist makes an incision in the abscess to drain the pus to relieve pain and swelling.
• Use of antibiotics: The dentist prescribes it if the infection spreads to the surrounding tissues or if the child’s immune system is weak.

• Root canal treatment: It is necessary to perform a root canal treatment to remove damaged tissue and clean the inside of the tooth,  in case the abscess forms as a result of an infection in the tooth.

• Tooth extraction: In cases where the damage is severe and cannot be repaired.

The best ways to treat tooth abscesses in children

The problem of tooth abscess is one of the problems that should not be ignored and one must quickly go to a specialist doctor to determine the most appropriate method of treatment. Treatment may be through the following:

• Abscess drainage: The doctor makes an incision in the abscess in order to drain the pus inside the tooth and reduce swelling and inflammation.
• Taking antibiotics: to combat infections that affect the tissues surrounding the tooth. These antibiotics are taken if the child’s immune system is weak.
• Root canal treatment: If the infection has reached the tooth, the infected tissue is removed and the tooth is cleaned from the inside.
• Tooth extraction is one of the cases that many doctors resort to if the damage is severe and difficult to solve by other methods.

What should we give the child if there is a tooth abscess?

Parents can use some home recipes to relieve the effect of the abscess temporarily, but of course you must go to the dentist. 

Because the final treatment for a tooth abscess in children is done by a doctor, because the process of treating tooth infection permanently is a complex process that cannot be done at home.

Home remedies that can be followed to relieve the pain of a tooth abscess in children include the following:

• Take some painkillers, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen, based on the weight and age of the child.
• Rinsing the mouth with water and salt to relieve pain and sterilize the area of ​​inflammation.
•  Use mouthwash for rinsing your mouth to relieve pain, get rid of bad odor, and sterilize the mouth.
• Place a few cloves on the tooth area to relieve pain.
• Apply cold water compresses to the outside of the cheek to relieve the swelling.
• Apply warm water compresses to the outside of the cheek to help the abscess sac burst spontaneously.

If the abscess sac ruptures spontaneously, the pain will ease and the tumor will begin to disappear, but the child must be monitored to spit out the abscess and not swallow it to avoid infection, then one of the parents should follow the following steps:

• Press slightly and gently on the abscess until the pus comes out, and it must be spit out every time.
• Immediately rinse the child's mouth with water and spit out the water, not swallow it.
• Wash the child's mouth with water and salt or mouthwash several times, even if he feels a burning sensation at the site of the wound.
• Make an appointment with your dentist as soon as possible to avoid worsening the condition.

Book your consultation now at Dental center At Al Mousa Specialist Hospital.

How long does a tooth abscess heal in children?

In fact, it is difficult for a tooth abscess to heal on its own, as it requires medical treatment to drain the pus and get rid of the bacteria causing the infection.

Self-treatment or ignoring the abscess leads to worsening of the condition, so it is necessary to visit the dentist at the first sign of a dental abscess in children. 

The dentist evaluates the condition appropriately and develops a treatment plan. Tooth abscesses in children must be treated as a medical emergency that requires immediate care. 

The recovery period varies depending on the child’s condition, the strength of his immune system, the extent of adherence to medications and oral care, and the severity of the injury, but there are signs of recovery to determine the effectiveness of the treatment plan. 

The most important signs of healing a tooth abscess in children include the following:

• With therapeutic intervention the pain should begin to decrease.
•  Bloating and swelling gradually go away.
•   The redness surrounding the abscess site decreases or disappears. 
• The baby's teeth become less sensitive to hot and cold drinks.
• The child returns to eating and drinking normally without feeling severe pain.
• The child’s general condition improves, as he becomes more active, and symptoms of fatigue or fever, if present, decrease.

Is gum abscess in children dangerous?

Yes, tooth abscesses are common in children, for several reasons:

•  An abscess causes severe pain and can affect eating, speech, and even sleep.
•  If the abscess is not treated, the infection spreads to the teeth, nearby bones, soft tissues, and even to other parts of the body.
•  Neglecting to treat dental abscesses in children causes health complications: including an increase in the child’s temperature, the spread of the infection to other places in the child’s body, and may cause deformities in the child’s jaw.

In the end,  dentists at Al Mousa Specialist Hospital advise immediate care and treatment when there is a tooth abscess in children to avoid complications and maintain the child’s oral health. 

Parents must maintain regular dental cleaning and commit to regular examination and treatment of oral problems, because this is the key to preventing oral abscesses. 

The team of dentists at Al Mousa Specialist Hospital provides a personal consultation and accurate assessment of the child’s condition, which helps determine the best appropriate solutions for treating tooth abscesses in children, and all oral problems. 

What are the complications of tooth abscess in children?

The problem of tooth abscess is a common problem that many children are exposed to, and neglecting this problem may cause many complications, including the following:

• The severe and annoying pain that the child experiences.
• The abscess ruptures and pus comes out. Swallowing this pus may cause cramps and nausea.
• The infection spreads to the jaw, neck, and some areas of the top of the head.
• If a tooth abscess is not treated early, it may cause tooth decay and tooth extraction.
• In some cases, an abscess affects the growth and development of teeth and may cause jaw deformities.
• You should follow up with a specialist doctor if an abscess appears, in addition to periodic follow-up in general to detect caries from the beginning and take the necessary treatment.

You can contact us on our numbers listed on the website for more details. 

Frequently asked questions

What to do when a child has a tooth abscess?

If a tooth abscess appears, you can initially rinse your mouth with warm water and salt to sterilize bacteria, but if the pain and abscess do not go away on its own, you should quickly go to a specialist doctor to determine the appropriate treatment dose according to the health condition of each child.

Does a tooth abscess go away on its own?

There are differences in the nature and severity of abscesses in children, and in some cases the abscess may actually go away on its own if the place is thoroughly disinfected for several days and the bacteria are eliminated, but in many cases it may require rapid medical intervention.

How can I make the abscess open quickly?

In order to get rid of the pus in the abscess, you can apply warm compresses to the affected area, brush the teeth with salt water, and rinse the mouth more than once to get rid of the pus in the teeth, or use some home recipes such as fenugreek or clove tea.

Does hot water treat abscesses?

If the abscess is simple, hot or warm water with salt actually helps reduce swelling and fight infections. Repeat rinsing with warm water several times a day to get the best results.