Dental abscess

An abscess is painful, and it won’t get better without treatment. If you think you have an abscess talk to your Winchester dentist immediately.

What are abscesses?

Abscesses are pockets of pus that form beneath your tooth or in the gum and bone. The pain can arrive quite suddenly, and it’s important you make an appointment with your Winchester dentist as soon as possible, because the pain will increase further over the following days.

What causes abscesses?

The combination of starchy or sugary foods and ineffective brushing encourages bacteria to grow. This creates the perfect environment for abscesses.

How do you treat abscesses?

Removing the pus is the first priority, and that may involve some root canal work, removing a tooth or some gum treatment. We’ll use a local anaesthetic to numb the area so it shouldn’t be too painful.

How do I prevent abscesses?

It all comes down to keeping your teeth and gums healthy. Here’s how:

• Diet:Cut down sugary and starchy foods and drinks, particularly between meals. Enjoy them as an occasional treat rather than regularly, and avoid them completely in the hour before you go to bed.
• Don’t smoke:It can make dental problems worse.
• Brush your teeth properly:The vast majority of people visiting our Winchester dental surgery clean their teeth regularly – at least twice a day. But not enough of us clean our teeth properly:

– Brush every surface of your teeth – front, back and the biting surfaces. Gently brush your gums and tongue too. Try and stick to the same pattern of brushing every time. That way you’re less likely to miss sections of your teeth.
– Use the right amount of fluoride for you (ask us for details).
– Take 2 minutes to brush – use a stopwatch or egg-timer to help. You’ll find 2 minutes of careful brushing is far better than a shorter period of vigorous brushing as that can damage the enamel of some teeth whilst missing others altogether.
– Spit out any excess toothpaste after brushing, but don’t rinse your mouth. Let the toothpaste do its job.

• Visit your Winchester dentist:Visit us regularly at Oliver’s Battery Dental Surgery and we’ll keep your teeth decay and abscess-free.

Make your appointment

If you have – or think you have – an abscess, make an appointment at our dental surgery in Winchester now. You can do that using the form on the right, or call us on 01962 877 877.