If you have ever had a dental abscess or infection, then you are probably well aware of the throbbing pain that it can cause. While pain is one of the most common symptoms of a dental abscess, there are other, less common manifestations of an infected tooth. Here are three unusual symptoms of a dental abscess and what you can do about them:
Facial Burning
A dental abscess can lead to a condition known as paresthesia. This refers to abnormal sensations such as burning, prickling, crawling, or feelings of numbness. Sometimes, a severe infection inside your tooth pulp can cause inflammation of your facial nerve.
When this nerve becomes inflamed or damaged, you may experience paresthesias on your forehead, cheek, lip, and chin. Once the infection has been treated, your abnormal facial sensations may resolve. If antibiotics fail to treat the infection, your dentist may recommend that you undergo a root canal to help save your tooth.
Eye Tearing
If one of your eyes starts tearing for no apparent reason, you may have a dental abscess. Infections of the upper teeth can lead to optic nerve damage, which can cause tearing, ocular pain, and blurred vision. If your eye doctor is unable to pinpoint the exact cause of your eye tearing, visit your dentist to determine if you have a tooth infection.
In addition to oral antibiotics and root canal, it may be helpful to take a multivitamin that contains B vitamins. These nutrients help support healthy nerves and may help dampen inflammation of your optic nerve, which will relieve your eye symptoms.
Bad Taste When Chewing
If you notice a bad taste when chewing food or biting down, your tooth may be infected. Severe dental abscesses can lead to purulent drainage, which means that there could be pus in and around your tooth socket.
When you bite down, the infected matter may lead to a bad taste in your mouth, however, if you swish your mouth with an over-the-counter antimicrobial rinse, the taste may dissipate. If you have drainage coming from your tooth, see your dentist.
In the meantime, keep rinsing out your mouth with your mouthwash per the labeling directions, and if you are unable to tolerate the mouthwash, rinse your mouth with a pinch of salt added to a cup of warm water. Salt has antibacterial and anti-infective properties, and may even help relieve a toothache.
If you experience any of the above symptoms, see your dentist. These may be signs of a dental abscess and will need to be treated with either oral antibiotics, a root canal, or both. The sooner a dental infection is recognized and treated, the less likely you will be to experience further complications such as a secondary infection or oral tissue damage. To learn more, contact a dental office like Top Dental.
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