Dental phlegmon is an oral pathology that can infect the tissues surrounding the teeth (gums) if it is not treated in time. Depending on the causes that have provoked this dental phlegmon, one treatment or another will be recommended.
The causes for the appearance of dental phlegmon can be:
- An untreated dental caries that can infect the pulp of the gums, creating a deposit of pus or phlegmon in the internal tissues of the tooth.
- If the person has periodontal disease (pyorrhoea) the gums will be swollen, red and bleeding. If this problem is left untreated, the gums will eventually develop a dental abscess, which can ultimately lead to tooth loss.
- The final cause of tooth abscess can be trauma to the teeth, which can break the tooth or even damage the nerve. That injury will be reflected with inflammation, tooth sensitivity, a lot of pain and damage to the enamel.
These are the symptoms of dental phlegmon
There are some symptoms that can help you to suspect that you have a dental phlegmon, something that we will later confirm or rule out in our dental clinic in Malaga when you come to your appointment. These symptoms are as follows:
- Very strong and continuous pain in the teeth: when there is an infection in the mouth, it is very common for your teeth to hurt when chewing.
- Inflammation of the gums: pus accumulates and inflames the area where the infection is, which is the gums in this case, and can also spread to affect the facial nerves and lymph nodes.
- Fever and malaise: when bacteria affect the dental pulp, the gums, blood vessels, nerves and connective tissue of the tooth are damaged. This results in fever and general malaise.
- Halitosis or bad breath: if bacteria have accumulated in the periodontal area, this usually causes bad breath in the patient.
- Tooth sensitivity: increased sensitivity when eating or drinking very hot or cold things.
Treatment for dental phlegmon in our dental clinic
The first thing we do when a patient has dental phlegmon is to treat the infection and inflammation with antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medicines. When we have removed the dental pain, we must reduce the inflammation with a drainage that removes the pus that has accumulated.
After the infection has been removed, it is necessary to check which areas have been damaged. If the nerve has been affected, the dental pulp must be extracted with an endodontic treatment. In this way we can save the tooth.
Better to be safe: keep your dental appointments
With the exception of trauma, all other causes of dental phlegmon can be avoided if you keep your dental appointments every year. In our dental clinic Gross Dentistas we have the best professionals who will check all your teeth and prevent infections and inflammations from appearing.
Dental hygiene is also very important to prevent dental phlegmon. Remember to brush your teeth after every meal, without exerting too much pressure on the gum area, and for 2 minutes. Change your toothbrush every two to three months to prevent bacteria build-up.
By following all our advice, you will be able to avoid dental phlegmon or abscess. But if it has already appeared, make an appointment with us to evaluate your case and propose the best treatment to solve the problem quickly. In this way we can avoid greater problems, such as tooth loss.
Ortodoncista especializada en el sistema de ortodoncia invisible, extensa trayectoria profesional y un gran número de pacientes satisfechos con los resultados obtenidos tras la finalización de su tratamiento.