What Are the Treatments for a Tooth Abscess?

An abscessed tooth may cause intense pain and swelling in your face, and can become a medical emergency if the infection spreads to your blood. Fortunately, your dentist or medical doctor can treat your abscessed tooth. According to the Mayo Clinic and the National Library of Medicine, treatments for a tooth abscess include medications and dental surgery.

Antibiotics

• Your dentist or doctor may prescribe oral antibiotics to get rid of the infection in your abscessed tooth and prevent the infection from spreading.

Draining

• Draining of the abscess is a procedure your dentist does, which involves puncturing the abscess' sac of fluid and suctioning it from your mouth.

Gargling

• Your dentist may suggest gargling with lukewarm water mixed with 1 teaspoon of salt to help get rid of the infection in your abscessed tooth.

Pain Relievers

• Your dentist may prescribe either over-the-counter pain relievers (such as ibuprofen) or prescription pain relievers (such as oxycodone) to treat the pain from your abscessed tooth.

Root Canal

• If the infection in your tooth spreads to the root, you may need to have a root canal, which is a procedure done by your dentist or an endodontist.

Tooth Removal

• Your dentist or an oral surgeon may need to remove a severely abscessed tooth to fully treat the infection. This is a surgical procedure.