What is a Jaw Infection and what does it feel like
Jaw pain can be very uncomfortable and usually needs the attention of a medical professional. If you have sudden jaw pain after eating something very hard, that is often temporary and should subside on its own. But sometimes, an infection called osteomyelitis can develop in the temporomandibular joint indicated by facial swelling, pain in the jaw and face, and fever. If treatment is not received in a timely manner, antibiotics may not be effective and part of the job and can actually begin to die.
Any pain in the jaw can lead to long-term damage so it is important to seek medical attention when you notice something is wrong. In the event that you have an abscess, your dentist can help relieve your pain by draining the abscess and prescribing a round of antibiotics. Without proper care, the affected tooth may need to be extracted to prevent the infection from further spreading into the bone.
Pain from a jaw infection can radiate down into the neck and up to the ears, head, and even the eyes.
A few symptoms to be aware of if you suspect that you have a jaw infection include:
* Pain and/or swelling in the jaw, neck, or face
* Tender, puffy gum tissue
* Tooth sensitivity to hot, cold, and sugar
What is a dental abscess?
An abscess is a pocket of pus that forms at either the tip of or next to a tooth root. When a dental cavity forms or a tooth is fractured, the bacterial infection works its way through the enamel and dentin and into the pulp of the tooth. The pulp is the tissue containing the nerves and blood flow in each root canal. Caught early, an abscess can usually be drained and treated with antibiotics. If it is more severe, it may need to be treated with root canal therapy where an endodontist creates an access hole in the tooth and cleans out each canal of the root to remove the infected pulp.
A tooth abscess is often extremely painful. You may develop a visible bump in the gum tissue beside the tooth. Pain from an abscess can radiate into your face and jaw causing facial swelling, swollen lymph nodes, and even fever. Without treatment, the bacteria from an abscess can get into your bloodstream and travel to other parts of your body.
In the event that your tooth abscess ruptures, you may experience immediate, though temporary, relief from jaw pain. An abscess always requires treatment by a medical professional. If you allow the abscess to rupture and do not seek medical attention, the abscess will reform.
Your dentist may be able to treat certain conditions that affect the jaw including those that also affect the head and neck. If you need specialized care, they will refer you to a specialist which may include an oral surgeon or otolaryngologist. Any jaw pain that you experience should be brought to your dentist as soon as possible for diagnosis and either treatment or referral.