What does a dental abscess look like?

Visible symptoms of a dental abscess include redness of the mouth and face, swelling, gum inflammation and pus drainage. Other symptoms include pain, difficulty swallowing, difficulty opening the mouth and tenderness when touched.

A dental abscess starts as a tooth infection, and it continues to infect the mouth, face, jaw or throat if it is not properly treated. Common causes of dental abscesses include poor dental care, autoimmune disorders, deep cavities or mouth trauma.

Properly brushing and flossing teeth on a regular basis is the best way to avoid a dental abscess. Regular dental checkups are important since small infections can be treated before they develop into abscesses.