What is a Jaw Infection and what does it feel like?
When you go to the dentist for your regular appointments, you may notice that the dentist doesn’t just check your teeth and gums. The dentist takes time to look all over your mouth, to feel your jaw joint move, and to check your neck for any signs of cancer or other illnesses. A general dentist as well as a specialized dentist are all trained to look for signs of illness and infection to make sure that you return to good overall health as quickly as possible. General dentists may suggest that you work with a specialist for the best treatment plan, depending on the cause of your issue.
If you are experiencing jaw pain and the pain has not improved over the course of a two to three days, then you will want to make an appointment with the dentist to help determine what that cause of your jaw pain is. The dentist will look in your mouth, check your gums for inflammation and redness, check your teeth for any signs of cracks or weak spots in your enamel, and your jaw joint for any clicking or popping. The dentist may even choose to take x-rays to check for any potential cracks or damage below the gumline that is not immediately visible.
A jaw infection or a dental abscess is very problematic and needs to be treated by a dentist in order for it to be resolved. The symptoms of an infection in your jaw is similar to other dental issues like a cavity. You may notice pain in your jaw, but mostly in one area of your mouth. The gums in that painful area can be red and swollen; they may even be warmer as compared to the other not infected areas of your gums. The swelling may even be visible on the outside of your mouth. It will be tender to the touch and the pain will increase in intensity and sharpness the longer it goes without treatment. There might be pus or drainage from the area of the infection and it will give off a bad smell. As a result, you may develop halitosis until you address the infection that’s causing the pus.
The infection in your jaw can spread if it is not addressed promptly. It can spread into the bone or into your blood. The treatment for a jaw infection is not complicated and the dentist can help you feel better and out of jaw pain very quickly. During the appointment, the dentist may need to drain the pus from the infection and prescribe some antibiotics. If the infection is more invasive or serious, the dentist may need to remove the tooth or refer you to an oral surgeon for the tooth removal as a way to prevent the infection from affecting the bone or more teeth. Take the time to make an appointment with the dentist to ensure that you are on the path to clearing any infection.