Treatment of Infected Baby Teeth in Sunset Hills, MO

It can be worrisome to find your child complaining of tooth pain. Of course, you immediately examine their mouth for signs of a cavity or injury, but an infected tooth is not always easy to spot. That’s why we at My STL Dentist want to help you out.

How do you know if your child has an infected tooth and when do you need to take them to see a dentist?

Abscessed Tooth

First of all, an infected tooth is called an abscessed tooth. An abscessed tooth is a tooth that has a small pocket containing pus within the tissues surrounding it. It is filled with pus because the body tried to fight infection caused by bad bacteria. When the pus is unable to drain by itself, an abscess forms.

Symptoms of an abscessed tooth:

• Bitter taste in the mouth because of draining pus
• Facial swelling, often noticeable or severe
• Fever
• Gum swelling that may look like a pimple
• Pain when chewing
• Sensitivity of the teeth to hot or cold
• Swollen neck glands
• Swollen upper or lower jaw
• Tooth pain that can happen randomly or at night

There can be many different causes behind an infected baby tooth. There could be damage to the tooth, untreated tooth decay that went unnoticed, or even gum disease. All of these problems could cause this painful and dangerous condition within your child’s mouth.

Treatment At Home Or At The Dentist

At first, you might try to treat your child in the safety of your own home. You can reduce swelling and pain that might be affecting your child’s face or jaw by using ice or a cold pack. Place it carefully onto the outside of your child’s cheek for around 10 to 20 minutes. Make sure you place a barrier like a towel between ice and skin to prevent shock or pain.

If the swelling and pain continues, contact your dentist right away for treatment. The dentist will prescribe an antibiotic to help curb infection and bring down swelling. Most likely the abscessed baby tooth will have to be extracted. A tooth being removed gives space for the pus to drain out and relieve pressure.