What Does a Tooth Abscess Look Like? Signs and When to Get Help
Quick answer: what does a tooth abscess look like?
A tooth abscess usually looks like a red, swollen bump, boil or pimple on the gum near a tooth. It may leak pus and leave a bitter taste, and the gum around it can look red and puffy. Some abscesses also cause swelling in the jaw or face, which is a serious sign that needs prompt care.
An abscess is a pocket of pus caused by a bacterial infection in or around a tooth.
A tooth abscess will not go away on its own and needs dental treatment.
Swelling with trouble breathing or swallowing is an emergency: go to the ER or call 911.
You found a sore bump on your gum, or one side of your jaw is swollen and throbbing, and you want to know if it is an abscess. That is a fair worry, because a tooth abscess does not clear up on its own. This guide shows what a tooth abscess looks like, how the main types differ, and when it becomes an emergency. Smyrna Dental Studio in Smyrna, GA, helps patients sort out exactly these symptoms.
What does a tooth infection look like?
A tooth infection that has formed an abscess often shows up as a raised, red bump on the gum over the sore tooth. The bump can look like a pimple or boil, may be darker than the gum around it, and may drain thick fluid or pus. The nearby gum is often red and swollen.
On the gums
Bump or pimple: a raised spot on the gum over the infected tooth
Color: red, or darker than the surrounding gum
Drainage: an open sore that leaks pus, often with a bitter taste
In the jaw and face
Swelling can spread beyond the gum to the cheek or jaw on one side, and lymph nodes under the jaw or in the neck can swell. MedlinePlus calls swelling of the jaw a very serious sign. Our page on seeing an emergency dentist in Smyrna explains how urgent visits work.
Tooth abscess vs healthy gums
Feature | Healthy gums | Possible abscess |
|---|---|---|
Shape | Smooth and even along the teeth | A raised bump, boil or pimple |
Color | Even, with no single red or dark spot | Red, or darker than the nearby gum |
Drainage | None | Pus or thick fluid, with a bad taste |
Feeling | Comfortable when you bite | Throbbing pain, or pain when chewing |
What are the symptoms of a tooth abscess?
The main symptom of a tooth abscess is a severe, constant toothache that may feel throbbing, sharp or shooting. Other symptoms include pain when chewing, sensitivity to hot or cold, a bitter taste, bad breath, fever, and swollen gums or jaw. The pain can spread to your ear, jaw or neck.
Can an abscess stop hurting?
Yes, which can be misleading. According to Cleveland Clinic, pain may stop once the pulp inside the tooth dies, but the bacteria keep damaging the tissue. Some people never feel pain at all. Learn how long a tooth can hurt before the nerve dies.
Want this checked? A dental exam and X-rays can show which tooth is involved and how far the infection has reached. Book an exam online or call (770) 863-0005.
When should you call a dentist right away?
Call a dentist right away if you have a throbbing toothache that will not go away, a bump or pimple on your gum, or swelling near a tooth. A tooth abscess is a dental emergency because the infection can spread. Some signs mean you need the ER instead.
A throbbing toothache that does not go away
A bubble, bump or pimple on your gums
Pus or an open, draining sore on the gum
Swelling in your gum, jaw or cheek
Fever along with tooth pain
Call (770) 863-0005 and our team will help find the earliest visit available. If you have swelling with trouble breathing or swallowing, a high fever, swelling that spreads to your eye, face or neck, confusion, or a racing heartbeat, go to the ER or call 911.
What is a periapical abscess?
A periapical abscess is a pocket of pus that forms at the tip of a tooth's root. It usually starts when decay or a crack lets bacteria reach the pulp, the soft tissue inside the tooth. According to Cleveland Clinic, it is the most common type of dental abscess.
Gingival vs periodontal abscess: what are the key differences?
The key difference is where the infection starts. A gingival abscess stays in the gum tissue and usually does not affect the tooth or its supporting structures. A periodontal abscess starts in the bone and tissues that hold the teeth in place, usually because of gum disease, and is more common in adults.
The names overlap in everyday use: Cleveland Clinic's periodontal abscess page also calls it a gum abscess. Your dentist can tell you which type you have.
Can a tooth infection spread?
Yes. Without treatment, a tooth abscess can spread to the jawbone and to the soft tissues of the face and neck. In rare cases, the infection can reach the blood, the heart or the brain, which can be life-threatening. How fast it spreads varies, and it can take days, weeks or months.
How long does it take for a tooth abscess to form?
There is no set timeline. Some abscesses form within one or two days, while others take weeks or months before they cause symptoms.
What are the stages of a tooth abscess?
There is no standard set of numbered stages, but the sources describe this general path:
Decay, a crack or gum disease lets bacteria in.
A pocket of pus forms at the root or in the gum and bone, often with a bump and throbbing pain.
Without treatment, the infection can spread to the jaw, face, neck and beyond.
Our post on keeping a dental infection from spreading covers this in more detail, and you can also read what people mean by the 3-3-3 rule for tooth infection.
How do dentists treat a tooth abscess?
Dentists treat a tooth abscess by removing the source of the infection. Depending on the tooth, that may mean draining the abscess, doing a root canal to save the tooth, or removing the tooth if it cannot be repaired. Antibiotics may be added when needed.
Will a tooth abscess go away on its own?
No. A tooth abscess will not go away without a dentist's care.
Common treatment options
Drainage: a small cut lets the pus drain, and the area is flushed with sterile salt water.
Root canal: root canal therapy removes the infected pulp so you can keep the tooth, often followed by a crown.
Extraction: if the tooth cannot be saved, it is removed.
Antibiotics: may help limit spread, but they do not remove the cause.
What you can do while you wait
Warm salt water rinses may ease discomfort until your visit, but they do not clear an abscess. For pain relievers, follow the product label and ask a pharmacist or doctor what is safe for you. MedlinePlus warns not to put aspirin directly on the tooth or gums.
Frequently asked questions
What does a tooth abscess look like on an X-ray?
You cannot judge this at home. Dentists use dental X-rays to find which tooth is affected and to see how far the infection has spread. If the infection may have reached the neck, a dental CT scan can be used.
Can a tooth abscess burst on its own?
It can. A bump on the gum may open and drain pus, which can leave a bitter taste and some relief from pressure. That relief does not mean the infection is gone. The source of the infection is still there and still needs treatment.
Can a tooth abscess cause facial swelling?
Yes. An abscess can cause swelling in the jaw, cheek or face, which can mean the infection is spreading. If swelling comes with trouble breathing or swallowing, a high fever, or spreads toward your eye or neck, go to the ER or call 911.
Is my pain an abscess or a dry socket?
If a tooth was recently pulled and the pain comes from the empty space, a dry socket is one possibility. If the tooth is still in place and there is a gum bump or swelling, an infection is another. Compare the signs in our guide to dry socket after an extraction.
Get a swollen gum or toothache checked
A tooth abscess will not clear up on its own, and prompt care can often save the tooth. Our team, including Dr. Raheel Thobhani, sees patients from Smyrna and nearby areas for tooth infections, root canal therapy and urgent visits. Request an appointment online or call (770) 863-0005, and our team will help find the earliest visit available. This is general information, not a diagnosis. A dentist needs to examine you to advise on your situation.