Unusual Signs of a Dental Abscess That Dentists in Chicago Know About

A dental abscess is a severe tooth infection. Unless the abscess is recognized and treated early on, the tooth may need to be extracted and the infection may spread to other parts of your body. While pain in the affected tooth is the most common symptom of a dental abscess, there may be other signs. Here are some unusual signs and symptoms that may help dentists in Chicago, IL, diagnose an abscessed tooth.

Bad Taste in the Mouth
A dental abscess often contains a purulent discharge. This means that the discharge or drainage inside the abscess contains pus. When you bite down or chew or your food, you may notice a bad taste in your mouth. When you tell your dentist about the bad taste in your mouth or if he or she actually sees drainage coming out of the pulp, the diagnosis of an abscessed tooth may be confirmed.

Facial Burning
Dentists in Chicago, IL, are also familiar with other symptoms of dental abscesses, including those affecting the facial nerve. If you have an abscessed tooth on the top row, it may cause inflammation of your facial nerve. When this happens, you may notice painful burning sensations in your cheek, lip, and chin area. Once the abscessed tooth has been treated with antibiotics, root canal, or extraction, the facial burning sensations will subside.

If you think you have a dental abscess or to make an appointment with a dentist, call Chicago Smile Design.