Your Jacksonville dentist Dr. Tiffany Shields is your local resource for all of your oral care needs, including those painful moments when you need attention quickly. Though it sounds unpleasant, never be afraid to call our office when you’re experience pain from an abscess.

When the inside of the mouth gets hurt or irritated, bacteria may enter and cause an infection. Sometimes you will see a painful swelling filled with pus (a thick, yellowish fluid). If the pus can’t drain out, the area will get more swollen and painful. This is known as an abscess. The abscess forms a barrier around the infection. This is one way that the body tries to keep a bacterial infection from spreading.

An abscess can occur after injury to the tooth’s surrounding gums, after an extraction, or when the mouth is seriously burned. If you feel pain from an abscess, contact the team at Smiles by Shields for speedy treatment that will likely include antibiotics and treatment for pain.