What Does a Tooth Abscess Look Like? A Guide for Austin, TX

You spot a small bump on your gum that wasn't there yesterday, right next to a sore tooth. If you live or work around Norwood Park Blvd, here's what a tooth abscess usually looks like, and what it doesn't.

Short Answer

A tooth abscess most often looks like a red, swollen bump on the gum next to one tooth, sometimes with a white or yellow center like a pimple. It can also show up as a darker tooth, a puffy cheek, or nothing visible at all. It's an infection that won't go away on its own, so get any bump like this checked.

Key Takeaways

•       The classic sign is a pimple-like bump on the gum near one tooth.

•       A bump that leaks and shrinks has not healed, because the infection is still there.

•       Some abscesses show nothing in the mirror, so ongoing tooth pain is reason enough to get checked.

•       Spreading swelling, fever, or trouble swallowing or breathing means go to an emergency room.

•       A dentist confirms an abscess with an exam and an X-ray.

What an Abscess Can Look Like

On the gum. A raised, red bump beside one tooth, often with a white or yellow center. Dentists sometimes call it a gum boil. If it leaks, the fluid is thick and tastes salty or foul.

On the tooth. The tooth may look darker or grayer than its neighbors, or show a deep cavity or crack. The gum around it can look puffy.

On your face. As the infection grows, one cheek or side of your jaw may look puffier than the other, and the skin can look red and feel warm.

Nothing at all. Some abscesses sit deep at the tip of the root. A dentist finds them on an X-ray as a dark shadow.

Abscess or Something Else?

A canker sore is the most common mix-up. Canker sores form on soft tissue like the inside of your cheek, lip, or tongue, and aren't tied to one tooth. An abscess sits on the gum right beside a tooth. If you can't tell, a quick exam settles it.

When to Go to the ER Instead

Go to a hospital emergency room if swelling spreads toward your eye, under your chin, or into your neck, or if you have a fever or trouble swallowing or breathing. In North Austin, St. David's North Austin Medical Center on MoPac is one option. You'll still need a dentist to treat the tooth afterward.

A Weekend Scenario Near Norwood Park Blvd

Say you're running errands along Norwood Park Blvd on a Saturday and notice a swollen gum bump in the car mirror. Waiting until Monday is a poor plan, because an abscess doesn't heal on its own. Our office at 1030 Norwood Park Blvd #324 offers weekend appointments.

What to Do Until You're Seen

1.    Rinse gently with warm salt water.

2.    Take an over-the-counter pain reliever as directed on the label.

3.    Hold a cold compress against the outside of your cheek.

4.    Don't pop, squeeze, or poke the bump.

5.    Don't put aspirin directly on the gum.

6.    Call a dentist the same day.

How an Abscess Is Treated

Your dentist will take an X-ray, drain the abscess to relieve pressure, and then treat the cause. That usually means a root canal to save the tooth, or an extraction if it can't be saved. If you're worried the infection is moving, read about the warning signs a tooth infection is spreading, or find out whether an abscess is a dental emergency.

FAQ

Can an abscess look completely normal?

Yes. Some sit deep in the bone and show nothing on the gum. If a tooth hurts when you bite or lingers after hot or cold, get an X-ray even if your mouth looks fine.

If the bump pops and the pain stops, am I okay?

No. Draining only relieves pressure. The infection is still inside and usually comes back.

Does a dark tooth always mean an abscess?

Not always, but a gray or dark tooth often has a damaged nerve. It's worth an exam before an infection forms.

Not sure what you're seeing? Call (512) 961-6200 or visit our dental abscess treatment page.

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