Emergency Dentists

A tooth abscess or root abscess is pus enclosed in the tissues of the jaw bone at the tip of an infected tooth. Usually the abscess originates from a bacterial infection that has accumulated in the soft pulp of the tooth.
There are three types of dental abscess. A gingival abscess that involves only the gum tissue, without affecting either the tooth or the periodontal ligament. A periapical abscess starts in the dental pulp. A periodontal abscess begins in the supporting bone and tissue structures of the teeth.
Common symptoms of an acute tooth abscess is a toothache or a persistent, throbbing pain at the site of the infection.[1] Putting pressure or warmth on the tooth may induce extreme pain. There may be a swelling present at the base of the tooth on the gum.
A chronic abscess may be painless but still have a swelling present on the gum. It is important to get anything that presents like this checked by a dental professional as it may become acute later.
In some cases, a tooth abscess may perforate bone and start draining into the surrounding tissues creating local facial swelling. In some cases, the lymph glands in the neck will become swollen and tender in response to the infection. It may even feel like a migraine as the pain can transfer from the infected area. The pain does not normally transfer across the face, only upwards or downwards as the nerves that serve each side of the face are separate.
In the short term, the topical application of oil of cloves to the infected area is well-documented as an effective remedy.[2]
Successful treatment of a dental abscess centers on the reduction and elimination of the offending organisms. If the tooth can be restored, root canal therapy can be performed. Nonrestorable teeth must be extracted, followed by curettage of all apical soft tissue.
Unless they are symptomatic, teeth treated with root canal therapy should be evaluated at 1- and 2-years intervals to rule out possible lesional enlargement and to ensure appropriate healing.
Abscesses may fail to heal for several reasons:
Cyst formation
Inadequate root canal therapy
Vertical root fractures
Foreign material in the lesion
Associated periodontal disease
Penetration of the maxillary sinus
Following conventional, adequate root canal therapy, abscesses that do not heal or enlarge are often treated with surgery and filling the root tips; and will require a biopsy to evaluate the diagnosis.[1]
If I were you, I would go to the dentist for that.
Good luck!
(: