The 25 April is ANZAC Day. The day we remember and pay tribute to the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC), who, on their first engagement in the First World War (1914–1918) fought in the Gallipoli campaign.

Also known as the Dardanelles Campaign, this battle was an unsuccessful attempt by the Allied Powers of World War I to wrest control of the Suez Canal from the enemy, the Central Powers. If they succeeded the Suez Canal would be a safe, year-round supply route for the Allied forces through to their allies in Russia.

They failed. It’s estimated that the combined losses during that time numbered approximately half a million soldiers. Many of the dead were New Zealanders and Australians.

It was a horrific battle. And the last thing the soldiers were thinking about was good dental hygiene. There are no stats to tell us one way or another, but one thing is probably true – there must have been a good number of tooth abscesses among the soldiers of both sides.

What is a tooth abscess?

It’s an infection in your teeth or gums that causes a build-up of pus. It won’t go away on its own. There are no ‘home-remedies’ that will help. You need to see a dentist urgently. Why? An untreated abscess can cause serious complications. It could even be life-threatening. Complications could include tooth loss, jawbone damage, sinus involvement, brain infection, heart complications and in extreme cases, death.

Signs of a tooth abscess – Do not let it get to this point. Book an urgent appointment with the dentist.

• A bad taste in your mouth.
• Sensitivity to either hot or cold food or drink in the area of the abscess.
• A severe, unceasing and throbbing toothache that can spread to your jawbone, neck or ear.
• Tender, swollen lymph nodes in your neck or under your jaw.
• A high temperature or fever.
• A swelling in your face, cheek or neck leading to difficulty in breathing or swallowing.
• If the abscess bursts there will be a rush of foul-smelling and foul-tasting, salty fluid in your mouth. The pain will also be gone. BUT you must still see your dentist!

Do I need to go to the ER with a tooth abscess?

If you, or someone you know is showing the following symptoms then yes, go to the ER immediately.

• A high fever
• Severe pain
• Shivering or feeling cold
• Clammy, sweaty skin
• Shortness of breath
• High heart rate
• Low blood pressure
• Confusion

What causes a tooth abscess and what will the dentist do?

An abscess is usually caused by an untreated dental cavity, or an injury. This allows an infection to develop which then results in irritation and swelling.

After draining the abscess, removing the infection, What the dentist does next will depend on how bad the infection was. It may be possible to save your tooth with root canal treatment. If not, the tooth will need to come out.

If you lose a filling, book an appointment quickly.

Contact us on 0508 TEAM DENTAL Make an appointment today and make sure your teeth have the best care available!