Why Nest?
No judgement, everOutcomes, not quotasDecades of experienceScience-based careExperienced clinical teamFull-service dentistryTransparent pricingNo judgement, everOutcomes, not quotasDecades of experienceScience-based careExperienced clinical teamFull-service dentistryTransparent pricing
Nest Dental
?

Dental conditions

Tooth abscess

A tooth abscess is a pocket of infection at the root of a tooth or in the gum. It won't clear up on its own and needs treatment to settle, so it's worth being seen as soon as you can.

Also called: periapical abscess, dental abscess, gum boil

Book an appointment Call 02 9436 1874
A swollen gum abscess next to a molar, seen during a dental examination
If swelling is spreading towards your eye or down your neck, or you have trouble swallowing or breathing, go to your nearest emergency department or call 000.

Sound familiar?

  • Constant, throbbing pain that may spread to your ear, jaw or neck
  • A pimple on your gum that may release a bad-tasting fluid
  • Swelling in your gum or face
  • A tooth that's tender when you bite or touch it
  • A bad taste in your mouth
  • Feeling generally unwell or feverish

What's usually behind it

An abscess forms when bacteria get inside a tooth, usually through deep decay, a crack or a leaking old filling. The infection travels down to the tip of the root and builds up there. A gum abscess can also form in a deep pocket around a tooth affected by gum disease. Sometimes the pain stops because the nerve inside the tooth has died, but the infection is still there.

What you can do at home until you're seen

  • Take over-the-counter pain relief if needed, following the directions on the pack
  • Rinse gently with warm salt water
  • Don't squeeze or pop a gum pimple
  • Don't put aspirin or anything else directly on your gum

When to see a dentist

As soon as possible, ideally the same day. An abscess needs the source of infection treated. Antibiotics alone may ease symptoms for a while, but they don't remove the cause.

How we help at Nest

We'll find which tooth is affected with an examination and X-ray, then relieve the pressure and clean out the infection. To save the tooth, the next step is usually root canal treatment. If the tooth can't be saved, we'll remove it and talk you through replacement options. Antibiotics are prescribed when they're needed, for example if the infection is spreading. We'll explain your options and costs before anything starts.

Diagram of a tooth abscess showing infection at the tooth root

The clinical side

The clinical side

Periapical dental abscess

A periapical abscess forms at the tip of a tooth's root after the pulp (the nerve and blood supply inside the tooth) becomes infected. It shows on an X-ray as a dark area around the root tip. Treatment removes the infected pulp through root canal treatment, or removes the tooth. Left untreated, infection can spread into surrounding bone and soft tissue.

Common questions

No. It may drain or the pain may ease, but the infection stays until the source is treated.

Antibiotics can help control a spreading infection, but they don't reach the source inside the tooth. The tooth still needs treatment.

It should be seen as soon as possible. If swelling spreads to your eye or neck, or you have trouble breathing or swallowing, go to an emergency department or call 000.

The nerve inside the tooth may have died. The infection can still be there and spreading, so it still needs to be checked.

If the tooth can be saved, root canal treatment keeps your natural tooth. We'll explain both options, including costs, so you can decide.

Related

Toothache

Also called: dental pain, pulpitis

What your kind of pain can mean, how to ease it, and when to come in.

Learn more

Chipped or cracked tooth

Also called: cracked tooth syndrome

A broken edge, or a sharp twinge when you bite that disappears as quickly as it came.

Learn more

Bleeding gums

Also called: gingivitis, gum disease, periodontitis

Pink in the sink is often the first sign of gum disease. Here's what helps.

Learn more

Talk it through with us

We'll look at what's going on, explain your options and costs before anything starts.

Book an appointment Call 02 9436 1874

Reviewed by Dr Viki Karassellos, Dentist, Nest Dental. Last reviewed September 2026. This page is general information, not a diagnosis. Please see a dentist about your own situation.