top of page

When to seek emergency care

A dental abscess is a pocket of pus that your child’s body has formed to fight off a bacterial infection. When the pus is unable to drain, it forms an abscess. Dental abscesses occur due to untreated tooth decay, gum disease, and damage to your child’s tooth. To treat the abscess, we need to drain the pus, remove the infected tissue (usually via a root canal or tooth extraction), and prescribe a round of antibiotics.


A dental abscess is a dental emergency; when left untreated, the abscess can spread throughout your child’s body, making them seriously ill. Seek emergency dental care immediately if they have a fever, pus is draining from their mouth, or if the abscessed area is swollen and warm. Other signs of a dental abscess include a foul odor in your child’s mouth, swollen lymph nodes, and severe, throbbing pain.


Even if your child’s symptoms subside or the pus starts to drain, they still need dental care. The infection won’t go away until the infection is properly drained and treated with antibiotics. If your child has trouble breathing or swallowing, call 911 or take them to the emergency room.

How to manage a dental abscess

While you’re waiting to see the dentist, there are a few things you can do to make your child more comfortable. Have them rinse their mouth with warm salt water; combine a teaspoon of table salt with one cup of water. They can take over-the-counter prescription pain medication, like Tylenol or ibuprofen, to reduce their pain and swelling. 

When in doubt, call 911 immediately

In a pediatric emergency, it's essential to act quickly and seek medical help immediately. When faced with a situation where a child's health or life may be at risk, it's better to err on the side of caution and call 911 right away. Delaying treatment can worsen the condition and make it more difficult to save the child.

Tooth Abscess in Queens & Brooklyn, NY - Downtown Braces & Children's Dentistry

Tooth Abscess, Queens & Brooklyn, New York

OUR TREATMENTS

A dental abscess is a dental emergency; when left untreated, the abscess can spread throughout your child’s body, making them seriously ill.

Book your appointment

Schedule online for Invisalign, braces, or children's dentistry. It easy and convenient.

Start sculpting your gorgeous #DowntownSmile today!

NEW PATIENTS

Dental insurance

Wonder if your insurance covers orthodontic treatment? We’ll let you know in seconds.

bottom of page