Cavities, Toothaches, and Abscesses

---

HealthWiki > Where There Is No Dentist > Chapter 1: Your Own Teeth and Gums > Cavities, Toothaches and Abscesses

---

In this chapter:

 

In this chapter:

Cavities are holes in teeth made by tooth decay. If you have a black spot on a tooth and that tooth hurts when you eat, drink, or breathe cold air, the spot is probably a cavity. If you see a cavity starting in your mouth or feel pain in a tooth, see a dental worker right away. When they are found early, cavities can often be treated with quick, simple, and painless methods. When cavities are not treated, they grow bigger and deeper.

You will get cavities in your teeth if you eat sweet food and then do not clean your teeth. If you see a cavity starting in your mouth or feel a tooth hurting you, get help right away. If you do not fill a cavity, it grows bigger and deeper. A dental worker knows how to fill the cavity so you can keep that tooth. Do this before the pain gets worse.

Each tooth has roots that hold it in the jaw bone. Inside each root is a nerve.	When decay touches the nerve, the tooth aches, even when you try to sleep.	When infection reaches the inside of a root, it is called a tooth abscess.

A tooth with an abscess needs treatment at once, before the infection can go into the bone.
In most cases the tooth must be taken out. If it is not possible to do this right away, you can stop the problem from getting any worse if you follow these steps:

A tooth abscess can cause swelling like this.

1. Wash the inside of your mouth with warm water. This removes any bits of food caught inside the cavity.
2. Take aspirin, paracetamol (acetaminophen), or ibuprofen for pain.
3. Reduce the swelling:
   
   • hold warm water inside your mouth near the bad tooth.
     
   • Wet a cloth with hot water and hold it against your face.
     Do not use water hot enough to burn yourself!

This page was updated:17 May 2024