Root
Canal Abscess Leaves Bad Taste in Your Mouth
By Dr.
Steven Troy Tuggle
A root canal abscess may not be the first thing
you think about when you have a bad taste in your mouth. You probably
think it was something you ate so you brush your teeth and swish with a
strong mouthwash. But you notice that the bad taste doesn't leave no
matter what you try.
You then become concerned that you have bad breath that others have
noticed. Before long you are off to see your family dentist in hopes of
having a fresh taste in your mouth once again.
What a shocking surprise when your dentist informs you that you have a
root canal abscess. You even try to argue that this is impossible since
you don't have a severe toothache and have never had one. In fact, you
even question the dentist's motive in diagnosing the bad taste in your
mouth as a major (endodontic) root canal problem.
I've experienced this scenario many times in my 20+ years as an
endodontist (root canal specialist). Telling someone with a severe
toothache that they need a root canal is one thing but telling someone who
is perfectly comfortable they need a root canal can be quite challenging
indeed.
Let me explain how you can have a bad taste in your mouth and even bad
breath without having toothache and yet need a root canal treatment.
First I need for you to understand the structure of a tooth. The part
of your tooth that you are most familiar with is the outer surface that is
visible above your gums. What you are seeing is the enamel that covers and
protects the underlying dentin and pulp of your tooth.
The dentin is more porous than the hard outer protective enamel. If
there is a hole in the enamel caused by tooth decay then bacteria can
easily penetrate the dentin and reach the dental pulp.
You'll never see the dental pulp in your tooth. It is a small piece of
soft tissue in the very center of your tooth and its roots. This tissue
contains small blood, lymph, and nerve tissue. It is commonly called the
tooth nerve. The cells in this tissue actually form the hard structures of
your tooth when you are very young. Once your tooth has completed its
development the dental pulp doesn't have a vital function in maintaining
your tooth.
When this pulp tissue becomes infected you have a root canal abscess.
It is very possible and even common for this to occur without causing any
pain at all. Of course, it is also possible that a severe toothache
results when your tooth abscesses.
Once the pulp becomes infected pus will begin to form within the tooth
as well as in the surrounding bone. This pus can work its way through the
bone and gum and form a small hole in the gum known as a fistula or
draining sinus tract. Pus will then flow through this hole into your mouth
and the result is a bad taste and even bad breath.
All of this happens without you even knowing it until your dentist
informs you that you have an abscessed tooth. A root canal treatment will
be needed to save this tooth from extraction.
But before you have a root canal there is one question that you should
be sure to ask your dentist. You simply must get a yes answer to this
question if you are to have a high quality root canal treatment.
Dr. Steven Troy Tuggle is an endodontist with over twenty years
experience in performing root canals on nervous patients. He has written
the Ebook, The Relaxed Root Canal.
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