Accumulation of pus in the gums secondary to a tooth infection.
The most common cause is a cavity, but it can also be caused by trauma or infection of the tissues surrounding and supporting the tooth.
It manifests itself as pain in an area of the mouth that increases with chewing or with temperature changes when eating or drinking. It can cause inflammation on one side of the face, swollen lymph nodes and fever in more severe cases.
It is diagnosed by a clinical examination and close examination of the teeth, gums, mouth and throat, and treatment is initially aimed at relieving the pain with painkillers and treating the infection with antibiotics. At a later stage, depending on the viability of the tooth, root canal treatment or tooth extraction will be carried out.
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