Dental Abscess Emergency Dental Care October 8, 2026

Tooth Abscess or Infection? What to Do Right Now

If you think you have an abscessed tooth, call (310) 926-6825. Our phone is answered 24/7. Swelling or throbbing pain needs a dentist soon, and trouble breathing or swallowing means the ER. We’ll tell you what to do right now and get you scheduled. How soon you’re seen depends on how severe it is.

Call (310) 926-6825
Request an Appointment

What to do right now

  • Call us and tell us about the swelling, where it is, and whether you have a fever.
  • Keep brushing gently with a soft toothbrush.
  • Take a pain reliever you can buy without a prescription, following the label. Taking more than the label says won’t work better and can be dangerous.
  • Eat soft foods, and avoid food and drinks that are very hot or very cold.
  • Don’t try to open or drain the swelling yourself. Draining an abscess is a job for the dentist.
  • Don’t wait for it to clear up. A tooth abscess won’t go away without treatment.

Signs of a tooth abscess

According to Mayo Clinic, a tooth abscess is a pocket of pus caused by a bacterial infection. Its signs include:

  • A severe, constant, throbbing toothache that can spread to the jawbone, neck or ear
  • Pain with hot and cold, or when you chew or bite
  • Fever
  • Swelling in the face, cheek or neck
  • Tender, swollen lymph nodes under the jaw or in the neck
  • A foul odor in the mouth

Swollen gums around a tooth can be a sign too. An abscess doesn’t always hurt, so a swelling that isn’t painful still needs a dentist. If you have a bad toothache but no swelling or fever, the same first steps as for any severe toothache apply until you’re seen.

When to go to the ER instead

Go to a hospital emergency room, or call 911, if you have trouble breathing or swallowing. These symptoms may mean the infection has spread deeper into the jaw, throat or neck. If breathing is hard, call 911 rather than calling us first, and don’t drive yourself.

Go to the ER as well if you have a fever and swelling in your face and you can’t reach a dentist.

You may also need emergency care if you have:

  • A swollen or painful eye, or sudden problems with your eyesight
  • A lot of swelling inside your mouth
  • Trouble opening your mouth or speaking

If you have a weakened immune system, an untreated abscess is more likely to spread, so mention it when you call.

An ER can treat the infection and the pain, but it can’t do a root canal or repair the tooth. Once you’re stable, call us, because the tooth still needs a dentist.

When to call us today

If you can breathe and swallow normally and the swelling stays around the tooth, a dentist is the right place to start. Any sign of an abscess is a reason to see one promptly rather than waiting to see if it settles. Call us today if you have:

  • A throbbing toothache that won’t let up
  • Swollen gums near a tooth
  • Pain when you bite down on the tooth
  • A salty, foul-tasting fluid in your mouth
  • Tender glands under your jaw

My abscess burst and the pain stopped

A tooth abscess that bursts still needs treatment. When an abscess ruptures, you may get a sudden rush of foul-tasting, salty fluid in your mouth and a lot of pain relief. That can make it seem like the problem has gone away, but you still need dental treatment. If the abscess doesn’t drain, the infection may spread to the jaw and to other areas of the head and neck.

What causes a tooth abscess

An abscess at the tip of a tooth root starts when bacteria get into the pulp, the innermost part of the tooth that holds its nerves and blood vessels. Bacteria can get in through:

  • A deep cavity
  • A chip or crack in the tooth
  • Earlier dental work, or an injury to the tooth

An abscess can also form in the gum at the side of a tooth root, and gum disease is one cause. Either kind needs a dentist.

What the dentist will do

The goal of treatment is to get rid of the infection. Our dentist examines the tooth and the area around it, may tap on the tooth to check for tenderness, and may take an X-ray. We explain the options before starting anything. Depending on what’s found, treatment can include:

  • Draining the abscess through a small cut so the pus can drain out, then washing the area with salt water
  • A root canal, which removes the infected tissue inside the tooth, drains the abscess and seals the tooth, to try to save it
  • Removing the tooth and draining the abscess, if the tooth can’t be saved
  • Antibiotics, which the dentist will likely prescribe if the infection has spread to nearby teeth, the jaw or other areas

The area is numbed with local anesthesia, so you shouldn’t feel the treatment itself. Which option fits depends on your tooth and how far the infection has gone, and our dentist will tell you after the exam. A tooth saved with a root canal may also need a crown to make it stronger, especially a back tooth.

How much does abscess treatment cost?

The cost depends on what the tooth needs, whether that’s draining, a root canal and crown, or removing the tooth, and on how far the infection has spread. You’ll know the plan before treatment starts.

  • Insurance: we accept PPO plans, including Aetna, Assurant, Cigna, Delta Dental, Guardian Direct, Humana and MetLife.
  • Payment: cash, check, credit and debit cards, plus financing through Cherry, CareCredit and LendingClub.
  • No insurance: ask about our in-office dental plan.

Tooth abscess questions

Can a tooth abscess go away on its own?

A tooth abscess won't go away without treatment. Even if it bursts and the pain eases, you still need a dentist to treat the infection. Call (310) 926-6825.

Is an abscessed tooth a dental emergency?

An abscessed tooth needs prompt care from a dentist. Swelling, a fever or a throbbing toothache are reasons to call today. If you also have trouble breathing or swallowing, go to the ER or call 911.

Should I go to the ER or the dentist for an abscess?

Go to the ER if you have trouble breathing or swallowing, or a fever with facial swelling and you can't reach a dentist. Without those signs, call a dentist. The ER can't repair the tooth, so you'll need a dentist either way.

Can the ER fix an abscessed tooth?

An ER can treat a spreading infection and the pain, but it doesn't do root canals or repair teeth. Treating the tooth itself is a dentist's job, so plan to call us once you're stable.

What if the abscess burst and I feel better?

You still need a dentist after an abscess bursts. The pain may ease a lot when it ruptures, which can make it seem like the problem has gone away, but the tooth still needs treatment.

Will antibiotics alone get rid of a tooth abscess?

Dentists treat an abscess by draining it and dealing with the tooth, with a root canal or by removing it. If the infection stays in the abscessed area, you may not need antibiotics at all. If it has spread, the dentist will likely add them.

Do I have an abscess or just a bad toothache?

Swelling in your gums or face, a fever, tender glands under your jaw or a foul taste in your mouth point toward an abscess, while a toothache alone can have other causes. A dentist can tell by examining the tooth, and may take an X-ray, so call us if you're not sure.

Do you take insurance for an abscess?

We accept PPO plans, including Aetna, Assurant, Cigna, Delta Dental, Guardian Direct, Humana and MetLife. We also offer financing and an in-office plan for patients without insurance.

Get help for a tooth infection now

Call (310) 926-6825. Our phone is answered 24/7, and we’ll tell you what to do right now and get you scheduled. You can also request an appointment online.

Our office is at 2511 Artesia Blvd A in Redondo Beach, close to Torrance, Hawthorne, Gardena and Manhattan Beach, with a parking lot on site.