Symptoms of a dental abscess

Symptoms of a dental abscess

Symptoms of an abscess in your tooth or gum may include:

• an intense, throbbing pain in the affected tooth or gum that may come on suddenly and gets gradually worse 
• pain that spreads to your ear, jaw and neck on the same side as the affected tooth or gum 
• pain that's worse when lying down, which may disturb your sleep 
• redness and swelling in your face 
• a tender, discoloured and/or loose tooth 
• shiny, red and swollen gums 
• sensitivity to hot or cold food and drink 
• bad breath and/or an unpleasant taste in your mouth