Causes of Tooth Abscess
Tooth abscess is a bacterial infection, therefore anything that creates an opening for bacteria to get into your tooth or surrounding tissues can cause tooth abscess. Examples include:
- Broken, chipped or cracked teeth: Bacteria can get into any openings in a tooth and spread to the pulp.
- Severe cavities: A cavity also known as tooth decay is the destruction of the surface of your tooth. It occurs when bacteria breaks down sugar in food and drink, creating acids that attack enamel.
- Gum disease: Gum disease is an infection and inflammation of the tissue surrounding the teeth. As gum disease progresses, the bacteria is able to infect deeper tissues. [4]
- Tooth injury: trauma to the tooth can injure the inner pulp even if there is no sign of crack. The injury makes it susceptible to infection.