Let’s say you are still dealing with your toothache and you’ve still got one more day before your dental appointment and after talking to a few people you start thinking, “I think my problem is more than the basic toothache.”

So, what are the signs and symptoms of an abscessed tooth? You should first try to recall if you remember damaging a tooth, whether it is a broken or chipped tooth. If you can’t see or remember any damage being done, do you have a visible cavity that has been left untreated for an extended period of time? Or you may not be aware you even have a cavity. If none of the above are true and you are still wondering if you have an abscessed tooth, here are some other symptoms of which to be aware of.

Do you have a bitter or salty taste in your mouth and you know you haven’t eaten or drunk anything bitter or salty in the last few hours? Or, maybe a friend or even you yourself has noticed that your breath doesn’t smell very pleasant and you know that you’ve brushed your teeth and flossed today and breath mints aren’t even taking the odor away. Then again, you could be suspicious of that low grade fever you have today and you’re just not feeling normal. However, your main clue that something just isn’t right is the fact that when you eat, it hurts to chew or even open up your mouth. Also, that cold glass of water or hot cup of coffee is very sensitive when it hits your teeth. Some people may also experience the glands of the neck swelling. This is due to the infection running down into your gums and into the root of your tooth. However, if you observe your upper and/or lower jaw swelling and you have pain in your jaw area, you should seek medical treatment immediately since now your condition is getting very serious.

More than likely if you do have an abscessed tooth, you will not experience all of these symptoms at the same time but they are the most common symptoms that occur.