In my daily practice, I often find infected teeth that the patient is entirely unaware of. Most often, I find asymptomatic infections on radiographs (x-rays). Sometimes, I can see what appears to be a pimple on the gums adjacent to the tooth, usually at the level of the root tip. The pimple is usually on the cheek side (buccal). However, they are occasionally found on the tongue side (known as the palatal on the upper and lingual on the lower). Technically a pimple around a tooth is known as a dentoalveolar fistula. I will talk about what they are, how they form, what to do if you have one, and how to prevent them.
Read MoreOccasionally, the ducts can get clogged, causing unusual pain and swelling. Crystals can form within the saliva that create a nidus for stone formation, known as sialoliths, similar to those in the urinary tract. Like kidney stones, they usually occur on one side only. They can lead to obstruction of the duct with rapid swelling and pain in the gland and, ultimately, infection. In this post, I discuss blocked salivary glands and what you can do to prevent and treat them.
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