Eating and drinking over the holidays probably caused your waistline to expand putting diet on your New Year’s resolution list, but what most folks don’t realize is all of those cookies, pies, cakes and candies that you enjoyed over the past two months have also done a number on your teeth.

Your Thousand Oaks Dentist will tell you that January is the biggest month for tooth decay and gum disease. People tend to put off a trip to the dentist during the holidays because there simply is not enough time. If you have been ignoring that toothache for the last month or so, it is time to schedule an appointment with your Dentist in Thousand Oaks, Dr. Rodney Burton. You may have felt a bit better after slathering your bad tooth in clove oil, but rest assured, the infection from your cavity is still there and if it isn’t taken care of ASAP could become much worse.

Cavities will not heal by themselves, and if left untreated can become infected. Bacteria from food and drink will get into the cavity, which could eventually lead to an abscess. If you have an abscessed tooth it is imperative that you head to your Thousand Oaks Dentist sooner rather than later.

Some of the signs of an abscessed tooth include a continuous and severe throbbing or gnawing pain. Other things to look for are fever, pain when chewing, a bitter taste in your mouth and bad breath. If you notice, swollen neck glands have sensitivity to hot and cold when you eat, drink, or notice redness and swelling on your gums, you are most probably dealing with an abscessed tooth. Also, look for swelling to the lower and upper jaw and an open sore somewhere on the side of your gum.

If the root of your tooth has died, the toothache and other symptoms may stop, but that certainly doesn’t mean that the infection has healed. Unless treated by a Dentist in Thousand Oaks, the infection will continue to spread, destroying tissue along the way.

In order to treat the abscessed tooth, Your Thousand Oaks Dentist will first need to get rid of the infection. Dr. Burton may drain the abscess either by performing a root canal, extraction or with an incision into your swollen gum tissue.

Even if you aren’t feeling any pain, it is still a good idea to schedule an appointment for a checkup with your Dentist in Thousand Oaks. Starting the New Year off right with a healthy grin really is the best way to begin 2014.