You might remember the 2007 story about the 12-year-old boy who complained of a toothache then died in a Maryland hospital due to the bacteria from an abscessed tooth spreading to his brain. The media had a field day with the story.

Now in an article published in the New York Times last week, Catherine Saint Louis reported that “a new study suggests that deaths from these preventable infections may not be as rare as once thought and that the number of Americans hospitalized with them may be on the rise.”

Saint Louis said that hundreds of thousands of emergency room visits are directly attributed to dental problems. As a matter of fact researchers in Boston found that hospitalization increased from 5,757 in 2000 to 8,141 in 2008 an increase of 40 percent.

What is an abscess and what can we do if we get one, or better yet prevent one from happening? Here are the Mayo Clinic’s answers: A tooth abscess is a bacterial infection that causes a pocket of pus to form either at the tip of the root (periapical) or in the gums next to the tooth root (periodontal).

We’re going to delve into periapical tooth abscesses which usually result from an untreated cavity, injury or prior dental work. Signs and symptoms of an abscess include severe, persistent throbbing toothache; sensitivity to hot and cold temperatures; sensitivity when you chew; fever; swelling in your cheek or face; tender, swollen lymph nodes under your jaw or in your neck, or a sudden rush of foul-smelling and foul-tasting fluid in your mouth that actually relieves the pain.

What should you do? See your dentist immediately if you experience any of the above symptoms. Go to the emergency room if you have trouble breathing or swallowing, it may indicate that the infection has spread deeper into your jaw and surrounding tissue or perhaps to other parts of your body.

Your dentist will open up that pocket and drain it and/or perform a root canal which will save the tooth and eliminate the infection. A root canal involves the dentist drilling into the tooth to remove the infected tissue and then filling and sealing it. Then the tooth is capped with a crown that if properly cared for will last you a lifetime.

However, if the tooth is too badly decayed the dentist will have no choice but to remove it in order to drain the abscess.

If the infection is centralized to the affected tooth you may not need a course of antibiotics, but if the dentist believes the infection has spread to nearby teeth, your jaw or other areas, you’ll probably get a prescription.

If you think a tooth abscess can’t happen to you or your kids, think again. According to the Centers of Disease Control one quarter of children aged two to five and about half of all children have tooth decay.

One report stated that 90 percent of adults will have tooth decay in their lifetime and 25 percent of us over 65 will lose all our teeth.

To prevent tooth decay we all should brush properly at least twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste, floss at least once a day, replace worn toothbrushes at least every three or four months if not more often and see your dentist every six months. Then, eat a healthy, nutritious diet avoiding sugary treats and, because you know I like to nag you, quit smoking.

Oh, and while I’m nagging I’ll change the subject and remind you to go to www.YouTellBGH.com to take Bonner General Hospital’s marketing survey. Your health and your opinions are important to us.

• Kathy Hubbard is a trustee on Bonner General Hospital Foundation Board. She can be reached at [email protected] and 264-4029.