(HealthDay News) -- Tooth pain can make eating and drinking difficult, and may signal an infection in or around a tooth -- medically called an abscess.

The University of Michigan Health System says warning signs of an abscess include:

• Throbbing pain, particularly when you're chewing.
• An very tender tooth, especially to the touch.
• Gums that appear red and swollen.
• An unpleasant, salty taste in your mouth.
• A swollen jaw or face.
• A fever.
• A lump in the mouth that appears red, swollen or bloody.