Tooth infection is common in people. It is a collection of bacteria in the tooth or gum. If it is left untreated, the infection will spread in the body and cause serious life-threatening complications. That is why tooth infection is considered a dental emergency. It can be treated in our Emergency Dental Clinic as soon as possible.
How Does My Tooth Become Infected?
In many cases, a decayed tooth that has been left untreated causes an infection. Moreover, an impacted wisdom tooth, poor oral hygiene, dry mouth, and a high sugar diet can lead to tooth infection.
“A tooth infection may also occur when a tooth is broken, chipped, or injured in other ways. Openings in the tooth enamel allow bacteria to infect the center of the tooth (the pulp).” announces UF Health, University of Florida Health.
Tooth infection usually develops in the tooth root. In some cases, it spreads to surrounding tissues. The infection can spread in the body with weak immune system.
Types of Tooth Infections
Generally, there are three kinds of tooth infection. If a tooth infection gets into bone around the tooth (alveolus), inflammation of the bone occurs. It is accompanied by tooth sensitivity.
If the infection enters the soft tissue, it will cause swelling. In this case, the infection spreads, and there is no pus. It is called cellulite.
If one part is infected and pus builds up, an abscess will form. The tooth abscess puts pressure on the nerves, and the patient may not be able to open his or her mouth easily.
Symptoms of Tooth Infection
According to DentalClinicToronto, “One of the first symptoms of tooth infection is throbbing pain experienced near the tooth or in the gums. The pain is sudden in onset and worsens over time. The pain can radiate to ear, jaw, or neck and can aggravate when you lie down. The pain gets severe when you chew or bite,”
The symptoms of a tooth infection include:
– Toothache
– Inflammation
– Redness
– Tooth sensitivity to hot and cold foods or drinks
– Difficulty opening the mouth.
General symptoms of a tooth infection include:
– Fever
– High pulse rate and respiration, over 25 breaths per minute
– Bad taste in the mouth
– Swollen lymph nodes
– Bad breath
Depending on the severity of the infection, some symptoms are common, and some are less common. If you are suffering from the above-mentioned signs, visit the emergency dentist in the shortest possible time.
It is worth knowing that if the infection is left untreated, it will spread to other parts of your body and threaten your life. You may wonder how to understand the infection has spread elsewhere in your body. The following symptoms can help you:
– Difficulty breathing
– Fatigue
– Double vision
– Chills
– Confusion
– Dizziness
– Nausea and vomiting
– Headache
– Dropping eyelids
As soon as you notice the first symptoms of tooth infection, you can seek the treatment in the Clove Dental. Early medical attention can prevent the infection from spreading.
Treatment of Tooth Infections
The main goal of treatment is to remove the source of the infection. The possible treatments for dental infection are root canal treatment (RCT), antibiotics, apicoectomy, and drainage. In some cases, the infected tooth is extracted.
According to the University of Lowa College of Dentistry, “Patients sometimes believe that antibiotics will “cure” a dental infection in the same way they can cure a medical infection such as strep throat. However, this is not the case. Once the inside (pulp) of a tooth becomes diseased, a root canal (or extraction) is necessary even if you are not experiencing pain or swelling.”
Finally, the most important way to prevent dental infection is to practice good oral hygiene. Try to brush and floss daily, limit your sugar intake and visit the emergency dentist every six months for regular check-ups.
