A tooth abscess or infection may often result in severe pain, making it difficult for you to chew food or talk with ease. Most of us avoid seeing a dentist and end up experiencing severe dental pain in the process. While initially, it may seem harmless, leaving it for too long has its consequences.
After all, you do not want serious complications to build up over time and get back to you when you least expect them. Treating them as soon as you notice symptoms is all you should care about. Go through this blog post to know the symptoms of tooth abscess.
Signs You Have a Tooth Infection or Abscess
Abscesses are nothing but pockets of pus in the gum. They can occur in different areas in your jaw, affecting the surrounding bone and adjacent teeth’s health. When bacteria start to build up into the root of your teeth it causes swelling, inflammation, and pain over time.
When you have severe decay in the teeth, a broken, or chipped tooth, gum disease, it can accelerate bacteria’s growth, causing infection and further damage to your teeth. Below are the symptoms of a tooth abscess:
- Swelling in the face or cheek
- Sensitivity to cold and temperature or both
- Sensitivity to air
- Throbbing pain radiating to the jawbone, ear or neck
- Fever
- Difficulty swallowing
- Swelling in gum
- Foul smell
Sometimes, the abscesses rupture on their own, and there may be a sudden influx of salty fluid in your mouth. The pain might go away after this. Even if the abscess ruptures, be sure to consult with your dentist as you do not want to take risks with your oral health.
Are Tooth Abscesses Life-Threatening?
While tooth abscesses are not life-threatening, the longer you wait for the treatment, the more severe the pain can be. The worst part? The infection is prone to spread to other areas including cheek, neck, jawbone and sometimes beyond.
In the rarest scenarios, the infection caused by the abscess can spread to the blood, brain or heart. This can be dangerous.
If you seek medical attention as soon as you get an abscess in your teeth, preventing damage becomes easier.
Major Complications of Tooth Abscesses
Bone Infection
When you leave infection for too long, it gives the bacteria enough time to spread to the surrounding bone. As a result, a condition called osteomyelitis (infection in the jawbone) occurs. You may experience fever and severe jawbone pain due to this. All in all, it is a painful experience causing severe damage to the bone. If left untreated for long, it can lead to even surgery.
Tooth Loss
If an infection remains untreated for a long time, one or more teeth become severely decayed, it can cause them to fall out.
Sinus Irritation
Your teeth and sinuses remain in close proximity to one another. If an infection left untreated, a bacterial sinus infection can occur in your teeth.
While it might be rare, an untreated tooth infection may spread to the blood in the sinuses. As a result, you may develop a life-threatening blood clotting condition called as cavernous sinus thrombosis.
Septicemia
An untreated tooth abscess can lead bacteria to the bloodstream. This condition is known as septicemia or poisoning in the blood. This can be a severe condition, if left untreated, your whole body can become infected, a life-threatening condition known as sepsis.
Signs of septicemia:
- Drop in blood pressure
- Weakness
- Chills
- Sweating
- High fever
Ludwig’s Angina
This is yet another condition you may develop if a tooth infection is left untreated for long. It is a bacterial mouth infection and its symptoms include:
- Drooling
- Unusual speech
- Neck pain
- Fever
- Tongue or jaw swelling
- Weakness & fatigue
- Redness under the chin or neck
- Difficulty breathing and swelling
When you first notice any of these symptoms, be sure to consult a dentist. The right action at the right time can prevent you from a great deal of pain.
Meningitis
When your teeth infection spreads to the brain, it causes a serious brain infection. This is known as meningitis. Signs of this condition may include but not limited to:
- Stiff neck
- Nausea
- Light sensitivity
- Sudden high fever
- Seizures
- Sever purple skin rash
- Lethargy
- Severe headache
- Loss of appetite
- Loss of thirst
If you notice any of the symptoms mentioned above, you can visit at www.emergencydentistinlondon.co.uk to book an urgent treatment.
Treatment of Tooth Abscess
Your dentist can treat most tooth infections, if you do not wait for long and seek medical care when you notice symptoms for the first time. Treatments for teeth infection vary depending on the location and complexity of your infection.
Your dentist may recommend one of the following treatments for your teeth infection:
- Root canal: It is a dental procedure in which your dentist removes the infected inner pulp. Then he or she fills the gap with gauge to prevent further infection.
- Incision & drainage: In case of a small dental abscess, your dentist will make a small incision to ensure the pus drains away.
- Antibiotics: Most of your teeth infections need dental procedures. Sometimes, you may need antibiotics too ensure the procedure is a success.
- Tooth extraction: If your dentist feels that the infected tooth cannot be saved in any way possible, he removes the tooth. This allows the pus to drain away.
How to Prevent Tooth Abscess?
One can manage the risk of developing a tooth infection by maintaining good oral health. This involves seeing your dentist once in a while for regular checkups, brushing with fluoride-rich toothpaste, flossing two times a day, dental cleaning, among others.
While you may take all the necessary steps to prevent infection from occurring, when you experience pain, make sure to visit your dentist right away. This ensures your infection does not spread to other parts of your body, causing no further damage.
Whenever you notice a cracked, painful or broken tooth, and there is a swelling, consider checking it with a dentist. Not only does it help you prevent further damage but your dentist will also be able to treat you better.