If there’s reason to believe that the pain in your tooth is caused by an infection, then you can’t afford to ignore it. Failing to have the issue treated by an emergency dentist as soon as possible could have dire consequences for your overall health; in fact, it could even put your life at risk! Here’s a look at why an untreated tooth infection could potentially be deadly – as well as what can be done to address the problem long before the worst can happen.
How Can a Tooth Infection Be Fatal?
Having an infected tooth means that harmful bacteria are attacking the pulp, which is the soft tissue inside the tooth that contains nerves and blood vessels. Over time, the infection can lead to the formation of an infected pocket of pus known as an abscess. If the abscess isn’t properly dealt with, it could allow the bacteria to enter your bloodstream, spreading the infection to other parts of the body. The ultimate result of this could be sepsis, a severe reaction to infection that can easily be fatal.
An untreated tooth infection could put your life at risk in other ways as well. For example, the bacteria responsible for the infection could make their way to your lungs, resulting in serious respiratory issues. On top of that, researchers have found that a tooth infection can sometimes be linked to meningitis, which is a severe inflammation of the membranes protecting the brain and spinal cord; without treatment, meningitis can result in seizures and even death.
How Can You Tell If Your Toothache is Caused by an Infection?
Your toothache may be the result of an infection if it’s accompanied by any of the following symptoms:
- The tooth in question is extremely sensitive to hot or cold temperatures.
- You’ve noticed a bitter taste in your mouth.
- You have bad breath that won’t go away.
- The gums around the tooth are red and swollen.
- You are experiencing a fever.
Of course, to find out for sure whether your tooth is infected, you will need to see an emergency dentist who can properly diagnose the problem.
What Can You Do About a Tooth Infection?
If your tooth is infected, your dentist may recommend a root canal treatment. This procedure involves removing the infected pulp and cleaning the inside of the tooth to eliminate bacteria, thus stopping your pain and preventing the problem from growing worse. Note that if a root canal treatment is no longer viable, your tooth may need to be removed altogether instead.
It’s essential to act quickly as soon as you realize that an infection might be to blame for your toothache. The sooner you get the treatment you need from a trained dental professional, the more likely you’ll be to avoid life-threatening consequences.
About the Author
Dr. Travis Rottman earned his dental degree at the Texas A&M Baylor College of Dentistry. He has earned Fellowship status with the Academy of General Dentistry, and he has completed training in same-day dental care as well as oral conscious sedation. He offers various forms of emergency dental care, including root canal treatments and tooth extractions. If you have a toothache, you can schedule an appointment with Dr. Rottman at Sachse Family Dentistry at Woodbridge by using his online scheduling tool or calling (972) 848-0073.