Q&A

Can a tooth infection affect the whole mouth?

Can a tooth infection affect the whole mouth?

Your teeth are packed with nerves. That’s why a toothache, though it may only affect one part of your mouth, is excruciating. What’s more, the pain may sometimes be related to a deeper oral health issue.

Can you have a tooth abscess for years?

The Danger of Untreated Infected Teeth and Gums If they are not treated, they can last for several months or years. There are two types of dental abscess – one can form under the tooth (periapical) and the other in the supporting gum and bone (periodontal).

Can a draining tooth abscess make you sick?

Sometimes the infection can get to the point where swelling threatens to block the airway, making it hard to breathe. Dental abscesses can also make you generally ill, with nausea, vomiting, fevers, chills, and sweats.

What happens if abscess tooth is not treated?

If the abscess ruptures, the pain may decrease significantly — but you still need dental treatment. If the abscess doesn’t drain, the infection may spread to your jaw and to other areas of your head and neck. You might even develop sepsis — a life-threatening infection that spreads throughout your body.

How can you tell if a tooth infection has spread?

Signs of a tooth infection spreading to the body may include:

  1. fever.
  2. swelling.
  3. dehydration.
  4. increased heart rate.
  5. increased breathing rate.
  6. stomach pain.

What are the symptoms of an abscessed tooth?

Some common symptoms that accompany with an abscessed tooth: Toothache. Pain when chewing food. The tooth becomes more sensitive with cold or hot foods and drinks. Change in taste senses. Red and sore gums. Hard to open your mouth and chew.

How to treat an abscessed tooth with tea?

The tannins in the tea can act as agents to reduce the pain and infection as well as prevent the development of harmful bacteria in your mouth [ 7]. Take a cup of hot water and dip a black tea bag into it. Cover the cup and let the tea bag be soaked for at least 10 minutes. After that, take the bag out of the cup and place it on the painful tooth.

Can a tooth infection spread to the face?

Sepsis: A serious medical condition in which the immune system severely overreacts to an infection in the blood. Without treatment, a tooth infection can spread to the face and neck. Severe infections may even reach more distant parts of the body.

What are the most common dental problems in adults?

Your dentist can recommend further treatments that may help reduce your risk. Gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, is an infection of the gums surrounding the teeth. It is also one of the main causes of tooth loss among adults. Some studies have indicated that there may be a link between heart disease and periodontal disease. 3 

Why do I have an abscessed tooth in my mouth?

The main cause for an abscessed tooth is bacterial infection. This is especially true for patients who have undergone complex dental treatments in the past. Research shows that they are more susceptible to this type of infection because it is possible that the exposed pulp or gum of the tooth may have been invaded by the bacteria.

What are the symptoms of a periapical tooth abscess?

These symptoms may indicate that the infection has spread deeper into your jaw and surrounding tissue or even to other areas of your body. A periapical tooth abscess occurs when bacteria invade the dental pulp — the innermost part of the tooth that contains blood vessels, nerves and connective tissue.

When to see the dentist for an abscessed tooth?

The eruption may ease the patient of the pain temporarily, but the results will be more damaging since you will have more than one tooth to worry about. Abscessed tooth is one of the problems dentists face each day. When to See the Dentist? Anytime you have symptoms of an abscessed tooth, go right away to your dentist.

What happens if you leave a tooth abscess untreated?

They may be able to save your tooth with a root canal treatment, but in some cases the tooth may need to be pulled. Leaving a tooth abscess untreated can lead to serious, even life-threatening, complications. Signs and symptoms of a tooth abscess include: Severe, persistent, throbbing toothache that can radiate to the jawbone, neck or ear