Your Tooth Infection Guide

Oral complications are common, and while cavities are the go-to culprit for tooth pain, tooth infections are also a common issue. If you have unexplained tooth pain, you may be struggling with a tooth infection or tooth abscess. If you would like to know more, keep reading.

What Is a Tooth Abscess?

An abscess is a pocket of pus and bacteria. While there are multiple types of oral abscesses, periapical abscesses usually cause tooth infections. These attack the tip of the tooth's root. Depending on the severity of the infection and the location, it can cause severe pain, but some people have little to no symptoms until a routine dental X-ray reveals the abscess. 

Cavities and infections can both cause pain, but you can usually tell the difference between the two on your own because infections cause more unpleasant symptoms. First, you may notice a bitter metallic taste in the mouth if the abscess bursts. You may also see pus if it bursts. Other symptoms include:

• Throbbing pain that may radiate
• Sensitivity to pressure
• Swelling
• Fever
• Bad breath

Who Is at Risk of Getting a Tooth Infection?

The leading risk of tooth infection is poor oral hygiene. The more plaque in your mouth, the more bacteria that are trying to break through to the tooth's pulp. Naturally, eating a diet high in sugar or carbohydrates can increase the risk of decay and oral infections. Smokers are also at a higher risk.

However, many factors may be hard to avoid. For example, if your medication causes dry mouth, you have an increased risk of decay and infection. A weakened immune system may also increase your risk. Even if you take great care of your teeth, an injury may cause a chip or crack in the tooth, exposing the pulp to bacteria.

How Is an Infected Tooth Treated?

There are only two effective ways to treat a tooth infection. However, your dentist may also prescribe oral antibiotics before, during, or after treatment. One effective method is extraction. By removing the tooth, you get rid of the infection and the dead tissue. Of course, this means you'll have a missing tooth, but the procedure is incredibly inexpensive.

In most cases, your dentist will recommend a root canal treatment. During this treatment, the dentist or endodontist removes all the pulp inside the tooth crown and roots and fills the empty cavity with a special filler. In most cases, the tooth continues to look and work like a normal live tooth.

Your dentist will suggest placing a crown on the tooth. This adds extra strength, which is important because the large filling weakens the tooth. Ideally, a root canal treatment lasts a lifetime and prevents the need for tooth replacement options later down the line.

What Are the Complications of Not Treating a Tooth Infection?

If you don't treat the tooth infection, it can fully destroy the tooth. This causes severe pain until the tooth dies. Any bits of dead tooth left behind should be removed to prevent future complications. In some cases, the infection may be able to spread to other nearby teeth. You may also have a higher risk of developing gum disease because you have so much bacteria in your mouth. 

More importantly, however, if left untreated, a tooth abscess can travel to other parts of the body. If this happens, you may start to notice more swelling, making it hard to move your mouth. Other symptoms include:

• Headache
• Fatigue
• Skin flushing
• Chills
• Dehydration
• Rapid heart rate
• Difficulty breathing
• Vomiting

In extreme cases, the infection can cause full-body sepsis, which is a life-threatening condition.

A tooth infection can cause major pain and discomfort. If left untreated, it can become a life-threatening condition. If you would like to know more, or if you want to find out if you have a tooth infection, contact us at Henderson Family Dentistry.