How Should I Know If My Tooth Infection Is Serious?

What Is a Tooth Infection?

It is a dental condition that results from bacteria overgrowth in the mouth that enters the inner layers of a tooth. An infection begins externally, where you may not always notice any significant changes. However, over time, the bacteria breach the external layers of teeth, making their way into the tooth pulp. The most known tooth infections are tooth decay and cavities. However, an infection can also feature an abscessed tooth.

What Causes Tooth Infections?

Infections develop due to bacteria overgrowth in the mouth. A tooth infection means that the bacteria in the mouth has targeted a particular tooth. The most infected teeth are molars due to the deep fissures. However, other teeth can get infected tooth. Some factors that promote tooth infections are:

1. High intake of sugary and acidic foods
2. Smoking and taking alcohol
3. Poor oral hygiene
4. Underlying health problems like gum disease

How Do I Know I Have an Infected Tooth?

You will never be surprised with a tooth infection if you diligently visit your dentist for routine dental checkups and cleanings. Unfortunately, many people realize they have an infected tooth when the infection has severely damaged portions of their teeth. Some indicators of tooth infection are:

1. Dark or brown lines on teeth – usually in the deep pits and fissures of molars.
2. Tooth sensitivity – you will notice discomfort when you eat hot or cold foods. You may also feel the same when you inhale dry air.
3. Toothache – the most common indicator of a tooth infection is a toothache. Unfortunately, you will need urgent attention from an emergency dentist near you if you are in this much pain.
4. Halitosis – is a term that refers to bad breath. It is difficult to rid your mouth of the odor when you have an oral infection.
5. Pain or discomfort when you chew food – even though the food is not too hard, you may still experience the discomfort.
6. Swollen gums – sometimes accompanied by a pus-like fluid at the base of the tooth. Such infection is called an abscessed tooth.

How Long Should I Wait for The Infected Tooth Untreated?

One of the challenges Grimsby dentists face is delayed treatment. Many patients will notice one or more signs of infection and still not rush to seek treatment. Unfortunately, the longer you go without treatment, the worse the infection becomes. Some of the complications likely to emerge if you leave an infected tooth untreated for too long are:

1. Severe tooth fractures – losing a sizeable chunk of your tooth’s structure.
2. Tooth loss
3. Excruciating dental pain
4. Headaches
5. Swollen throat and difficulty swallowing
6. Periodontitis – is a severe infection of the gum tissue.
7. Spread of infection – an infection in one tooth can spread to your entire mouth, not to mention other parts of your body.

Can Tooth Infection Affect My Brain?

One unknown fact about tooth infections is that they can infect other parts of your body. As you will learn from our dental team at Smiles of Canada, a bacterial infection in the mouth travels through the blood to various parts of the body. Therefore, it is unsurprising that oral infection can affect your brain, lungs, and heart. You may encounter various health problems like brain abscesses, pneumonia, and inflammation in the heart.

10 Signs of Tooth Infection Spreading to Body

If you are unsure how far your infection has spread, visit a dentist near you immediately. A comprehensive dental exam can help determine the severity of your infection to curb it before it gets too out of hand. However, if experience any of the following symptoms, it means the infection has spread to other body parts:

1. Pain radiating from the tooth outward.
2. Numbness and loss of sensation around the tooth.
3. Difficulty breathing well.
4. Unbearable, constant, and throbbing toothache.
5. Extreme sensitivity to hot or cold temperatures, especially food and drinks.
6. Swelling in the cheeks, tongue, gums, throat, neck, and other parts of your upper body.
7. Constant bad breath accompanied by a foul taste in the mouth.
8. Severe jaw pain and headaches.
9. Double vision or loss of sight.
10. Nausea and vomiting.