The Dangers of Leaving a Tooth Infection Untreated

Are you experiencing a throbbing toothache? That is probably a tooth infection. Sometimes, extracting the tooth is the only way to kill an infection inside the tooth pulp. An untreated tooth cannot heal by itself. It worsens if you don’t take proper medical care. How Do You Know You Have an Infected Tooth?

Bacterial infection in the dental formula is known as a tooth abscess. It is characterized by a pocket of pus at different areas, including the root tip. The most probable causes of teeth infection are an untreated cavity, complicated dental work, or a broken tooth. It helps to get emergency dental care near me to drain pus and get rid of the infection before it spreads. A good dentist can save your tooth through canal treatment, but tooth extraction is sometimes the only option. Besides severe toothache, other signs of tooth infection are bad breath, fever, swollen jaw and gum, sensitivity to hot and cold, persistent bitter taste, and swollen lymph nodes, cheeks. Sometimes the pain gets worse when you lie down because the mouth is sensitive to pressure. Leaving the tooth infection untreated might bring the following implications:

Sepsis

A recent WHO report indicates that 11 million people across the world (the majority being children) die from sepsis every year. On the other hand, CDC claims that at least 1.7 million American adults develop sepsis conditions while almost 270,000 die from the same. The disease requires early detection to prevent it from developing into a life-threatening complication. So, what exactly is sepsis? Sepsis can originate from anywhere in the mouth: a decayed tooth, tongue, gum, palate, endodontic, or lips. If the infection hits the pulp, it moves on to the connective tissues, nerves, and blood vessels. Eventually, the germs spread to the bones and tissues below to form an abscess that finally becomes sepsis.  Most people confuse sepsis for blood poisoning, but in reality, it is how the body reacts to an infection. It happens when antibodies flock to the bloodstreams to fight microbes. In turn, they stir up inflammations in the body; something that can damage vital organs, causing total failure or even death.  Common signs of sepsis are low blood pressure, difficulty breathing, high fever, and rapid pulse rate. If the victim survives septic shock, they are likely to sustain life-changing conditions like chronic pain, TSD, fatigue, amputations, and organ failure. Doctors usually administer intravenous fluids and antibiotics to treat sepsis.

Brain Abscess

Like in sepsis, an untreated bacterial infection in the tooth can move to the bloodstream and spread to the brain tissue. A case report filed by the Canadian Dental Association, involving an 11-year old, shows that a tooth infection can adversely affect the brain. The condition, known as brain abscess, is associated with meningitis which causes inflammations of the membranes around the brain and spinal cord. It is especially lethal to people with weak immune systems. Signs and symptoms of brain abscess include dizziness, chills, excess sweating, fatigue, diarrhea, skin flushing, shortness of breath, reduced frequency of urination, vomiting, dehydration, and mental confusion. Call a doctor if you or your loved one experiences these symptoms. Not all teeth infections can lead to brain abscesses, but it is advisable to seek treatment at the earliest possible.  Neglecting an infected tooth weakens the gum and bone, making it hard to repair the damage. You put yourself at the risk of sepsis if you let it spread to neighboring teeth. Take immediate action if you notice pain while chewing and other symptoms highlighted above.