Introduction:
Tooth infections are serious but very rare nowadays because of better dental care. They start inside the tooth and can cause a lot of pain and swelling. If not treated, they can spread and make you very sick. It might take a few months for the infection to get bad. But if it’s not taken care of, it can lead to dangerous problems in your body.
You might notice a bad toothache, swelling, and fever if you have a tooth infection. It’s important to get help quickly if you have these symptoms.
Treatment for a tooth infection includes antibiotics, fixing the tooth, or sometimes pulling it out. The sooner you get treatment, the better your chances of avoiding serious problems.
We’ll discuss these topics in this blog:
- Can Tooth Infection Kill You?
- Signs and Symptoms of a Tooth Infection
- How fast could a tooth infection cause death?
- How common is death from a tooth infection?
- How to Treat Tooth Infection
- Conclusion
- Faq’s
Can Tooth Infection Kill You?
If you’re worried about how serious a tooth infection can be, it’s important to understand how it starts and spreads. When bacteria get inside a tooth and infect the soft tissue called pulp, the infection begins.
As time goes on, the infection can get worse, forming a pocket of pus around the tooth called an abscess. This can lead to intense pain and other symptoms.
Long ago, before modern dentistry, tooth infections were a major cause of death. Shockingly, between 10 to 40 % of people with tooth infections died before 1908.
Thankfully, with today’s dental knowledge and treatments, death from a tooth infection is very rare. Medical care is available to help stop it from becoming life-threatening.
A tooth infection happens when bacteria get into the soft part inside your tooth, called the pulp. If the infection keeps getting worse, it can form a pus-filled pocket around the tooth, called an abscess.
In the past, tooth infections were a big cause of death, even up until 1908. But now, thanks to better medicine and dental care, hardly anyone dies from them anymore. However, it’s still crucial to get treatment quickly if you think you have an infected tooth.
If you don’t treat a tooth infection, it can spread to other parts of your body and cause serious problems, like:
- Sepsis is a severe reaction your body has to the infection.
- Ludwig’s angina is a dangerous infection under your tongue.
- Necrotizing fasciitis is a severe infection that kills tissue in your body.
- Mediastinitis is swelling in the space between your lungs.
- Endocarditis is an infection in the lining of your heart.
- Cavernous sinus thrombosis is a dangerous blood clot near your brain.
- Osteomyelitis is an infection of your bones.
- A brain abscess is a collection of pus in your brain.
Signs and Symptoms of a Tooth Infection
If you have a dental abscess, you might notice
- A really painful toothache that can spread to your jaw, neck, or ear.
- Feeling pain when you eat or drink hot or cold things.
- Feeling pain when you bite or chew.
- Your face or cheek might swell up.
- You might see a pocket of pus or a bump on your gums.
- The lymph nodes under your jaw or in your neck might be swollen and tender.
- You could have a fever.
- Your breath might smell bad or have a yucky taste in your mouth.
How fast could a tooth infection cause death?
How long it takes for a tooth infection to become life-threatening can vary. Let’s go through it step by step.
How long does it take for an abscess to form?
An abscess from tooth decay can take a few months to develop. Decay eats away at the tooth slowly, reaching and harming the center part called the pulp.
If a tooth gets injured, like getting cracked or chipped, bacteria can get in faster.
What happens once you have an abscess?
When you have an abscess, you’ll start feeling swelling and throbbing pain around the tooth. This is a sign that something’s wrong. But before it turns into an abscess, you’ll probably have tooth pain from the cavity.
In some cases where people got seriously sick or even died from tooth infections, they had toothaches for weeks or months before getting urgent help.
Sometimes, they took antibiotics for the toothache, but that’s usually not enough to fix an abscess. The decay in the tooth needs treatment, like pulling out the tooth or doing a root canal if the tooth can be saved.
If a dental abscess isn’t treated for weeks or months, it can spread to other parts like the jaw, neck, and even the brain. This can cause big problems like trouble swallowing or breathing.
If you don’t get help at this point, you could die fast, sometimes within days.
How common is death from a tooth infection?
In the old days before antibiotics, about 10-40% of people with bad tooth infections died. But after penicillin was discovered, the chances of dying from it went way down. There aren’t many studies on how many people die from tooth infections nowadays, but one study found it was about 0.9% out of 297 patients with serious infections in their head and neck.
Even though it’s much safer now than in the past, our dentists still say it’s a bad idea to let a tooth abscess turn into Ludwig’s angina. That can make you sick for a few weeks.
Say goodbye to tooth infections. Find a dentist near you.
How to Treat Tooth Infection
Treating a tooth infection is important to prevent the infection from spreading and to relieve pain. Here are common treatments for tooth infections:
Antibiotics
Your dentist will prescribe antibiotics to kill the bacteria causing the infection. This helps reduce the infection and prevents it from spreading.
Drainage
If there is an abscess (a pocket of pus), the dentist may need to drain it. This is done by making a small cut in the gum to let the pus out, which reduces pressure and pain.
Root Canal
A root canal is a procedure where the dentist removes the infected pulp from inside the tooth. The inside of the tooth is then cleaned and sealed to prevent further infection. This can save the tooth from being extracted.
Tooth Extraction
If the tooth is too damaged to be saved, the dentist might need to pull it out. This removes the source of the infection.
Pain Relief
Over-the-counter pain relievers, such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen, can help manage the pain until you see a dentist. Your dentist might also prescribe stronger pain medication if needed.
Warm Salt Water Rinse
Rinsing your mouth with warm salt water can help reduce pain and swelling. Mix half a teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water and rinse your mouth several times a day.
Proper Oral Hygiene
Keeping your mouth clean by brushing and flossing regularly can help prevent further infection and promote healing.
Avoid Irritants
Avoid very hot or cold foods and drinks, and do not chew on the side of the mouth where the infection is located, as this can increase pain.
It’s important to see a dentist as soon as possible if you suspect you have a tooth infection. Delaying treatment can lead to more serious complications, such as the infection spreading to other parts of the body.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while tooth infections can be serious if left untreated, modern dental care has made death from such infections extremely rare. It’s crucial to seek treatment promptly if you experience symptoms like severe toothache, swelling, or fever. With antibiotics and proper dental procedures, such as root canal therapy or tooth extraction, the infection can be effectively managed, preventing potential life-threatening complications. Early intervention is key to ensuring a favorable outcome and maintaining overall health.
Faq’s
Q1. How do you know if a tooth infection is nasty?
A1. If it’s causing a blood infection called sepsis, you might have a fever, fast heartbeat, quick breathing, or just feel sick. In severe cases, you might feel confused, pee less, or even pass out.
Q2. How can you tell if a tooth infection is spreading?
A2. If your face is swollen and you’re running a fever, or if you’re having trouble breathing or swallowing, get to the emergency room if you can’t see your dentist. These signs could mean the infection is spreading into your jaw, throat, or even other parts of your body.
Q3. Can your body fight off a tooth infection?
A3. Nope, it won’t go away by itself. You might feel less pain if the infection kills the nerve in your tooth, but it’s still spreading and causing damage.
Q4. How long does it take for a tooth infection to get serious?
A4. If a tooth abscess isn’t treated for weeks or months, it can spread to your jaw, neck, and even your brain, which can lead to big problems like trouble swallowing or breathing.
Q5. What’s the best natural way to fight a tooth infection?
A5. Clove oil is a strong natural antibiotic for tooth infections. It helps with pain and swelling because it fights bacteria and reduces inflammation.
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