Dental infections. They're not fun to talk about, they typically cause a lot of pain, and they can become quite serious at times.
The seriousness of a dental infection is what we want to discuss today. It's not our favorite dental topic, but it's important to understand the signs and also to note that a dental infection can potentially become life-threatening if you don't seek treatment. Knowing this critical information can mean the difference between saving and losing a tooth and protecting your overall well-being. Here's what you should know.
What Are the Symptoms of a Tooth Infection
When your tooth is infected, you may find yourself unable to sleep at night or complete your normal daily activities due to the discomfort it causes. Here are some of the other signs and symptoms you may be experiencing:
- Tooth sensitivity — An infected tooth is often persistently sensitive to hot or cold temperatures.
- A white blister on the gums — You may notice a white bump or pimple on the gum around the infected tooth.
- Persistent pain — A tooth infection causes the kind of throbbing pain that doesn't go away with over-the-counter medications and keeps you from normal activities.
- A foul taste or odor — You may notice a bad taste or foul odor coming from your mouth or the infected tooth.
- Pain when biting or chewing — You might experience severe discomfort when you're biting or trying to chew your food.
If you or a loved one is experiencing any of these symptoms, it is important to seek treatment right away in order to avoid further pain, discomfort, and damage to other teeth. An untreated tooth infection can spread to neighboring teeth and even reach more critical areas of your body, such as your brain.
Treating a Tooth Infection
When you have a tooth infection, you need prompt care. Root canal treatment alleviates your pain, eliminates the infection, and preserves your natural tooth structure. You will actually get immediate relief from your pain when Dr. Nelson delivers the dental anaesthetic before your procedure.
He gently and skillfully removes the infected tissue from your tooth and temporarily seals it after confirming it is infection-free. After your tooth has had time to heal, he'll strengthen it with a permanent filling or crown, since a root canal can make the tooth brittle. The crown will ensure that you retain all the chewing function you had before your tooth infection.
Root canals have endured a bad reputation over the years of being painful, but it is actually the tooth infection that is causing the pain, while root canal treatment alleviates it. Dr. Nelson has helped hundreds of patients save their smiles with root canal treatment in Winston-Salem, and he can help you, too.
When a Tooth Infection Spreads
Many patients make the critical mistake of believing their tooth infection will resolve on its own. Unfortunately, this is not the case. A tooth infection that spreads to other parts of your body can even become systemic, entering the bloodstream, traveling to other areas, and affecting your organs. Seeking treatment for your tooth as soon as possible helps you avoid critical conditions.
If an infection is moving through other parts of your body, there are some additional signs and symptoms to be aware of:
- Spreading pain — The pain caused by infection can move into the neck, jawbone, or ear when it starts spreading to your face.
- Challenges with breathing or swallowing — If you have discomfort with swallowing or difficulties breathing, this may indicate the infection has moved into the neck or throat.
- Facial swelling — Visible puffiness and tenderness of the cheek and jaw.
- Systemic concerns — Chills, fever, fatigue, and general unwellness can be signs of an infection that's spreading.
- Redness — Red or irritated skin around the cheek and jaw.
- Swollen lymph nodes — Swollen, tender lymph nodes in the neck or jaw area.
It's important to seek treatment immediately if you experience any of these symptoms, as it indicates your infection has reached a critical stage. Contact your emergency dentist at (336) 760-1277 or seek treatment at a hospital emergency room.
An Infection In Your Bloodstream (Sepsis)
If a tooth infection enters the bloodstream, it becomes a medical emergency. Some of the signs of sepsis are:
- High fever
- Rapid heart rate
- Difficulty breathing
- Confusion
- Dizziness
- Red streaks on the skin
- Nausea or vomiting
Treatment for sepsis typically requires antibiotics delivered intravenously (IV) and IV fluids to help maintain blood pressure. The patient may need hospitalization to manage their condition and monitor their recovery. The abscess or infected tooth may need drainage to help combat the infection.
Here is a chart with helpful tips for handling tooth infections and the providers you should contact.
We Are Here for You
We hope that sharing this critical information helps our patients avoid painful, damaging tooth infections.
Dr. Nelson and his team provide prompt emergency dental care in Winston-Salem, NC, for patients experiencing toothaches, dental infections, and other dental emergencies. Our goal is to help you find relief and to treat your tooth as soon as possible to keep infections from spreading and causing further damage. Our team is well-equipped and prepared to handle dental emergencies. If yours occurs after our normal business hours, we'll provide instructions on how to reach us for emergency dental care.
Some of the dental emergencies we help with at our Winston-Salem dental office are:
- Broken or lost restorations, such as a filling or crown
- Chipped, damaged, or broken teeth
- Cracked dentures
- Knocked-out teeth
- Toothaches
- Facial pain and swelling
If you don't see your condition listed here, contact our team at (336) 760-1277 regardless. We'll assess your situation over the phone and determine whether or not you need immediate treatment or a future appointment. It is our goal to help you feel better and get back on the path to wellness as soon as possible.
