[This original blog post is from February 19, 2019. It has been updated on June 17, 2022 for clarity] Show
Are you suffering from a debilitating toothache? Maybe you’ve noticed your gum or jaw are swollen, or that your tooth changed color. Is it hard to open your mouth, or are you experiencing bad breath/sour taste in your mouth? It could be a serious tooth infection. Your teeth are packed with nerves. That’s why a toothache, though it may only affect one part of your mouth, is excruciating. What’s more, the pain may sometimes be related to a deeper oral health issue. Read this blog to discover 13 ways to tell if you’re living with an infected tooth. Remember to contact your dentist as soon as possible if you believe you have a tooth infection or abscess. What is a Tooth Abscess?
Untreated tooth infections and tooth abscesses can lead to life-threatening conditions, as it’s possible for the infection to spread to your blood and body, causing painful symptoms. Without treatment, you also risk losing the tooth. 13 Symptoms of a Tooth InfectionBelow are some tell-tale signs of a tooth infection or tooth abscess. 1. Extreme sensitivity to hot, cold, sugary, or acidic foods2. Change in tooth color3. Swelling of face, jaw, gums, or surrounding lymph nodes4. Raised swelling around a tooth that may resemble a pimple
5. Bad breath or sour taste in your mouth6. Draining or leaking sore on the gum or near the tooth7. Difficulty moving jaw and opening mouth
8. Pulsating or throbbing mouth pain
9. The pain gets worse when you lie down10. Headache11. Accompanying earache12. Fever
13. Feeling sick
Types of Tooth Infections & Abscesses
Causes of a Tooth Infection
How to Cure a Tooth InfectionIf you have signs and symptoms of a tooth infection, it is important to call your dentist as soon as possible. Dentists can help in a few ways, but remember that this infection will not go away on its own- treatment is necessary. If you notice the symptoms go away, and you are no longer in pain, this does not mean the infection is gone. An infection can eventually kill the nerves that cause pain in your tooth, meaning you won’t feel it anymore. The infection is still present and can potentially spread to your body and damage the surrounding teeth and your gums.
Bottom LineA tooth infection or abscess will not go away on its own. If left untreated, it can spread to your body, causing flu-like symptoms. Your dentist can treat your infected tooth through treatments such as draining the pus, tooth extraction, antibiotics, or a root canal. A tooth infection’s symptoms include pain radiating to your jaw, ears, head, and lymph nodes. You can experience bad breath or a sour taste in your mouth. Your infection may be accompanied by a fever- your body’s way of trying to fight it off. You may also notice a pimple on your gum or tooth, which if burst, can leak pus and bacteria. It may hurt to eat or drink hot and cold foods or even to open your mouth. Even if your pain goes away, this does not mean the infection did. A tooth infection can kill the nerves that cause tooth pain, only spreading the infection further if left untreated. Abington Center for Cosmetic & Family Dentistry is an experienced dentist near Scranton, PA. Dr. Charles Dennis is a licensed endodontist specializing in root canals and tooth infections. If you live in Clarks Summit or surrounding areas and believe you may have a tooth infection, contact our office using our contact form or call during business hours for an emergency dental appointment. Why can't a dentist pull an infected tooth?A common belief associated with infected or abscessed teeth is that they cannot be extracted until the infection has subdued. This is not true in a large number of cases where the best option to get rid of the infection is to remove the tooth.
Should a tooth be extracted while infected?The presence of an acute infection characterized by severe percussion pain is not a contraindication for tooth extraction. Infected teeth should be extracted as soon as possible and the procedure should not be postponed by giving antibiotics.
Does extracting a tooth get rid of infection?Removing your tooth removes the tooth from the presence of your oral bacteria. In either case, your immune system can then clean up whatever infection remains. So in most cases, when you have your tooth removed, there is still some infection present.
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