Can A Cracked Tooth Cause Infection

When To See Your Dentist

Understanding Cracked Tooth Treatment and Symptoms

Not all toothaches become serious health concerns. But if youre experiencing a toothache, its best to get treatment before it gets worse.

pain when chewing or biting

If you have a broken tooth or if a tooth comes out, see your dentist right away.

While youre waiting to see the dentist, you might find relief by:

avoiding hot or cold drinks and food
avoiding chewing on the side of the tooth ache
eating only cool, soft foods

Youre at risk of tooth infection if you dont have good dental hygiene. Take good care of your teeth by:

brushing your teeth with fluoride toothpaste at least twice a day
flossing your teeth at least once a day
decreasing your intake of sugar
eating a diet high in fruits and vegetables

If untreated, a tooth infection could potentially travel to other areas of your body, resulting in a potentially life-threatening infection. Signs of a tooth infection spreading to the body may include:

increased breathing rate

Last medically reviewed on May 28, 2019

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Dental abscess. .

What Happens With Untreated Broken Tooth

The enamel of the tooth has no nerves or blood vessels, according to Harvard Medical School. Therefore, there might be little or no pain from the loss of enamel. A broken tooth can range from a small chip to a full tooth breakage from the outside of the enamel, leaving the pulp and dentin exposed.

If the latter is the case, and the air-exposed dentin or pulp, you may encounter pain. Bacteria may contaminate the exposed area, causing discoloration, more discomfort, and sensitivity to temperature changes. Check out these signs of a broken tooth that needs dental therapy.

Pain in the area

Symptoms: How Do You Know Its Infected

So what do you look out for? How do you know that its an infection and not simply a matter of needing a resizing or realignment? Or that your pain is completely unrelated to your crown altogether, such as in the case of bruxism . There are a few telltale signs that differentiate a genuine dental crown infection from other issues. If youre experiencing any or all of the following, its time to contact your dental office and see about making an appointment. Symptoms may include:

Pain when you bite down
Inability to chew with that side of your jaw thanks to the pain
Swelling and/or redness in the surrounding gums
Increased sensitivity to cold or hot temperatures

If you have a fever combined with any of these other symptoms, thats an instant indicator that you have an infection that will require antibiotics and immediate action from your dentist. However, even if youre experiencing other symptoms without the fever, your dental crown may still be infected. No matter what combination of oral symptoms you have, consult with a professional to ensure that nothing gets worse and you get the treatment and relief you need.

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What Can Dentists Do With A Broken Tooth

It is more normal in life to live with a broken tooth than individuals believe. Even though human teeth are robust, the teeth may still split, crack, or fracture because of poor hygiene or aging. This damage can cause intense discomfort and make your teeth more sensitive to infections.

You must see a dentist as soon as possible if you have a broken tooth. Here are a few things that your dentist can want to do to deal with your situation. The type of care required depends on how serious the damage is. Here are some treatments that your dentist might do.

Use A Saltwater Rinse To Keep The Mouth Clean

Cracked Tooth Symptoms, Causes & Solutions

A salt water rinse is a simple yet effective way to keep the mouth sanitized and prevent an oral infection. Do a saltwater rinse several times a day. Rinse for approximately 30 seconds, ensuring to rinse thoroughly in the area of the cracked tooth. If any signs of infection are noticed, contact the dentist immediately.

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Get Treatment Today With K Health

Did you know that you can get online dental prescriptions for tooth infections?

to check your symptoms using our symptom checker and text with a doctor in minutes.

K Healths board-certified, U.S.-based doctors can provide a treatment plan and, if required, a prescription to resolve your symptoms as soon as possible. Clinicians are available 24/7.

K Health has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We avoid using tertiary references.

When To See A Dentist

An abscessed tooth should be treated by a dentist. You will want to have the area cleaned and examined by your dentist even if the abscess is already ruptured, just to make sure the infection doesnt spread.

At Modern Day Smiles, we use digital x-rays that make sure we provide the most accurate diagnosis and the necessary treatment for a tooth abscess in the earliest stages. We offer a New Patient Special that includes an exam, cleaning and X-rays and only costs $59. To find out more please call for our office in St. Petersburg, or for our office in Tampa. Proudly serving St. Pete and Tampa for years!

Recognizing A Broken Tooth Abscess

When you have a broken tooth abscess, your symptoms may present as mild discomfort at first. If you know the tooth is already cracked tooth abscess, it is possible that an cracked tooth infection has started. Sometimes you need time to prepare for your broken tooth repair. An abscess can begin while you wait for treatment. You can also have cracks in teeth that are not very noticeable. You may not realize the tooth is damaged until you get an infected broken tooth. If you are experiencing tooth abscess symptoms, it may include some of the symptoms below:

Facial swelling or swelling in the gums

How Is A Tooth Infection Treated

A Tooth Infection Can Be Deadly â ï¸?Dental Abscess Pus Drainage

Treatment options for a tooth infection include:

Drainage. A dentist will make a small incision in your gums to drain the abscess. However, this is typically used as a temporary measure, and further treatments are often needed.
Root canal. During a root canal, the infected pulp is removed from the tooth. The inside of the tooth is carefully cleaned and filled. A crown is then placed to help restore the tooth.
Tooth extraction. In situations when an infected tooth cannot be saved through a root canal, it may be extracted instead.
Antibiotics.Antibiotics are drugs that can kill bacteria. Theyre sometimes used to treat tooth infections. Depending on the severity of your infection, you may receive oral antibiotics or intravenous antibiotics. Your tooth will also need a root canal or extraction along with the antibiotics.

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Prevention Of Cracked Teeth

You can take some steps to make your teeth less susceptible to cracking or fracturing, although they are not completely avoidable:

Don’t chew on hard objects such as ice, unpopped popcorn kernels or pens.
Don’t clench or grind your teeth. If you do, talk to your dentist about getting a retainer or other mouthguard to protect your teeth.
When playing contact sports, be sure to wear a mouthguard or protective mask.
Practice good dental hygiene
Schedule regular dental health check-ups

Its not always possible to prevent fracturing a tooth, so even if you have perfect hygiene you should see a dentist if you begin to experience any of the symptoms.

Trauma Management

Injuries to the mouth may cause teeth to be pushed or dislodged from their sockets. We may need to reposition and stabilise your tooth.

Regenerative Endodontic Procedures

With regenerative endodontics, we revive or regenerate the tooths natural tissue so the root can continue growing, be functional and last you for your lifetime.

Internal Bleaching

Internal bleaching, also referred to as walking bleach, is a technique that is used to whiten the appearance of teeth. Internal bleaching is conducted under the direction of a dentist.

Apicoectomy Procedures

Root end sugery or apicoectomy is the most common surgery used to save damaged teeth. Occasionally, root canal therapy will not be sufficient to heal the tooth and your endodontist will recommend surgery.

What Is A Chipped Tooth

A chipped tooth occurs when part of the tooth breaks away. This is typically caused by a blow to the mouth during a sporting event, physical altercation, car wreck, or an accident. Another common cause is bruxism . Chips are not typically a serious concern, but they do require prompt attention and care to ensure the issue does not worsen or lead to an oral infection.

The Causes Of Cracked Teeth

There are a few common causes for cracked teeth, including:

Excessive teeth grinding
Large fillings that weaken the tooth structure
Biting hard foods or chewing ice
Injury or trauma to the mouth from a fall, sports injury, car or bike accident or fistfight
Sudden changes in temperature in the mouth, such as eating something very hot and then following it with ice or something very cold
Age – many instances of cracked teeth occur in people aged 50 or older

How Long Does It Take For An Abscess To Develop

Abscesses due to tooth decay can take several months to develop. This is because the can take a while to reach and damage the pulp at the center of a tooth.

Meanwhile, injury or trauma to a tooth may allow bacteria to enter the tooth more quickly. This can happen due to injuries like a cracked or chipped tooth.

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I Have A Broken Tooth Whats The Worst That Can Happen

If youre experiencing a nagging pain in your jaw, that may be the least of your worries if you allow a broken tooth to go unchecked. It can appear in different forms and have various symptoms. If something doesnt feel right, dont neglect it. Take immediate action.

Some of the common symptoms indicating that you have a broken tooth include pain when eating and sensitivity to cold air. Symptoms may also include sensitivity to cold and hot foods or beverages. You may see swelling around the gums specific to the area where the damage is. In some cases, you may also experience an unpleasant odor.

So, if you are experiencing any of these symptoms, you may need to schedule a check up with your dentist soon. However, if you cant go there right away, in this article, well be discussing a few things you can do to gain temporary relief.

You Experience Stomach Pain

You should call your doctor if you, your child, or your infant has a high fever. A high fever is defined as:

adults: 103°F or higher
children: 102.2°F or higher
infants 3 months and older: 102°F or higher
infants younger than 3 months: 100.4°F or higher

Get immediate medical attention if the fever is accompanied by:

A tooth becomes infected when bacteria gets into the tooth through a chip, crack, or cavity. Your risk factor for a tooth infection increases if you have:

poor dental hygiene, including not brushing your teeth 2 times a day and not flossing
a high sugar diet, including eating sweets and drinking soda
dry mouth, which is often caused by aging or as a side effect of certain medications

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Where Are Sinuses Located

There are a few different sinuses located in the facial area around the cheeks, nose, and above the eyes. The diagram below gives you a little better idea of where the sinuses are, and how they look when they are healthy, versus how they look when they are infected.

If you look at the diagram above and imagine a row of upper teeth, you can see how the roots of the upper teeth come into close contact with those sinuses on each side of the nose. These sinuses are known as the maxillary sinuses. While there are several sets of sinuses, the maxillary sinuses are the only sinuses that can also be infected by a tooth-related problem.

Effects Of The Spread Of Tooth Root Infection To Your Body

Abscessed tooth, Causes, SIgns and Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment

Once the disease-causing bacteria from your infected tooth enters the bloodstream, various health conditions may arise. Our body reacts differently when its attacked by bacteria and viruses. While some healthy individuals may go unharmed with untreated tooth infections, other patients may suffer from the following health conditions:

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Even Without Symptoms The Infection Wont Go Away Without Treatment

If you have a tooth infection but donât have any symptoms, you might think itâs okay to forgo treatment. However, even if you arenât having any symptoms, the tooth abscess and infection wonât go away without treatment .

The infection will eventually get worse, or, if you have another illness that requires your immune systemâs attention, you may suddenly be symptomatic. Severe tooth infections rarely happen overnightâtypically, these infections have been occurring for some time and are just now presenting symptoms.

Getting treatment is essential because the infection can spread to the tissues around the tooth, and may even enter the bloodstream, at which point it can become life-threatening .

Symptoms Of Tooth Infection Spreading To The Brain

A dental abscess can also travel to the brain, leading to the development of another abscess. If the infection reaches your brain, it can be life-threatening.

Since a brain abscess is so dangerous, the condition requires a visit to the hospital or emergency room for urgent treatment. A brain abscess is relatively rare but can occur if the dental infection is left untreated.

Symptoms of a brain abscess :

Going in and out of consciousness

Summary

Dental abscesses can lead to brain abscesses . This is why you should never leave them untreated. Vision changes and body weakness on one side are common with brain abscesses.

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Signs And Symptoms Of A Tooth Infection

A tooth infection happens when bacteria enter the gums or the root of a tooth.

This can cause swelling, pain, inflammation, and sometimes an abscess, which is a pocket of pus in the gum.

Abscesses can occur in different places around the tooth, and sometimes may affect the surrounding bone and adjacent teeth.

Severe tooth decay, broken, chipped or cracked teeth, gum disease, and tooth injury can all create opportunities for bacteria to get into a tooth and cause infection.

The most common symptoms of a tooth infection include:

Severe, persistent, and throbbing toothache that can radiate to the jawbone, cheek, neck, or ear
Sensitivity to temperature, both hot and cold
Sensitivity to the pressure of chewing or biting
Sensitivity to air
Loosening of the tooth
A tender lump on your gum

If the abscess ruptures, you may experience a sudden rush of salty, foul-tasting fluid in your mouth and subsequent pain relief.

What Are Some Signs That I May Have Cracked My Tooth

Unfortunately, identifying a cracked tooth on your own may be difficult. Oftentimes, there is a vertical hairline fracture that may be nearly invisible to the human eye. Sometimes, these tiny cracks cannot even be seen on X-Rays. However, there are 5 warning signs of a cracked tooth of which you should be aware:

Tooth pain when biting or chewing. This can be a good indicator of a cracked tooth although you might not experience the pain every time you eat. It may only occur when you eat certain foods or bite down in a certain way.

Lack of constant pain. Unlike a cavity or an abscess, the pain of a cracked tooth is sporadic. If you are not experiencing chronic pain, you are likely to have a tooth fracture.

Increased sensitivity. You may notice that you experience pain when biting into hot foods or drinking cold liquids. Possibly, you may even experience sensitivity when eating sticky, sweet, or sour foods as well. Increased sensitivity may be a sign of a cracked tooth.

Infection. At times, a cracked tooth can lead to an infection in the gum line around the area of the fracture. This infection would look like a small bump on the gum near the tooth.

No visible signs. Often with a cavity, you can spot signs of decay. For instance, you might see a dark spot on the tooths surface or a hole where the enamel has eroded. If you are experiencing tooth pain but you cannot see any obvious sign, this may be another indicator that you have a cracked tooth.

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Should I Leave A Broken Tooth Alone

A broken tooth shouldnt be left untreated. Even if a broken tooth doesnt hurt or isnt bothering you, it can put you at risk for other more serious issues if not corrected quickly. One of the most bothersome risks of leaving a broken tooth alone is having food get stuck inside, which can cause acute infections.

Teeth that are at risk of infection could lead to abscesses, which are fluid-filled sacs of plaque, pus, and bacteria. These abscesses are painful and harmful to the body as infection can get into the bloodstream. Leaving a broken tooth untreated can also potentially cause more risk of other surrounding teeth becoming infected as well, impacting overall health.

Complete, immediate repairs are always best. The longer you wait, the more in-depth treatment could be. Solutions for immediate care could include crowning or capping the damaged part, while treatment for more serious infection could lead to pulling teeth.

Infection Of The Blood Vessels In Your Sinuses

Cavernous Sinus Thrombosis is the infection of the blood vessels in the sinuses resulting in a blood clot at the base of the brain. It is a rare and life-threatening disorder where the infection from the eyes, nose, ears, or teeth runs through the veins around your face and triggers more facial disorders.

Its highly dangerous and should be treated immediately upon diagnosis. The best way to treat this disorder is to identify the source of infection through a series of tests and drain the disease-causing bacteria.

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