How To Know A Tooth Is Infected

What Is A Dental Abscess

Dental Health : How to Assess & Treat an Infected Tooth in the Wilderness

An abscess is a pocket of pus that forms within body tissues. Abscesses are the result of an infection, generally bacterial, localized in the area where the abscess forms. They are almost always accompanied by swelling and inflammation. Dental abscesses are abscesses affecting the teeth and adjacent jaw tissue.

Each tooth is made up of several layers. The outermost layer is the enamel, which covers a softer layer, the dentin. The dentin and enamel are the toothâs protective layers. Underneath the dentin is the pulp, where the toothâs nerves and blood vessels are situated. The pulp runs down the center of the root of the tooth, which connects the tooth to the underlying bone of the upper or lower jaw. Infections in the pulp can therefore easily spread into the bone of the jaw. Likewise, if the gum around the tooth becomes infected, the tooth is at risk of damage as well. Some abscesses affect the pulp first and spread to the bone, while others affect the surrounding tissues of the gum and do not start in the pulp.

Treatment for dental abscesses involves draining the pus from the tooth and filling or removing the tooth to prevent re-infection.

There are two major subtypes of dental abscess: periapical and periodontal.

Ways To Tell If You Are Living With An Infected Tooth

Are you suffering from a debilitating toothache? Perhaps youve noticed a little gum or jaw swelling, or your tooth seems to be a different color? It could be a serious tooth infection.

Your teeth are packed with nerves. Thats why a toothache, though it may only affect one part of your mouth, is excruciating. Whats more, the pain may sometimes be related to a deeper oral health issue.

If your tooth feels sore, sensitive, or youre experiencing sharp pains in your mouth, you may have a tooth infection or a tooth abscess.

Why a tooth becomes infected

There are a number of causes of tooth infections. One of the most common causes is older root canals. When you have a root canal, your dental professional removes a nerve from the affected tooth. Unfortunately, bacteria can grow in that area, leading to an infection that your body struggles to fight off.

Its important to recognize the signs of an infection, so you can seek immediate treatment.

How to tell if your tooth is infected

If you experience pain when eating, you may have a tooth infection. The infection or abscess spreads out of the root tip, which causes the gum and bone to be affected. Sometimes the pulsating pain and throbbing may be so severe that pain medication does not relieve your aches. This could be because the infection has spread, and theres more pressure on the gums and bones.

Your tooth has turned a darker color compared to your other teeth.

How to cure a tooth infection

What Are The Symptoms Of A Tooth Infection

If your tooth is infected, your pain may be:

Gnawing or throbbing.
Continuous or only when chewing.
Radiating to the jawbone, neck or ear.

Other oral symptoms of infection include:

Tooth sensitivity to hot or cold temperatures.
Bitter taste in the mouth.
Foul-smelling breath.
Swollen area in the upper or lower jaw.
Open, draining sore on the side of the gum.

In addition, you may experience more generalized symptoms like:

Fever.
General discomfort, uneasiness or ill feeling.

Don’t Miss: I Have A Severe Yeast Infection

Signs Of A Tooth Extraction Infection

Pain after tooth extraction is not uncommon but should be neither excessive nor long-lasting. This is often the very first sign of infection.

For all types of tooth extraction infection, the signs are similar in the beginning. Look for the following eight signs of infection:

Foul breath

Swollen glands of the neck

Swelling in the jaw

Patients who develop an ear infection as a result of tooth extraction may also experience ear pain and dizziness. Other common symptoms include pain or pressure across the sinuses and a feeling of fullness in the head.

A deep neck infection may come with the same symptoms but must be diagnosed with an MRI.

There are a few symptoms that are serious enough to trigger an immediate trip to the emergency room). Fever and swelling in the jaw together, with or without difficulty breathing, means you may be experiencing potentially fatal sepsis . Call your emergency dentist, and if they are not available, go immediately to the closest emergency room.

Can A Tooth Infection Go Away On Its Own

A tooth infection will not go away on its own. Your toothache may stop if an infection causes the pulp inside your tooth to die. The pain stops because the nerve isn’t functioning anymore, so you may not be able to feel it. However, the bacteria will continue to spread and destroy surrounding tissue.

Increased Heart And Breathing Rate

Do you notice that your heart starts beating faster than normal? What about your breathing? Do you feel like you’re panting to get enough air?

Both of these are indications that sepsis is beginning to set in. If this happens to you, don’t wait to get in to see your dentist. You need to see a doctor right away.

The Tooth Infection Is Drained

It may be necessary in some cases to drain the pus directly from the site of infection. Drainage to remove the pus from an abscess at the back of the mouth may happen at your dentist office.

Even though most tooth infections can be easily treated, treatment should never be delayed. Delays in proper treatment can cause the tooth infection to spread to other parts of the body. If a tooth infection spreads, it could become life threatening. Therefore, if you suspect that you have a tooth infection, seek immediate dental treatment. The most effective way to prevent a tooth infection is to have good oral hygiene. Limit your sugar intake, brush your teeth and floss twice daily, and visit your dentist for regular cleanings and exams.

Read Also: B12 Shots For Sinus Infection

Symptoms Of A Tooth Infection Spreading To The Rest Of The Body

Did you know that you can die from a toothache? That’s a sobering thought.

Most of the time toothaches are caused by infections that are merely painful inconveniences. But if the infection worsens and spreads to the rest of the body, it can be serious. For a small number of people, it’s even deadly.

To avoid this happening to you, you can simply learn the symptoms of a tooth infection spreading to the body. Then you’ll know when to seek immediate medical attention for your annoying toothache.

Do Tooth Infections Go Away On Their Own

Dentist reveals – How To Tell If You Have Chronic Tooth Infection

No, a tooth infection will not go away on its own. Instead, itll only get worse until the abscess bursts. When this happens, the infection will spread to your jawbone, as well as the rest of your head and neck. You may even develop sepsis, which is life threatening.

Do NOT ignore the symptoms of a tooth infection! If you suspect you have an abscessed tooth, youll need to call our emergency dentists as soon as possible. The sooner you call, the more likely well be able to save your tooth.

For example, our emergency dentists may be able to treat a small abscess with a root canal. Otherwise, youll need emergency tooth extraction.

Don’t Miss: Can A Bladder Infection Stop Your Period

How To Tell If Your Wisdom Teeth Removal Is Infected

Red or swollen gums tender or bleeding gums jaw pain swelling around the jaw bad breath an unpleasant taste in your mouth difficulty opening your mouth when to see a doctor This is more likely if you have a dry or empty socket and the area fills with food debris and bacteria. An intense throbbing pain in the affected tooth or gum that may come on suddenly and gets gradually worse pain that spreads to your ear, jaw and neck on the same side as the affected tooth or gum pain that’s worse when lying down, which may disturb your sleep redness and swelling in your face

Relieving Pain From A Dental Abscess

While you’re waiting to see a dentist, painkillers can help control your pain.

Ibuprofen is the preferred painkiller for dental abscesses, but if you’re unable to take it for medical reasons, you can take paracetamol instead.

Aspirin should not be given to children under 16.

If 1 painkiller does not relieve the pain, taking both paracetamol and ibuprofen at the doses shown in the medicine leaflet may help.

This is safe for adults, but not for children under 16.

It may also help to:

avoid hot or cold food and drink if it makes the pain worse
try eating cool, soft foods if possible, using the opposite side of your mouth
use a soft toothbrush and temporarily avoid flossing around the affected tooth

These measures can help relieve your symptoms temporarily, but you should not use them to delay getting help from a dentist.

Here Are A Few Of The Things That You Should Look For To Identify An Infected Or Abscessed Tooth

Tooth Sensitivity to Temperatures One of the first things that you may notice is that eating or drinking cold or hot foods and drinks may trigger sensitivity. Some patients find that one end of the temperature spectrum will trigger their tooth sensitivity, while hot or cold temperatures equally impact other people. One thing to consider with tooth sensitivity is the area where the tooth is sensitive. While an infected tooth may be sensitive, you can often identify the individual tooth or at least the general area where it occurs. If temperatures make all of your teeth sensitive, or an entire arch of your teeth, the issue may not be an infected tooth.

Sensitivity or Pain During Eating Tooth infections generally become noticeable because the internal structure of the tooth, the pulp, has become irritated and inflamed. Because the pulp is held inside of the bone, once it swells to a certain point, it only increases the pressure within the tooth. The pain is caused by the pressure exerted on the nerves within the tooth. This means that sometimes in the earlier stages of tooth infection, the process of eating places just a little more pressure on the tooth and can trigger the pain as we chew.

How To Treat A Tooth Infection

I Think I Have a Dead Tooth What Do I Do?

If you think you have a tooth infection, see your dentist or doctor immediately. An untreated tooth abscess can result in serious problems and more extensive infection. The longer an infection goes untreated, the more difficult it will be to treat.

A tooth infection can be treated with antibiotics. However, the infected tooth may also need to be removed, or the infection will return. This may require an emergency tooth extraction, as well as antibiotics. In some cases, the tooth can be saved with a root canal procedure. Or, the tooth might also be saved by simply filling a cavity or capping a cracked or chipped tooth.

Your dentist can diagnose a tooth infection and give you the best treatment options. If you notice any of the signs previously mentioned, or if your tooth is cracked, chipped, or weakened, see your dentist as soon as possible. Resolving a tooth infection quickly will keep the problem from getting worse.

You May Like: Is Bactrim Used For Tooth Infection

A Dangerous Trend On The Rise

It seems that the number of Americans hospitalized due to tooth abscesses is rising. Unfortunately, the

Affordable Care Act and Medicare dont have dental coverage so many people are going without dental

insurance. This means people arent getting regular cleanings and maintenance checks for their teeth. By

the time an abscess or infection gets to that point and they finally get to the dentist or Emergency Room,

the infection can be extremely serious. It can spread to your bloodstream, brain or heart or cause swelling

and cut off your airway.

Treatments For A Dental Abscess

Dental abscesses are treated by removing the source of the infection and draining away the pus.

Depending on the location of the abscess and how severe the infection is, possible treatments include:

root canal treatment a procedure to remove the abscess from the root of an affected tooth before filling and sealing it
removing the affected tooth this may be necessary if root canal treatment is not possible
incision and drainage where a small cut is made in the gum to drain the abscess

Local anaesthetic will usually be used to numb your mouth for these procedures.

More extensive operations may be carried out under general anaesthetic, where you’re asleep.

Antibiotics are not routinely prescribed for dental abscesses, but may be used if the infection spreads or is particularly severe.

Read Also: Infected Sweat Gland Home Remedy

Oral Soft Tissue Infection

An infection in one of the teeth that has roots leading to the sinus area can result in a sinus infection. This condition can be very painful and difficult to treat once it sets in.

Furthermore, any soft tissue inside the mouth and its surroundings are vulnerable to being affected by the infection.

When the abscess spreads to these areas, this can cause several complications ranging from problems with the airway to facial cellulite.

What Does An Abscessed Tooth Look Like

Houston Dentist “How Do I Know If My Tooth Is Infected”

If you think you may have an abscess, you might be searching for tooth abscess pictures so you can check your symptoms. Keep in mind that not all abscesses are externally visible, so don’t be put off visiting your dentist just because you can’t see any outward signs of infection in your mouth.

While some dental abscesses may appear as a small lump inside the mouth , they may also result in much greater swelling either in the mouth or on the face. If you have a swollen face and oral pain, a tooth abscess may be the cause.

Tooth abscess pictures

If you’re curious to know what an abscess in the mouth can look like, below you’ll find some tooth and gum abscess pictures. These show the internal and external symptoms of a tooth infection that’s resulted in an abscess.

External symptoms
Hole in the roof of the mouth
Discoloured tooth	Child gum abscess

Remember, even if your mouth doesn’t look exactly like this, you should still visit a dentist if you’re worried.

Don’t Miss: Common Urinary Tract Infection Antibiotics

Keeping The Infections At Bay

Tooth infections are horrible, and people should get them treated as soon as possible.

Delaying or neglecting dental treatment can result in tooth infection spreading to areas around the mouth and even to other parts of the body.

The most common methods of treating tooth abscesses are root canal treatment, apicoectomy, sepsis treatment, and antibiotics.

If you suspect you have a dental infection, seek dental treatment immediately to prevent the abscess from spreading.

Effects Of The Spread Of Tooth Root Infection To Your Body

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:

You May Like: Antibiotics Not Helping Ear Infection

Symptoms Of An Abscessed Tooth

June 11, 2018 By Duff Family Dental

Although every persons experience with an abscessed tooth is a bit different, many stories begin the same way. At first, you might notice sensitivity to hot and cold foods. Next, even biting becomes a little painful. Then, there is a dull, throbbing sensation. Finally, severe pain strikes. It might wake you up in the middle of the night or catch you during an important life event, like a wedding or graduation. The best way to prevent an abscessed tooth from ruining your day is to get regular checkups from your dentist and practice good oral hygiene. Knowing the symptoms of an abscessed tooth can help you recognize the issue quickly, and the earlier you receive treatment, the better.

How Can You Tell The Difference Between An Abscessed Tooth And A Sinus Infection

In the case of an infection in more than one sinus cavity, you may experience additional pain behind your nose and eyes as well. Pain in the sinuses is typically dull, continuous, and increases in intensity when an abscessed tooth is present. A tooth that has been abscessed will likely cause you to feel a sharp pain if you touch it.

Also Check: How To Get Rid Of Tooth Infection At Home

How Long Does A Tooth Infection Take To Spread

To summarize: It can potentially take several months for a dental abscess to develop. Once an abscess has formed, noticeable pain and swelling around the affected tooth usually occur. If left untreated, it may take a few more weeks or months for the infection to spread to other tissues and cause complications.

Do You Have A Cavity Or Tooth Infection

04 Mar, 2020

When your teeth hurt, it’s not fun. Eating, speaking, and just living your life can be painful. But is your tooth pain caused by a cavity or an infection? If you would like to know more about types of oral pain, you can learn more in this blog.

What Causes Cavities?

Cavities occur when acids from bacterial waste break through the tooth enamel. Once the bacteria and acids reach the dentin , decay occurs quickly. The affected tissue cannot be repaired. There more sugary foods and drinks you consume, the higher the risk of cavities. Dry mouth, heartburn, inadequate brushing, and not enough fluoride increase the risk of cavities.

What Causes Tooth Infections?

A tooth infection occurs when the pulp of the tooth becomes infected with bacteria. This can happen due to severe tooth decay if the cavity reaches the tooth’s pulp. However, other causes include trauma to the tooth or a damaged filling.

Both these situations can create tiny holes leading to the pulp. Bacteria from severe gum disease can also get into the tooth’s pulp to cause infection.

What Are the Symptoms of a Cavity?

Some cavities are visible, appearing as black or brown holes, pits, or stains. When you have a cavity, the tooth also becomes extremely sensitive because of the missing enamel. The pain may increase when your teeth are exposed to hot or cold food, beverages, or air. Sugary foods can also irritate the cavity, leading to pain and discomfort.

What Are the Symptoms of a Tooth Infection?