Symptoms and Dangers of an Abscessed Tooth

An abscessed tooth shows when you have intense tooth pain. Seeing your endodontist right away is the right thing to do. Dismissing it will only give bacteria more time to damage your tooth. The infection could spread to the surrounding tissues and teeth. If you want to understand an abscessed tooth’s symptoms and dangers, here are the details.

The symptoms

Several factors can cause an abscessed tooth or teeth. Old and worn dental root canals are the most common cause of this condition. Dental trauma and decay can also cause this dental infection. An opening into the tooth’s pulp will allow bacteria to enter and damage it. The following are the symptoms of a dental abscess:

• Bad breath or a bad taste in the mouth
• Difficulty moving the mouth
• Feeling unwell, with or without fever
• Raised, puss-filled swelling at the side of the tooth
• Severe, throbbing pain that pain relievers cannot stop anymore
• Swelling of the lymph nodes, jaw, and face
• Tooth discoloration

The dangers

Sometimes, people dismiss any pain or discomfort happening in the mouth. Busy schedules, work overload, and denial may cause many people to skip dental treatment for their tooth pain. That is why a tooth infection may not have proper treatment. The longer a person delays treatment, the more harmful the situation becomes. Here are the possible dangers of an untreated abscessed tooth:

• Brain infection
• Death
• Difficulty breathing
• Difficulty swallowing
• Heart damage
• Jawbone loss
• Ludwig’s angina, which is the swelling of the jaw’s underside
• Pneumonia
• Sinus infection
• Systemic infection
• Tooth loss

A severe tooth infection can spread to the jawbone. This will lead to bone inflammation and bone death. The tooth will fall out by itself because it does not have any support. The surrounding teeth may also start falling out if the infection spreads.

The upper molars attach to the maxillary sinus. An abscessed tooth in the upper jaw can affect the sinus. Pus could fill the sinus. The infection could also spread to the brain because it is near the tooth roots.

An abscessed tooth may also lead to endocarditis. The bacteria can spread to the inner layer of the heart. The heart pumps blood from the heart to the lungs to have it oxygenated. This will bring the bacteria to the lungs. Then, the person could develop pneumonia. Dismissing the abscessed tooth can lead to the mentioned conditions and possible death.

Dangerous symptoms

Feeling sick with a persistent toothache. Then, the pain can travel to the jawbone and up the ear. This will then develop into a terrible headache. Fatigue also sets in. A person may also experience dizziness because the infection has already reached the inner ear.

The onset of fever is a sign of the body’s defenses working against the infection. The body elevates its temperature to kill the pathogen. But the heat is not good for the body and its good microorganisms. Shivering means the body is attempting to raise its temperature.

Persistent facial swelling is another dangerous symptom. An increase in respiration and heart rates indicates systemic infection. This needs medical attention right away. Stomach pain, vomiting, and diarrhea are also symptoms of sepsis or systemic infection.