October 22, 2021
An untreated and unchecked tooth infection can gradually spread throughout different parts of the body and cause severe medical complications.
An unchecked infected tooth can slowly cause problems in other parts of your body. A toothache is bad enough as it is, and to stop it from infecting other areas, consult a dentist or an oral surgeon immediately.
In this article, we are going to talk about the signs that indicate that the infection might be spreading.
How Do Teeth Get Infected?
A tooth can get infected in different ways, but it usually happens when bacteria build up on a crack, cavity, or chip in the tooth. The infection can further increase because of poor dental hygiene. Gradual tooth decay, a damaged filling, and trauma to the tooth can also cause infection.
Symptoms of tooth infection include:
● Throbbing pain in the tooth
● Increased tooth sensitivity
● Bad breath
● Loss of taste
● Swollen lymph nodes
If the spread of the infection is not checked, it can cause excruciating pain and interfere with your daily life.
If you are confused about what treatment you should consider, you can always appoint a dental power of attorney to make the decisions on your behalf. If you are wondering How To Get Power of Attorney, it’s pretty straightforward. You have to contact an estate planning lawyer, and he/she will guide you throughout the process.
Common Symptoms that the Infection Is Spreading
Tooth infections do not spread to other parts overnight. It is a gradual process and shows multiple symptoms. Here are the most common ones.
1. Feeling Unwell and Uneasy
The first and most common symptom is an unwell and uneasy feeling. You will have a constant toothache that will gradually lead to frequent headaches. The pain can also travel to your ears and jawbone.
These constant pains can lead to a lack of sleep, and you may even experience fatigue. If the infection and pain reach your inner ear, you will have bouts of dizziness and nausea.
2. Swelling
Toothaches and infections can cause swelling in your face, which is natural. The average swelling should go back to normal in a few days. If it persists longer, you need to get it checked by a professional.
Prolonged swelling can impede your ability to swallow and breathe. This is a major sign that the infection is spreading, and if left untreated, it can have fatal repercussions such as narrowing your airways.
3. High Fever
Fevers are common symptoms of any kind of infection because as a natural defence mechanism, it is telling you that you are infected.
During a fever, the body raises its temperature to kill any kind of bacteria or invader that may have caused the infection.
However, if the temperature stays high for a long time, it is not good for the body. If your temperature constantly stays at 101 or 102 degrees Fahrenheit, then your body is having trouble dealing with the invader. It is hard to depict exactly what kind of infection causes the fever when other underlying symptoms are in a dormant state.
So if you have had a recent filling, tooth injury, or trauma and a fever afterwards, it could indicate that the infection is spreading. If you have constant high temperatures, then it can even mean that sepsis, a sometimes fatal infection, is starting to take effect.
The opposite can also happen. You may experience shivering and chills and have a constant low temperature below 97 degrees. Fevers can lead to sweating and skin flushing as well.
4. Stomach Pain and Dehydration
Dehydration is caused by a reduction in urination. You may feel you don’t have to pee often, and when you do, the color of your urine may be darker than normal. This can indicate the second stage of sepsis and will require immediate attention.
Stomach pain, diarrhea, and vomiting are also common symptoms at this stage. In fact, they accelerate your existing dehydrating state and cause even more problems.
5. Increased Heart Rate
Lastly, you may notice an increase in your heart rate. Your heart will beat faster than normal, and you may experience breathing difficulties.
These are also signs of sepsis or other infections spreading through the body.
What Happens if You Ignore Your Symptoms?
Most tooth infections are treatable. But if you leave them unchecked, it can lead to some nasty complications such as:
Osteomyelitis
This is a type of bone infection that causes swelling or inflammation around the tooth. It is a very rare but serious condition.
Cellulitis
This is a type of gum infection that can spread from the tooth to different areas of the neck, head, and face via the skin underneath the tooth.
Sepsis
Sepsis is a severe medical condition. It can cause blood infection and damage the immune system.
Cavernous sinus thrombosis
This is a complicated condition caused by blood vessel infections within the sinuses. It can cause severe headaches, pain in the eyes, double vision, and a high temperature.
Parapharyngeal abscess
This is a deep neck abscess that can be potentially fatal and requires immediate treatment.
When Should You Visit a Dentist?
Whether you have an infection or not, always visit your dentist for routine check-ups. Sometimes symptoms of dental infection remain hidden for a long time and suddenly start acting up.
Receiving early treatment is the best way to prevent dental infections from spreading. Visit your dentist if you have a constantly bad toothache. If the dentist is not available, go to the emergency department of your local hospital and have your teeth checked out.
Widespread tooth infections are medical emergencies and can even be life-threatening. So always try to detect it at its initial stage.
Final Thoughts
Tooth infections can be extremely annoying and expensive. You can prevent any kind of infection from occurring if you brush, floss, eat healthily, and visit your dentist for regular checkups. But if you find any of the symptoms of an infection spreading, go in for prompt diagnosis and treatment.