Understanding Tooth Infections
Hi, I'm Dr. Samuel here at Montpelier Family Dentistry, LLC, and I'm here to answer the most commonly asked questions about tooth infections.
What is a tooth infection, and how does it develop?
Here's a visual aid. This hole represents a cavity, which is basically bacteria. Bacteria can travel inside your tooth. The red part here is your nerve. So, the bacteria can go into your nerve and all the way down near the root of your tooth. This is the root of your tooth and can cause inflammation down here. Once it gets down here, that is where the infection starts growing, and you have throbbing pain and things like that. Bacteria is the source of a tooth infection.
What are the most common symptoms of a tooth infection?
The most common symptoms would be tooth pain, throbbing pain, sharp pain, extreme sensitivity to temperatures, hot and cold, pain that comes randomly, and pain that can wake you up from sleeping.
How can a dentist tell the difference between a cavity and an infection?
X-rays are the main tool we use to help diagnose between a cavity and a tooth infection, and we can read the X-ray to tell the difference.
What are the risks if a tooth infection is left untreated?
To show you the model again, the bacteria can travel to the base of your tooth, and you have blood supply here that goes through your whole body. It can affect your whole body. If it's an upper tooth, it's very close to your brain, a very important area. That can be pretty dangerous.
There have been news reports of people unfortunately dying from tooth infections that get out of control because they cause a brain infection. It can affect the rest of your body, your heart, other organs, and things like that.
What are the signs that a tooth infection is spreading to other parts of the body?
You may generally feel unwell, especially if the tooth infection has been present for a long period of time. You may not even know how long it's been. You may experience general unwell feelings, an area of your mouth feeling heavy, or discomfort when laying on one side versus the other. You may not feel like your normal self or have your usual energy. Sometimes you can't really tell if it's traveled to other parts of your body because bacteria are so tiny, and you can't tell.
Can a tooth infection really become life-threatening and how?
Yes, it can. I think there was a report a few years ago about a child who had a really big abscess on one of the upper teeth, and it traveled to the brain, causing him to become sick and pass away. Yes, it is possible with longstanding tooth infections that they can become life-threatening.
What treatment options are available for tooth infections?
If the bacteria are inside your tooth and you have enough tooth above your gum and bone, the canals or the nerves where your teeth are can be cleaned out, patched up, and then a cap can be put on so you can save your own tooth.
If this is not possible and the tooth is too far gone, the solution would be removing the tooth, which removes the source of infection. Both options remove sources of infection and help you get rid of that infection and make sure you're feeling better.
Do I need an antibiotic prescribed by a dentist for a tooth infection?
It really depends on the case. The dentist will take X-rays, do an exam, and determine if you need antibiotics based on certain findings. That would be your symptoms, how big the infection is, how much bacteria is present, and things like that.
Are there natural or home remedies that help with tooth infections, and are they safe?
There are really no home remedies for an actual infection. I have had patients rinse with a combination of water and hydrogen peroxide, but all those home remedies would be very short-term. They wouldn't be something long-term. With tooth infections, when we do give antibiotics, it's typically for one week, specifically targeting the bacteria causing the infection. You want something that will specifically target that bacteria.
What are the most common signs of an infected wisdom tooth?
Most patients experience pain in the ear region, pain maybe all the way back, inability to open their mouth wide, and difficulty biting down because the gum may be irritated or inflamed around there.
How is an infected tooth or wisdom tooth treated and when is extraction necessary?
Both can be treated with antibiotics if the infection has been present for a long time. Getting you on antibiotics helps calm the infection down. If a tooth needs to be removed, that also makes it easier to get you numb. If you are not able to get numb, we can't do the treatment.
Extraction is necessary for wisdom teeth if they are hard to fill or fix. Unfortunately, if there isn't much tooth left above the gum line or bone, extraction would be necessary. All of these are determined by an X-ray and a dentist.
What should patients do if they notice swelling in their face or jaw from a possible tooth infection?
Call your dentist immediately to get in for an X-ray because that will show exactly where the infection is and how we can help you.
If you’re looking for dental care you can trust, call us at (301) 812-4599 or email [email protected]. We’re here to help you have the smile you've always wanted!