Understanding Dental Infections and What to Do When You Have One
A lot of people have discussed dental infections, but I'm just going to give you a few pointers so you know how to deal with them, what to expect, and how to recognize them. Dental infections are basically a colonization and proliferation of bacteria in your mouth, and that accumulation will end up producing reactions on the tissue. The tissue gets infected, becomes red, and you start having suppuration.
You may notice some kind of exudate coming from the tissue, your gums. Sometimes it comes along with pain, which can be chronic or acute. Chronic pain is usually very low, sometimes unnoticeable. Acute pain is that typical dental pain that people describe when they're metaphorically banging their head against the wall from the pain.
What causes a dental infection?
Dental infections can come in many different ways, but they basically either originate from the tooth or from the tissue around the tooth. The tissue around the tooth includes the bone and the ligament that holds your tooth in place. That can get infected as well and become painful. If it's coming from inside the tooth, most of the time it means the nerve of your tooth has died, and the tissue inside the nerve cannot be cleaned up, thus requiring treatment.
If the pain is coming from inside your tooth or from the tooth itself, it usually means that the nerve is either dead or inflamed to a point that it won't return to normal. In such cases, the pain can be very severe and will require dental attention.
What does a dental infection feel like?
If you're experiencing any kind of pain or discomfort from a tooth or an area in your mouth and notice a change in volume, it means it's getting inflamed, red, and feels warm to the touch. Sometimes, even in your face, you might be suffering from a dental infection.
In that case, you want to come and see us or give us a call, and we'll be happy to help you. If you feel pain, discomfort, or sensitivity that lingers, comes out of the blue for no reason, and feels like it's throbbing, it's likely to get worse over time. Give us a call at HQ Dontics. We'll be happy to assist you.
What happens if a tooth infection is left untreated?
If a tooth infection is left untreated, it can create several problems for you in the future. One of them, aside from being very painful, is that you'll end up losing bone around the area where the infection is. Bone doesn't tolerate pus or infections well. If there is one, bone will typically recede. Recovering or regenerating that bone is usually very difficult.
If you know you have a dental infection and your dentist has told you that you have a failing root canal or you're losing bone, you want to address that immediately. If you're aware of a dental infection, please give us a call at HQ Dontics. We will be very happy to help you.
Can a tooth infection become life-threatening?
A tooth infection can become a very severe condition. In extreme cases, it can become life-threatening. If you have a severe infection in your lower jaw, it can block your airway, aside from introducing bacteria into your bloodstream. It's important to take this seriously and address dental infections as soon as possible.
Extreme and severe dental infections can sometimes be life-threatening. A severe infection can block your airway and introduce bacteria into your bloodstream, causing distant problems in other organs. You want to ensure you control dental infections or potential dental infections. Give us a call at HQ Dontics if you feel you need us.
What are the treatment options for dental infections?
There are multiple treatment options for dental infections, but the most important thing is to eliminate whatever is causing the infection. Is it a dead nerve inside the tooth requiring a root canal? Is it calculus around the teeth creating an infection in the soft tissue? Whatever is causing the infection, we want to solve that problem first. Along with antibiotics, this usually resolves the infection.
There are multiple treatment options for dental infections. Most importantly, you need to address whatever is creating the infection. Whether it's a tooth causing the infection or dead tissue or calculus around the tooth, bacterial accumulation must be managed before the infection will resolve. Using antibiotics, prescribed by your dentist, will also help.
Ensure your dentist evaluates you properly, takes X-rays, and informs you about what's causing the infection before starting antibiotics. To resolve a dental infection, you must eliminate the cause. This, along with antibiotics, is generally sufficient.
Having Dental or Tooth Pain? Call HQ Dontics today
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