Tooth Infections: Everything You Need to Know About Them

A simple tooth cavity can eventually cause more damage to a human body and affects your overall health.

Although it sounds scary and alarming, tooth infections are easy to prevent as long as you brush your teeth twice a day, use fluoride toothpaste, floss daily, rinse with mouthwash before bed, eat a healthy diet, and get a professional cleaning every six months.

How Do Infected Teeth Affect You?

Poor oral hygiene can cause a myriad of other health issues. With harmful bacteria thriving in your mouth, your body’s response is to fight it off. The most common symptom is the production of pus in an abscess. It’s a sign that bacteria are thriving in your infected tooth and that your body might be having a hard time fighting it off.

If you start to notice abscesses forming, don’t wait until it ruptures and worsens before seeking treatment. Dental infections should be treated promptly to prevent them from spreading and affecting other parts of the body.

Here are some signs when your teeth are infected: sore gums, bad taste in the mouth, loose tooth, fever, flu-like symptoms, tooth sensitivity, throbbing toothache, and pain while chewing.

How to Treat Tooth Infections

Leaving infections untreated may allow the abscess to burst on its own and heal by itself. However, it helps to seek professional care while dealing with these scenarios. Our body will try to fight the infection, which may cause a fever, feelings of dehydration, fatigue, and pain.

While you can let it heal, that does not mean you should. You need medical help. The common procedures to treat this are drainage, root canal treatment, and antibiotics.

The dentist may have to make a small incision to drain the pus from your gums. They will then stitch it back up to ensure that the bacteria are all removed. However, in instances where the tooth has already been severely damaged or decayed, extraction is likely an option.

On the other hand, a root canal treatment may also be necessary to save the tooth from extraction and keep it in place. The procedure will remove the infected dental pulp and drain the pus from within. The root canal will be cleaned, treated, shaped, and sealed. Afterward, a dental crown will be placed on top of the tooth to protect the teeth from cracking.

Lastly, antibiotics. Dentists commonly prescribe them as a follow-up solution for infections. After all the procedures, antibiotics are usually a take-home remedy to prevent the bacteria from harming the tooth again. They can be introduced orally or through an IV.

Conclusion

Tooth infections are not something to fear. As long as you keep your oral health in check, you should not be bothered by it. If ever you catch an infection, seeking medical and professional should be your first instinct. However, remember that it is your responsibility to seek help on time, not too late to the point where the case may become severe.

Dental House is the home of dentistry in Ypsilanti. We provide a welcoming and personable environment where our goal is to create a healthy smile clients love. If you have issues with your oral health, we are only a call away. Secure an appointment today and smile better tomorrow.