Abscess tooth fever chills: Symptoms of Tooth Infection Spreading to Body

26.06.202317.07.2023 by alexxlab

Содержание

Symptoms of Tooth Infection Spreading to Body

Health Conditions
- Featured
  - Breast Cancer
  - IBD
  - Migraine
  - Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
  - Rheumatoid Arthritis
  - Type 2 Diabetes
- Articles
  - Acid Reflux
  - ADHD
  - Allergies
  - Alzheimer’s & Dementia
  - Bipolar Disorder
  - Cancer
  - Crohn’s Disease
  - Chronic Pain
  - Cold & Flu
  - COPD
  - Depression
  - Fibromyalgia
  - Heart Disease
  - High Cholesterol
  - HIV
  - Hypertension
  - IPF
  - Osteoarthritis
  - Psoriasis
  - Skin Disorders and Care
  - STDs
Discover
- Wellness Topics
  - Nutrition
  - Fitness
  - Skin Care
  - Sexual Health
  - Women’s Health
  - Mental Well-Being
  - Sleep
- Product Reviews
  - Vitamins & Supplements
  - Sleep
  - Mental Health
  - Nutrition
  - At-Home Testing
  - CBD
  - Men’s Health
- Original Series
  - Fresh Food Fast
  - Diagnosis Diaries
  - You’re Not Alone
  - Present Tense
- Video Series
  - Youth in Focus
  - Healthy Harvest
  - No More Silence
  - Future of Health
Plan
- Health Challenges
  - Mindful Eating
  - Sugar Savvy
  - Move Your Body
  - Gut Health
  - Mood Foods
  - Align Your Spine
- Find Care
  - Primary Care
  - Mental Health
  - OB-GYN
  - Dermatologists
  - Neurologists
  - Cardiologists
  - Orthopedists
- Lifestyle Quizzes
  - Weight Management
  - Am I Depressed? A Quiz for Teens
  - Are You a Workaholic?
  - How Well Do You Sleep?
- Tools & Resources
  - Health News
  - Find a Diet
  - Find Healthy Snacks
  - Drugs A-Z
  - Health A-Z
Connect
- - Breast Cancer
  - Inflammatory Bowel Disease
  - Psoriatic Arthritis
  - Migraine
  - Multiple Sclerosis
  - Psoriasis

Medically reviewed by Christine Frank, DDS — By Scott Frothingham — Updated on February 14, 2023

If an infected tooth causes fever, fatigue, or other symptoms, the infection may be spreading to your body. You may need medical attention.

It starts with a toothache. If your sore and throbbing tooth is left untreated, it could become infected. If your tooth becomes infected and isn’t treated, the infection could spread to other places in your body.

Symptoms of an infected tooth can include:

throbbing tooth pain
throbbing pain in the jawbone, ear or neck (typically on the same side as the tooth pain)
pain that worsens when you lie down
sensitivity to pressure in the mouth
sensitivity to hot or cold foods and drinks
cheek swelling
tender or swollen lymph nodes in the neck
fever
bad breath
unpleasant taste in mouth

If an infected tooth is not treated, the infection could spread elsewhere in your body, which is potentially life-threatening. Signs and symptoms that the infection in the tooth has spread include:

You feel unwell

headache
fatigue
dizziness

You run a fever

skin flushing
sweating
chills

Your face swells

swelling that makes it difficult to fully open your mouth
swelling that impedes swallowing
swelling that impedes breathing

You become dehydrated

reduction in frequency of urination
darker urine
confusion

Your heart rate increases

rapid pulse rate
lightheadedness

Your breathing rate increases

over 25 breaths per minute

You experience stomach pain

diarrhea
vomiting

You should call your doctor if you, your child, or your infant has a high fever. A high fever is defined as:

adults: 103°F or higher
children: 102.2°F or higher
infants 3 months and older: 102°F or higher
infants younger than 3 months: 100.4°F or higher

Get immediate medical attention if the fever is accompanied by:

chest pain
difficulty breathing
mental confusion
atypical sensitivity to light
seizures or convulsions
unexplained skin rash
persistent vomiting
pain when urinating

A tooth becomes infected when bacteria gets into the tooth through a chip, crack, or cavity. Your risk factor for a tooth infection increases if you have:

poor dental hygiene, including not brushing your teeth 2 times a day and not flossing
a high sugar diet, including eating sweets and drinking soda
dry mouth, which is often caused by aging or as a side effect of certain medications

Not all toothaches become serious health concerns. But if you’re experiencing a toothache, it’s best to get treatment before it gets worse.

Call your dentist for a same-day appointment if your toothache lasts longer than a day or is accompanied by other symptoms such as:

fever
swelling
trouble breathing
difficulty swallowing
red gums
pain when chewing or biting

If you have a broken tooth or if a tooth comes out, see your dentist right away.

While you’re waiting to see the dentist, you might find relief by:

taking ibuprofen
avoiding hot or cold drinks and food
avoiding chewing on the side of the tooth ache
eating only cool, soft foods

You’re at risk of tooth infection if you don’t have good dental hygiene. Take good care of your teeth by:

brushing your teeth with fluoride toothpaste at least twice a day
flossing your teeth at least once a day
decreasing your intake of sugar
eating a diet high in fruits and vegetables
avoiding tobacco products
drinking fluoridated water
seeking professional dental care

If untreated, a tooth infection could potentially travel to other areas of your body, resulting in a potentially life-threatening infection. Signs of a tooth infection spreading to the body may include:

fever
swelling
dehydration
increased heart rate
increased breathing rate
stomach pain

Call your dentist for a same-day appointment if you or your child experience any of these symptoms in addition to a toothache.

Last medically reviewed on May 28, 2019

How we reviewed this article:

Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We avoid using tertiary references. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Dental abscess. (2019).
nhs.uk/conditions/dental-abscess/
Mayo Clinic Staff. (2017). Fever.
mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/fever/symptoms-causes/syc-20352759
Mayo Clinic Staff. (2018). Tachycardia.
mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/tachycardia/symptoms-causes/syc-20355127
Mayo Clinic Staff. (2018). Toothache: First aid.
mayoclinic.org/first-aid/first-aid-toothache/basics/art-20056628
Mayo Clinic Staff. (2019). Tooth abscess.
mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/tooth-abscess/symptoms-causes/syc-20350901
Park SB, et al. (2019). Tachypnea.
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK541062/
Vital signs. (2019).
my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/10881-vital-signs
When an infection attacks the heart. (2016).
health.harvard.edu/heart-health/when-an-infection-attacks-the-heart

Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available.

Current Version

Feb 14, 2023

Written By

Scott Frothingham

Edited By

Heather Hobbs

May 28, 2019

Written By

Scott Frothingham

Edited By

Heather Hobbs

Medically Reviewed By

Christine Frank, DDS

Share this article

Medically reviewed by Christine Frank, DDS — By Scott Frothingham — Updated on February 14, 2023

5 Symptoms of a Tooth Infection Spreading to the Rest of the Body

Did you know that you can die from a toothache? That’s a sobering thought.

Most of the time toothaches are caused by infections that are merely painful inconveniences. But if the infection worsens and spreads to the rest of the body, it can be serious. For a small number of people, it’s even deadly.

To avoid this happening to you, you can simply learn the symptoms of a tooth infection spreading to the body. Then you’ll know when to seek immediate medical attention for your annoying toothache.

What Is a Tooth Abscess?

First of all, let’s talk about what a tooth abscess is. Simply put, it is a pocket of pus in your tooth. Though it can occur anywhere in your tooth, it is common to see it at the tip of the tooth’s root.

The following symptoms are indicators that you have an abscess.

A nagging toothache
Sudden, extreme sensitivity to hot or cold
Sensitivity while chewing and biting
Facial swelling
A pocket of pus (like a large pimple) on your gum line near the affected tooth
Swollen lymph nodes under your jaw

With proper treatment, a tooth abscess doesn’t normally get too severe. Your dentist will simply drain the infection. To save the tooth, you may need a root canal. It’s not the most fun way to spend an afternoon, but it’s a relatively simple fix.

What Are The Symptoms of a Tooth Infection Spreading to the Body?

If an abscess ruptures, you may notice a sudden foul taste or even salty fluid in your mouth. You’ll probably also notice that your pain subsides and think that you are out of the woods.

Unfortunately, this isn’t necessarily true.

The rupture can be one of the first signs that the infection is beginning to spread. If it enters the bloodstream it can cause a serious condition called sepsis. This is when things get life-threatening.

If you notice the rupture, seek medical help immediately. However, the abscess won’t always rupture on its own. Or it may rupture when the problem has already become quite severe.

Thus, if you notice any of these other 5 symptoms, even without an obvious rupture, you should seek emergency medical help at once.

1. Feeling Unwell

The first thing you may notice is that you start to feel unwell. That nagging toothache may turn into a nagging headache. The pain may also travel up your jawbone and into your ear.

You may also notice that you start to feel fatigued like you are about to come down with something. In some cases, you may have bouts of dizziness as the pain and infection interfere with the workings of your inner ear.

2. Fever

Fever is your body’s natural defense against infection. A body temperature that is too high is a hostile environment for many of the bacteria that cause infection. Thus, your body is attempting to kill off the invaders.

The trouble is that a high body temperature isn’t necessarily good for your body and the good things in it either. If your fever stays consistently above 101 degrees Fahrenheit, this could be an indication that sepsis is beginning to set in. Likewise, a drop in temperature below 96.8 degrees Fahrenheit could also be a symptom.

You may also experience chills and shivering–classic fever symptoms.

3. Swelling

Minimal swelling in your face is a normal symptom of the abscess. But if it persists or you are not able to get in to see your dentist, go to the emergency room.

Left untreated it can begin to affect your breathing and swallowing. Not only is this a sign that the infection is spreading, but also it can be life-threatening if it closes off your airway enough.

4. Increased Heart and Breathing Rate

Do you notice that your heart starts beating faster than normal? What about your breathing? Do you feel like you’re panting to get enough air?

Both of these are indications that sepsis is beginning to set in. If this happens to you, don’t wait to get in to see your dentist. You need to see a doctor right away.

5. Dehydration and Stomach Pain

You may notice that you don’t have to pee very much. And when you do, your urine is a darker color than normal. This means that you’re getting dehydrated and moving into the second stage of sepsis.

You may also begin to experience stomach pain and even diarrhea and vomiting. Both of these symptoms will speed your rate of dehydration and cause even more severe problems.

Prevention

Knowing how to avoid an abscess altogether is even better than knowing the symptoms of one that’s spreading. Be sure to maintain good oral health habits like these.

Brush twice a day
Floss at least once a day
Use mouthwash to help kill unwanted bacteria
Swap out your toothbrush for a new one every 3-4 months
Visit your dentist as recommended
Avoid eating too much sugar

These are all simple tips that should already be a regular part of your oral care routine. If not, though, maybe learning about the seriousness of an abscess and what a tooth infection can do to you will be a motivating factor.

Stay Healthy!

Do yourself a favor. Know these symptoms of a tooth infection spreading to the body so you’ll know what to watch out for. And practice good oral hygiene and health every day to reduce the risk of ever having to deal with something as unpleasant as an abscessed tooth, root canal, or sepsis.

Looking for a new dentist? We’re here to help! Feel free to contact us today to learn about and schedule preventative services. We also provide emergency care if you think you may already have an abscess that needs to be taken care of.

Tooth abscess – symptoms, causes and types

Abramyan Narine Leonidovna

Pediatric dentist

Experience:

6 years

Reviews:

m. Textile workers

Agayev Emin Rafer Ogly

Orthopedist

Experience:

years

Reviews:

m. Youth

Azhimova (Dushanova) Assel Kayredinovna

Children’s orthodontist

Experience:

years

Reviews:

m. Textile workers

m. New Cheryomushki

Akimova Violetta Vadimovna

Children’s dentist

Experience:

years

Reviews:

m. Maryina Roshcha

Aksenova Irina Anatolyevna

Orthodontist, leading specialist

Seniority:

Reviews:

m. VDNKh

m. Textile workers

Alexandrova Alexandra Andreevna

Orthodontist

Experience:

Reviews:

m. Youth

Alpatskaya Ekaterina Olegovna

Children’s dentist

Experience:

12 years

Reviews:

m. Youth

Arkhipova Anastasia Mikhailovna

Surgeon, implantologist, leading specialist

Experience:

years

Reviews:

m. Baltiyskaya

Ekaterina Afonina

Therapist

Experience:

years

Reviews:

m. VDNH

Atskanova Amina Arsenovna

Pediatric dentist

Experience:

years

Reviews:

m. Textile workers

Bakutskiy Vladimir Vladimirovich

Orthopedist

Experience:

years

Reviews:

m. VDNH

Barseghyan David Aramaisovich

Orthopedist

Experience:

10 years

Reviews:

m. Textile workers

Doctors not found. Change the filtering options.

Tooth abscess – causes, methods of treatment in the clinic and at home – ROOTT

The gums are reddened, swollen, sore – these are classic signs of a tooth abscess, an inflammatory process in which pus forms. Accumulating in the cavity, as in a bag, pus causes swelling of the gums. In the people it is called flux.

Purulent inflammation can lead to serious consequences, so it is impossible to self-medicate if the gums are swollen. In dentistry, the cause of the abscess will be determined and specific treatment will be carried out.

Purulent abscess of the tooth – causes

When immunity is weakened, as a result of trauma or infectious diseases of the teeth, pathogens penetrate into the tissues surrounding the tooth (periodontium). In response to this, the body produces special cells, neutrophils. They neutralize pathogens, but die themselves. Pus is the remnants of dead cells, destroyed proteins of bacteria and neutrophils.

In dentistry, there are 3 types of abscess, depending on the cause:

Periapical
A purulent sac is formed at the top of the root.

Periodontal
An abscess occupies a space between the gum and the root.

Desnevoy
Localized in soft tissues, does not affect the root.

The type of abscess depends on how the pathogens have entered the tissues.

Caries leading to periodontitis

Advanced caries destroys the hard tissues of the tooth and penetrates into the pulp – the neurovascular bundle. Most often, pulpitis is accompanied by severe pain, but in some cases, the pain is not very pronounced, paroxysmal. If pulpitis is not treated in time, the tissues around the root become inflamed, periodontitis develops. Active formation of pus begins. Soon the pouch sticks out under the mucous membrane of the gums. In some cases, the root abscess breaks and a fistula forms in the gum, through which the pus comes out. Due to the fact that the pressure on the tissues is reduced, the patient experiences a feeling of relief. However, the formation of a fistula does not mean recovery. The inflammatory process continues and will eventually lead to tooth loss.

Incorrect treatment

Periodontitis can result from the negligence of a doctor. If the canals of the tooth are not completely sealed, then bacteria begin to multiply in the resulting voids, provoking an inflammatory process.

An abscess after tooth extraction occurs in 2 cases:

The surgeon did not calculate the forces and caused injury during the extraction, damaging the bone tissue.
The patient did not follow the recommendations of the dentist, which led to the penetration of pathogens into the wound.

Periodontitis

When the periodontium (tissues and ligaments that hold the tooth in the socket) becomes inflamed, the dentogingival attachment weakens, the gum ceases to fit snugly against the tooth, and tartar accumulates in the gap (periodontal pocket). It is a landing site for bacteria that multiply rapidly, causing the body’s immune response, which means the formation of pus. A swelling is formed in the projection of the pocket. It can be an abscess of the front tooth or side. Where the pocket is deeper, the likelihood of suppuration is higher.

Pericoronitis

Teething, especially third molars (wisdom teeth), can become painful. If the incorrect location or thick mucosa does not allow the “eight” to cut through completely, a hood of mucous forms on the tooth. There are leftover food. As they decompose, they provide nutrients for bacteria, which in turn cause inflammation. It can spread to the gum, forming a wisdom tooth abscess.

Trauma

It happens that when brushing your teeth, while eating or with poor-quality prosthetics, the gums are injured. The integrity of the mucous membrane is broken. Pathogens that are always present in the oral cavity penetrate inside. As a result of their active reproduction, accumulation of pus begins, a gingival abscess develops.

Symptoms

It all starts with slight pain when biting. Then there is swelling on the gum. The pain syndrome is growing. The general condition worsens. The temperature rises, Pain gives to the ear and head. Lymph nodes increase in size, an abscess develops independently of the upper tooth, or the lower one. A putrid odor comes from the mouth. When the abscess breaks through, a fistula is formed. It exudes pus. When the acute process subsides, the fistula closes, but only until a new aggravation.

Treatment

Diagnostic measures help determine the cause and plan treatment.

For diagnostic use:

Patient interview
Visual inspection
Radiography

An x-ray will help identify the causative tooth and show what is causing the suppuration: root inflammation, periodontal pocket or trauma.

At this stage, the decision is made whether to extract or save the tooth.

If it is decided to save the tooth, then the algorithm of therapeutic measures for periodontitis is as follows:

All tissues affected by caries are removed.
The tooth is depulped, the canals are left open.
If the channels have already been treated, then the old fillings are removed, the channels are cleaned, but not sealed. This facilitates the outflow of pus. If there is a crown on the tooth, they immediately proceed to the next stage.
The gum is opened. Insert drainage. After a while it is removed. This step is not always carried out.
Medical paste is inserted into the canals of the tooth. The cavity is closed with a temporary filling. After 4-8 weeks, a follow-up examination is carried out. If there is no recurrence, the canals are sealed with gutta-percha, a permanent filling is placed on the tooth.

If therapeutic methods do not help, or a fixed prosthesis is on the tooth, then a surgical method is used. The top of the root is amputated, eliminating the cause of inflammation. At the same time, a tooth cyst, abscess or granuloma is removed.

The treatment regimen for periodontitis is somewhat different. The main method of removing pus is open curettage or flap surgery. The periodontist exfoliates the gum flap, opens access to the root and cleans it from hard plaque and decomposition products. The wound is disinfected, sutures or a periodontal bandage are applied. After a week, the stitches are removed.

Gingivectomy is performed in mild cases. An incision is made on the gum through which the pus is removed.

For pericoronitis, the hood is excised, allowing the tooth to erupt. It also ensures free outflow of pus. The wound is treated with an antiseptic solution, a bandage is applied.

In case of injury, the irritant is removed. If the gum injures the prosthesis, it is changed. A foreign object (a fish bone, for example) is removed. Provide an outflow of exudate.

Regardless of the cause of the abscess, antimicrobial therapy is mandatory. For better healing, dentists recommend salt baths for several days.

Common non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as paracetamol can help relieve pain. After opening the abscess, relief quickly comes and painkillers are required only in the first day or two.

Home remedies

Folk healers advise rinsing the mouth with saline, soda solutions, infusions of sage, calendula, chamomile. It is recommended to use propolis in the form of alcohol lotions.

These remedies may temporarily relieve pain, but they do not eliminate the cause of the inflammation. Therefore, relief is temporary, inflammation increases and can result in serious complications. And alcohol infusions also lead to a chemical burn of the mucous membrane.

A tooth abscess cannot be cured without the intervention of a dentist. Only an integrated approach to treatment can stop the inflammatory process.

Why an abscess is dangerous

If the symptoms of inflammation are not very pronounced, most people postpone a visit to the dentist. This leads to complications, develops:

Chronic tooth abscess
The disease acquires a cyclic character: pus-fistula-outflow of pus-closure of the fistula. Then a cold, exacerbation of common diseases or another reason provokes a new cycle. Each time, the risk that pus will penetrate deep into the tissues or be carried by the bloodstream throughout the body increases.

Phlegmon
This is already a diffuse purulent process that captures large areas. There is a strong intoxication of the body, the general condition worsens. Phlegmon is dangerous for its main complication – blood poisoning.

Sepsis
As a result of the fact that the infection spreads throughout the body, sepsis affects all organs, leading to their failure. Causes fever, drop in blood pressure. Treatment of sepsis is difficult, the prognosis is not always favorable.

Prevention

The easiest and most effective way to prevent is daily oral hygiene. With its help, most of the plaque is removed, which means that the risk of developing caries and its complications is significantly reduced.

Professional teeth cleaning prevents the formation of tartar, minimizes the possibility of periodontitis.

A visit to the dentist once every 6 months allows you to detect dental diseases in time, before they become complicated by the formation of an abscess.

Abscess tooth fever chills: Symptoms of Tooth Infection Spreading to Body

Symptoms of Tooth Infection Spreading to Body

You feel unwell

You run a fever

Your face swells

You become dehydrated

Your heart rate increases

Your breathing rate increases

You experience stomach pain

How we reviewed this article:

Read this next

5 Symptoms of a Tooth Infection Spreading to the Rest of the Body

What Is a Tooth Abscess?

What Are The Symptoms of a Tooth Infection Spreading to the Body?

1. Feeling Unwell

2. Fever

3. Swelling

4. Increased Heart and Breathing Rate

5. Dehydration and Stomach Pain

Prevention

Stay Healthy!

Tooth abscess – symptoms, causes and types

Tooth abscess – causes, methods of treatment in the clinic and at home – ROOTT

Purulent abscess of the tooth – causes

Caries leading to periodontitis

Incorrect treatment

Periodontitis

Pericoronitis

Trauma

Symptoms

Treatment

Home remedies

Why an abscess is dangerous

Prevention

Leave a Reply Cancel reply