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.

3 Dental Issues That Can Cause Headache Symptoms

Approximately 50 percent of adults worldwide experience some form of headache at least once a year, with up to 4 percent of the global population suffering from headaches at least 15 days out of each month. Many of these sufferers may never realize, however, that their dental health may cause or worsen their headache symptoms.

If you find yourself struggling with unexplained headaches, you may need to evaluate your teeth or jaw for any underlying conditions that might factor into your pain. Discover three such issues that can play a role in acute or chronic headaches.

1. Tooth Damage

Any tooth damage that exposes sensitive nerve tissue can cause pain. However, this pain may not limit itself to the affected tooth. Pain in the tooth’s nerve pulp can travel along the trigeminal nerve to other parts of the head, resulting in what feels like a classic tension headache.

In some unlucky individuals, nerve pain from tooth damage can trigger an even more severe form of headache known as migraine. Migraines can cause intense, throbbing pain on one side of the head. They may also produce such diverse symptoms as light or sound sensitivity, nausea, and vomiting.

A cracked, broken, or severely worn tooth should receive prompt professional care, not only to guard against infection and improve function but also to prevent or relieve pain. Permanent crowns can cover and protect damaged enamel, safeguarding the nerve tissue against unwelcome stimuli and preventing additional damage.

2. Infections and Abscesses

In addition to triggering nerve pain, a fractured or decayed tooth can also develop a painful bacterial infection. The bacteria invades and destroys the sensitive pulp chamber of the tooth, causing symptoms such as pain, fever, and swelling. It can also invade the jaw, resulting in an abscess.

Diseased nerve tissue can transfer pain to the face or head just as easily as acute damage to the tooth enamel. An abscess in the upper jaw can also produce an acute sinus infection, causing debilitating sinus or migraine headaches. Other complications may range from major organ infections to meningitis.

Fortunately, you can avoid the worst of these complications by treating that nagging toothache as quickly as possible. Root canal therapy can often save even a seriously infected tooth, while antibiotics can clear up any infection in surrounding tissues. As the infection recedes, so will your headaches.

3. Bruxism

The unconscious grinding or clenching of teeth can produce chronic headaches. This problem, known as bruxism, typically occurs during sleep. Emotional stress and alignment problems between the top and bottom teeth can fatigue the jaw muscles, wear down the enamel, or even lead to tooth fractures.

The tooth damage from bruxism can transfer nerve pain from the teeth into the face and head. Meanwhile, strain on the jaw muscles can cause pain that spreads from these muscles to your head, resulting in a TMJ-related tension headache.

Bruxism can also contribute to sleep apnea, a condition in which you stop breathing for brief periods multiple times per night during sleep. Sleep apnea may create oxygen deprivation and changes in blood vessel diameter that lead to morning headaches, a common problem among the condition’s sufferers.

Your dentist can help you ward off bruxism-related headaches. You may need to have a custom night guard fitted to reduce overnight jaw tension and enamel wear. Night guards that keep your jaws in a healthier alignment may also reduce sleep apnea, helping you avoid troublesome morning headaches.

If you suspect that your headache problem might actually stem from a dental problem, start your search for solutions at New England Dental Health Services P. C. Contact our Orange or Meriden office to schedule an evaluation and learn more about dental treatment for headaches.

Can a toothache cause a headache? Everything you need to know

If you have a headache and a toothache at the same time, the question often arises whether the two are related. There is a possibility that the cause of the headache is toothache. It’s also possible that both are symptoms of an undiagnosed health condition, such as a sinus infection or temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disease.

Migraine headaches and toothache. What is the connection?

Many triggers can cause toothache, such as cracked teeth, cavities or decayed wisdom teeth. If the teeth are not treated, then a person may experience a migraine.

Migraines are throbbing headaches that usually affect only one side of the head. They may also include nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light or sound.

Many experts agree that the main cause of both toothache and migraine comes from the trigeminal nerve. The trigeminal nerve is a cranial nerve that basically controls all movements and sensations in the face, including the upper and lower lips, gums, teeth, etc. It is believed that the pain associated with the teeth irritates this sensory nerve, thereby triggering a migraine.

Tooth-to-head directional pain

It is common for a person to assume they are experiencing tension or migraine headaches when in fact they are experiencing directional pain due to a dental problem. Referred pain is defined as a sensation of soreness in an area of ​​the body that is different from the actual area causing the discomfort. The trigeminal nerve has many connections between facial structures and the brain, which explains why you may think you have a headache, but it could be due to tooth decay or gum disease.

Bruxism (teeth grinding)

One prominent example of referred pain in the head is bruxism, better known as teeth grinding. This often happens at night without the person even being aware of it. The headache that occurs with bruxism feels like a dull ache and may involve the head or occur in the eye area.

Other symptoms that indicate bruxism are: pain in the teeth and jaw, clicking in the jaw joint, tension in the jaw muscles, and trouble opening and closing the mouth wide enough.

Cavernous sinus thrombosis

Cavernous sinuses are large empty spaces located under the brain near each eye socket. A large blood vessel passes through the cavernous sinuses, draining blood from the brain.

Infection in the teeth, face, or skull can spread to the cavernous sinuses and cause a blood clot. The body forms this clot to prevent the infection from spreading further. A blood clot can damage delicate tissues such as brain and eye cells, as well as the nerves that connect them.

Sometimes clots form without an infection nearby. They usually present with sudden and severe headaches, especially around the eyes, double vision, high fever, nausea, etc.

Sinus infections

Sinus infections can lead to tooth pain, especially in the upper teeth below the maxillary sinus (which is behind the cheekbones).

In addition to toothache, another common symptom of a sinus infection is a headache that gets worse when you lean forward. Other signs and symptoms of a sinus infection include:

– Temperature;
– Fatigue;
– Nasal congestion and discharge of yellow or green mucus in the throat (post-nasal syndrome).

Temporomandibular joint disease

Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ) is a problem that can cause toothache. The jaw joint can not only cause a throbbing toothache, but it can also cause headaches that start in the ear area and spread down to the jaw and neck. Even ordinary movements, such as chewing or opening and closing your mouth, can cause severe headaches.

Trigeminal neuralgia

This is a pain disorder caused by pressure or injury to the trigeminal nerve, resulting in sudden and severe pain. Many people feel it mostly on one side of the face along the upper or lower jaw, often mistaken for a tooth abscess.

How to treat a headache in the presence of dental diseases?

Here are some ways you can help manage your dental headaches at home before you see your dentist:

– Take over-the-counter pain medications such as ibuprofen or diclofenac sodium.
– Drink plenty of water and rest
– Apply some oil of clove to the aching tooth to relieve headache;
– Try gargling with warm salt water to relieve inflammation and toothache.

When to see a dentist?

If you have a toothache or headache, call your doctor right away. It can sometimes be difficult to figure out what is causing the pain, but it is important to diagnose the true cause. If you’ve been to the dentist and are still experiencing headaches, find out if the headache is related to dental disease, jaw joint disease, gum disease, or sinusitis.

Yandex Zen: Can a toothache cause a headache? Everything you need to know

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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 is formed. 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 tooth abscess – 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 gum is 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:

1. All tissues affected by caries are removed.
2. The tooth is depulped, the canals are left open.
3. If the canals have already been treated, then the old fillings are removed, the canals 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.
4. The gum is opened. Insert drainage. After a while it is removed. This step is not always carried out.
5. 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.