How do tooth infections happen?
Tooth infections can come on from either having a cavity in the tooth and the tooth gets infected, or if you have untreated gum disease and the gums become infected as well.
What are the most common symptoms of tooth infection?
The most common symptoms of tooth infection are pain. Typically, if it's a bottom tooth, the pain radiates up to the top of your face, even to your ear, or with top teeth, a lot of times patients will complain about pain in their sinuses as well. Cold sensitivity, pain to heat, the inability to bite or chew, and also if you have visible swelling in your face or in your mouth.
Can a dentist tell the difference between a cavity and a tooth infection?
Yes. Typically, if you're coming in for an assessment for infection, we start by doing an exam in your mouth. Then we take some X-rays. The X-ray will truly be able to show us if there's any infection that's going on in the bone. If the infection is strictly within the gums, that's revealed by the exam in your mouth.
What are the risks if a tooth infection is left untreated?
Unfortunately, death. If a tooth infection is left untreated, it can become serious. If we're in the early stages of an infection and we don't address it, it can eventually lead to complete tooth loss, meaning that we have to remove the tooth. That's typically if we've let the cavity go too far, and the tooth is no longer savable, then we just need to remove it because I can't fix it with a root canal or any type of crown. If you let it become a very large infection, it becomes dangerous, and you risk your life.
What treatment options are available for tooth infections?
You'll see a lot of time online that patients ask for antibiotics. Antibiotics will help manage your pain, but that's only a short-term fix because antibiotics cannot get into the tooth, and the bacteria ends up returning, and the infection returns. The only way to truly address it would be to either do a root canal or remove the tooth. If it is an infection that is coming from the gums, then we need to address the gum disease by potentially doing a deeper cleaning, also known as scaling and root cleaning.
Are there natural or home remedies that help with tooth infection?
A lot of times, you'll see patients using warm salt water or potentially cloves, and that's more for comfort. You can also take Tylenol or Motrin, if approved by your doctor, to help manage the pain. As far as physically removing the infection, we either have to go in and remove the cavity that's causing it or remove the tooth that is causing the infection to truly resolve it.
What are the most common signs of an infected wisdom tooth?
Pain in the gum area, pain within your jaw, feeling pressure within your sinuses, and hot or cold temperature sensitivity. These are pretty similar to what you would feel with any of your other teeth as well.
What should patients do if they notice swelling in their face or jaw from a possible infection?
If a patient recognizes swelling in their face or jaw, they need to get to their dental provider as soon as possible for evaluation. Our main goal is to resolve that swelling quickly and get you on antibiotics because we do not want that swelling to transfer from here towards your airway, as that becomes a life-threatening matter.
If you’re looking for dental care you can trust, call us at (804) 494-4382 or email [email protected]. We’re here to help you have the smile you've always wanted!