What Happens If a Tooth Infection Spreads to Your Jaw?

A tooth infection is the build-up of pus and bacteria inside the teeth or gums. The bacteria cause tooth infections. And if left untreated, the bacteria inside the tooth might spread to the jaw. So, if it to the jaw, it could lead to serious and potentially life-threatening conditions.

What Happens If a Tooth Infection Spreads to Your Jaw?

Here is what happens if tooth infection spreads to the jaw:

A tooth infection spreading to the jaw could lead to toothache, bone infection, tooth loss, blood infection, and inflammation throughout the body.

Toothache

If there is an opening in the tooth enamel, then bacteria might infect the pulp of the tooth. The infection might spread from the root of the tooth to the jaw. The infection could cause a toothache. Why? Because the infection could lead to tissue swelling and buildup of pus within the tooth and jaw.

Bone Infection

The presence of bacteria inside the tooth could lead to bone infection. The bacteria travel from the pulp of the tooth to the jaw, causing bone infection. And the bacteria can destroy the supporting bones over time. The bone infection could cause swelling and dissolve the jaw bone. The swelling can damage the bone and lead to bone loss.

Tooth Loss

Once the infection spreads to the jaw, the bone structures of the jaw become weak. A weak jaw bone structure does not support the teeth. So, if a person does not treat their tooth infection, they will lose more teeth later in life. If a tooth falls out, it leaves an empty space in the jaw, leading to bone loss and tooth loss.

Inflammation

If a person does not treat a tooth infection, the infection could spread to the jaw bones and other parts of the body. In fact, the bacteria from the tooth infection could spread to the jaws and enter the bloodstream to cause inflammation throughout the body. The inflammation could rupture organs and block arteries.

Blood Infection

Last, but not least, the bacterial infection could spread to the jaw and through the entire bloodstream. If bacteria from the tooth infection enters the bloodstream, it could lead to adverse effects. The person may experience a rapid heartbeat, high fever, chills, confusion, vomiting, and severe nausea. Blood infection can cause shock and organ failure.

Final Thoughts

Most tooth infections are easy to treat. Early treatment can stop the tooth infection from spreading to the jaw. However, if the tooth infection spreads to the jaw, the infection could become severe and life-threatening. Maintaining good oral hygiene and visiting the dentist regularly can prevent tooth infections.

Back to dentalemergencyalbuquerque.com

Jaw Pain Could Be a Sign of a Serious Dental Problem

Jaw pain refers to any physical discomfort localized in the jaw. In most instances, jaw pain doesn’t require immediate medical attention. While this is definitely a relief, jaw pain sometimes can be indicative of a more serious underlying problem.

Jaw Pain Could Be a Sign of a Serious Dental Problem

Here are 3 instances when jaw pain is a sign of a serious dental problem:

Untreated Cavities

Untreated cavities might not be the most obvious reason for jaw pain, but they can progress to a point where they cause jaw pain. A cavity can cause jaw pain if the tooth deteriorates to such an extent where its root gets infected.

The infection can then spread to tissues in the jawbone and this can cause severe pain if not treated. To prevent this, you need to go for regular dental check-ups and consult with your dentist to ensure that no cavity gets this bad.

Grinding of Teeth

Grinding can cause damage to your teeth and is one of the leading causes of jaw pain. It is also referred to as clenching the teeth. Some people may grind their teeth when stressed while others may grind their teeth while sleeping and might not even be aware of it.

Grinding your teeth can likely lead to major dental problems. One way to prevent grinding of teeth is to wear a mouthguard when sleeping at night. Reducing stress is another effective way to address this problem.

TMJ Disorder

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders are one of the leading causes of jaw pain. The TMJ plays an important role in your everyday life, allowing you to breathe, talk, and eat. TMJ disorders occur when there’s an issue with jaw and facial muscles.

If TMJ disorders advance to a severe state after you start experiencing pain in this area, you may eventually be unable to move the joint. To ensure that TMJ disorders and the resulting pain don’t wreak havoc on your life, you should seek immediate dental treatment.

Final Thoughts

Jaw pain is a serious problem that can cause you great discomfort and poor quality of life. It can be relatively harmless and disappear on its own without any intervention or it could be indicative of a more serious dental issue as clearly shown here.

If you have severe and recurrent jaw pain or have a combination of any of the conditions discussed here, you should see your dentist, doctor, or oral surgeon. You would want to know if the jaw pain was caused by an underlying condition that’s more serious and only a professional can make that determination.

Back to dentalemergencyalbuquerque.com

What is the Most Painful Dental Problem?

Tooth decay, dental abscesses, displaced teeth, and loose fillings are some of the most painful dental issues.

What is the Most Painful Dental Problem?

Toothache is considered to be one of the most common dental emergencies. It can interfere with your work, sleep, and feeding schedule. If you experience a severe toothache, it is recommended that you seek emergency dental care immediately.

There are many reasons why you may experience toothache. The pain might be temporary, going away on its own, or persistent – which may be a sign of an underlying issue. In some cases, the pain may be accompanied by swelling and bleeding in the gums.

Pain is one of the most commonly experienced symptoms of dental issues. Continue reading below to find out more about the most painful dental issue.

Displaced/Dislodged Teeth

Having your tooth knocked out of place can be quite painful. You need to see a dentist immediately if your tooth has been knocked out. It is easier for a dental professional to minimize the damage caused by a dislodged tooth by addressing the problem as soon as possible. As a rule of thumb, you should never touch the root of a tooth that has been knocked out. Simply rinse off any dirt on the tooth with water, while holding the crown. If you cannot reposition the tooth, put it in milk and head to the dentist immediately.

Tooth Decay

Tooth decay can lead to sharp, stabbing pain in the affected teeth. Tooth decay occurs when a sticky layer of bacteria, referred to as plaque, adheres to the outer layer of teeth. The bacteria release acids that can dissolve the enamel, after feeding on carbohydrates and bacteria. Continued breakdown of the enamel exposes the more sensitive layers of teeth; thus, leading to pain and elevated sensitivity to heat and cold.

Abscess

In addition to being very painful, an abscessed tooth is considered to be a serious dental emergency. An abscessed tooth is normally caused by an infection of the soft tissue inside the tooth structure. While some people may have an abscess for weeks or even months without experiencing any pain, others may find this condition to be quite painful from the start.

Your dentist will need to drain the abscess and prescribe antibiotics to fight the infection. A root canal is the most common treatment for tooth abscesses.

Gum Infection

Gum infection is another painful dental condition. An infection of the gums can lead to periodontitis. When left untreated for long, the bacteria in the infected gums can spread to the bloodstream, leading to serious heart and lung problems.

Conclusion

As you can see, there are different types of painful dental problems. The level of pain involved varies from one individual to the next. If you are concerned about any dental pain you might be experiencing, be sure to contact your dentist immediately.

Back to dentalemergencyalbuquerque.com