Toothaches are a standard rate. Most of the time, simple home remedies may be sufficient to deal with a toothache. But occasionally, a toothache may be a somewhat more plain sign, like a tooth infection. It is essential to understand that timely intervention is vital so you don’t have to Google how long until a tooth infection kills you.
There is no such timeline available because the severity of an infection, mortality, and morbidity due to an infection depends upon various factors like age, type of infection, past medical history, present health status, time at which one seeks treatment, and so on.
This article on how long until a tooth abscess kills you aims to help prevent a tooth infection from becoming life-threatening. We will explore the timeline of the progression of a tooth infection, recognize symptoms of tooth infection spreading to the body and other danger signs, and explore preventive and remedial measures.
Understanding the risks and when to seek treatment can help you keep a healthy smile and ensure overall well-being.
Table of Contents
Tooth Infection: How Does It Progress?
Tooth infections are also called dental abscesses, resulting from bacterial invasion of dental tissue. Bacteria enter your tooth’s inner pulp by gaining access through a cavity in the tooth, a crack, or exposed gum tissues. Sometimes, trauma from a brush or something else can also give access to the bacteria to invade. These bacteria can then multiply, leading to inflammation and pus formation. These pus-containing pockets can form in the tooth, the gum surrounding the tooth, bone, or soft tissues. Initially, you will have mild discomfort. If you do not treat it, the infection will progress, and you may face serious complications.
Not everyone with a cavity or exposed gum develops an infection, but these are risk factors, so you must seek treatment.
How Can A Tooth Infection Feast To The Body?
Most tooth infections and discomfort are localized. However, there is always a chance that the disease may spread quickly and that the symptoms will become more pronounced.
When an infection progresses, it can spread to the tooth’s root, becoming a painful abscess. It extends and travels to areas like the mouth, jawbone, and blood when not treated. An infection can travel to the heart and brain when it reaches the blood.
Signs and Symptoms of a Severe Tooth Infection
Intense throbbing pain may be emitted into the jaw, neck, and ears. The pain may worsen over time.
- Inflamed gums may be swollen, red, sore, and even ooze out pus.
- Fever with chills, malaise
- Pain and trouble in chewing and opening mouth
- Foul taste
- Bad breath
- Loose tooth
- Infected tooth becomes sensitive to hot and cold foods and drinks
- Bump on the gums
Symptoms of Tooth Infection If It Spreads to the Body
A tooth infection can feast on the body when left untreated, especially in immunocompromised people and older adults.
Symptoms of tooth infection spreading across the body include:
- Lymph bulges in the neck or jaw may be swollen
- Problems with swallowing
- Difficulty in breathing
- Skin rash
- Facial swelling and flushing
- High fever
- Swelling on one side of the neck
If you notice these symptoms, you should not delay getting medical attention as the infection can now spread to the blood. Delaying will also cause extensive damage to the dental tissue. Get your appointment at Kirkland Premier Dentistry for expert help.
Risks and Complications of a Tooth Infection
Although it is rare for tooth infections to turn profound, there are potential complications when a tooth infection is neglected. These are:
Sepsis from a tooth infection: Sepsis is a life-threatening condition at any age. It is when an infection triggers the body’s response, injuring its tissues and organs. An untreated tooth infection can lead to sepsis when an infection reaches the bloodstream. Early treatment of a tooth infection effectively prevents sepsis.
Signs of sepsis from tooth infection are:
- Tall body temperature(fever) or low body temperature(hypothermia)
- Rapid and shallow breathing
- Elevated heart rate
- Severe pain and discomfort
- Confusion or delirium
In the later stages, there will be a persistent skin rash, extreme shivering, reduced urine output, slurred speech, loss of consciousness, etc. It is a medical emergency where the patient should be immediately taken to the ER. A tooth infection can potentially kill you if it progresses to sepsis, which is a rare case scenario.
A tooth infection can feast on the brain: In rare cases, a neglected tooth infection can spread to the brain. Here, the least common way of spread is a direct spread where the jawbone and fascial spaces are infected. From here, the infection can further spread to the base of the skull and potentially enter the brain. It rarely occurs. A more common route, which rarely happens, is when infection from the bloodstream travels to the brain. In both cases, a brain abscess forms.
Signs of tooth infection spread to the brain include:
Signs of a tooth infection
- Severe headache
- Fever
- Confusion
- Seizures
- Loss of consciousness
- Vomiting
Again, this is an emergency, and you must go to the ER. Prioritise oral care and seek early treatment so you never have to worry about complications.
A tooth infection can potentially cause Ludwig’s angina: This results from a progressing tooth infection that may extend beyond the tooth and block airways, causing breathing difficulties and requiring immediate medical attention.
Treatment and Prevention of Complications From a Tooth Infection
If you are doubtful of a tooth abscess or infection, seeking immediate dental consultation is essential. Treatment may include antibiotics, draining the abscess, root canal treatment, or an extraction when the disease is severe enough to have damaged the tooth beyond saving.
Delaying treatment for an infected tooth or gum can prolong your pain and other symptoms, may require additional procedures, and thus add to the costs while prolonging recovery.
You can avoid tooth infections and complications by maintaining good oral hygiene, which includes brushing and flossing using suitable techniques, decreasing your consumption of sugary foods and drinks, and getting regular cleaning from an experienced dentist. You should consult a dentist for bad breath, a damaged tooth, swollen gums, or other dental issues. Never skip your regular checkups.
How Long Before A Tooth Infection Kills You?
The time edge in which a tooth infection can become severe and then turn life-threatening varies greatly. It does not happen overnight, and it would typically take weeks to months for an untreated infection to spread and become fatal. The timeline for this progression from a simple to severe tooth infection is influenced by various factors such as:
Overall health: like most infections, it is people with cooperated immune systems, like those undergoing chemotherapy or having HIV, and people with chronic diseases like diabetes or kidney failure, who are more susceptible to a rapid progression and spread of tooth infection to other parts of the body.
The harshness of the infection is another crucial factor here. Along with this, how an individual’s body responds to an infection also plays a role. Early treatment will halt the progression, while delayed treatment may not be enough, and aggressive intervention may be required.
Fundamental medical conditions like heart disease, lung disease, and a few others can also lead to a worse prognosis in case of a tooth infection that spreads.
Age can also be a factor here, as older adults may be unable to fight infections. This is especially true for those who have other diseases.
The risk of morbidity and mortality from tooth infections is shallow, but prompt dental treatment is essential to avoid complications and for general well-being.
Conclusion
The death rate from tooth infection is meager today thanks to advanced medical care and awareness. This is especially true for developed countries where awareness is generally high. It is essential to know the early signs and symptoms of tooth infection and not wait for things to worsen. Early intervention makes all the difference. A healthy smile is a beautiful feature and reflects your oral health. Get an appointment with experts at Kirkland Premier Dentistry for regular checkups and any dental health issues.
FAQs
- What is the duration of tooth abscess with antibiotics?
Antibiotics are often set to treat tooth infections, where a typical course lasts 7-10 days. You have to complete the course, even if symptoms improve earlier, to ensure the complete eradication of bacteria.
- Can Listerine kill tooth infection?
Mouthwash like Listerine may be prescribed, or you can use over-the-counter mouthwashes alone. They help you maintain good oral hygiene by reducing the number of bacteria and helping with bad breath, but they don’t treat a tooth or gum infection. It would help if you had professional dental care and treatment for an infection.
