Signs of an Infected Tooth

Tooth infections can be extremely uncomfortable and can cause a lot of pain unless treated immediately. The cause of an infection is usually from decay or some sort of trauma to the tooth. The treatment you receive for an infection will depend on the degree of the infection and what tooth is being affected.

Our bodies are usually experts at fighting off infections and making sure we stay as healthy as possible. Unfortunately, our teeth are not quite as efficient at fighting off unwanted infections. There is no way for the antibodies in our body to get into our teeth and fight off infections, therefore they can spread very quickly and easily.

We have probably all experienced sore teeth at some stage before, so how do we know if the pain we are experiencing is an infection? Well, some of the symptoms include:

• Pain: Around the general area of the tooth, but sometimes throughout the entire mouth
• Swelling and redness: The infected area will be red with swelling which can sometimes cause your cheek to seem swollen as well
• Difficulty opening and moving mouth: Due to the pain and swelling, you will experience difficulty whilst trying to talk or open your mouth
• Bad breath/taste in your mouth: Infections can often cause a foul taste and smell
• Feeling ill: If the infection is very bad, it can cause you to feel ill and develop a fever

There is also the chance that an infection will develop into an abscess. An abscess always begins with a tooth infection and causes a severe, throbbing pain to your mouth. The pain is very consistent and is certainly not an issue that can be ignored. An abscess may need to be extracted, require root canal therapy, or be lanced and drained.

Due to the fact our teeth cannot fight off infections, the abscess is capable of spreading very quickly and easily. There have been instances where the abscess has been left untreated and the infection has spread to the brain. Infections always have the potential to develop into an abscess and is why they should never be ignored.

The nature of our teeth and their inability to fight infection means it is important to be aware of how our teeth are feeling. If you are developing sensitivity or soreness on any teeth, it is always best to make an appointment with your dentist to ensure everything is taken care of as it should be. It could be something very minor or it could be the beginning of an infection. The sooner you treat an infection, the better the outcome. Otherwise you could be spending weeks in pain if you ignore the symptoms, hoping they will go away by themselves.

Contact us today if any of these symptoms sound familiar.