Can a bad tooth make you sick? The short answer is yes, eventually. Poor oral health allows bacteria to build up in your mouth and potentially cause infections. An infection in the tooth is called an abscess, and if left untreated, it can have serious consequences.
Although not an immediate consequence, dentists strongly advise that letting rotten teeth go unattended can lead to blood poisoning. This happens because the rot from the teeth keeps getting deposited into the mouth, and in most cases, it's swallowed along with saliva.
Tooth decay does more damage than simply breaking down your teeth. It can lead to infections that can spread to the other parts of the body, it can increase your risk of heart disease and it can weaken your immune system.
Signs of bacteremia could be slight fever, nausea and distal infection. Rarely, bacteremia may resolve on its own. It also may progress into septicemia, a more serious blood infection that is always accompanied by symptoms such as chills, high fever, rapid heartbeat, severe nausea, vomiting and confusion.
While it takes a long time for a tooth infection to become fatal, it's possible for a tooth infection to develop into sepsis if left untreated. Typically, this process takes a few months. And even though it may feel like your pain subsides when the abscess bursts, don't be fooled.
In rare cases, the infection may become systemic, which can affect multiple tissues throughout the body. You could also be at risk for osteomyelitis, which is an infection of the bone surrounding the teeth. You could be at risk for cellulitis which is an infection of the skin and fat located directly beneath the skin.
An untreated cavity can lead to an infection in the tooth called a tooth abscess. Untreated tooth decay also destroys the inside of the tooth (pulp). This requires more extensive treatment, or possibly removal of the tooth. Carbohydrates (sugars and starches) increase the risk of tooth decay.
The biggest risks of leaving a cracked tooth untreated are that severe pain and sensitivity can develop, gum swelling and tenderness can occur, and the likelihood of oral infection is much higher.
A dead tooth can stay in your mouth for up to several days or months; however, keeping a dead tooth may lead to problems with your jaw and also result in the spreading of decay and bacteria to other teeth. Most dentists will recommend having the dead tooth extracted and replaced with a denture, bridge, or implant.
Severe, constant, throbbing toothache that can spread to your jawbone, neck or ear. Pain or discomfort with hot and cold temperatures. Pain or discomfort with the pressure of chewing or biting.
tooth sensitivity – you may feel tenderness or pain when eating or drinking something hot, cold or sweet. grey, brown or black spots appearing on your teeth. bad breath. an unpleasant taste in your mouth.
Cavities and gum disease cause pain, difficulty eating, and mouth odor, and they can also fuel chronic inflammation, which can contribute to other medical conditions, such as heart disease This link will open in a new tab..
Dental sepsis occurs when the pulp chamber of the tooth is exposed to the oral cavity or external environment, allowing bacterial localization with resulting infection.
It is rare for tooth infections to spread to other parts of the body. If left untreated, dental infections usually take weeks or months to spread. Below are medical conditions that an untreated tooth abscess may lead to: Osteomyelitis — an infection of the bone surrounding your infected tooth.
Without treatment, a tooth infection can spread to the face and neck. Severe infections may even reach more distant parts of the body. In some cases, they may become systemic, affecting multiple tissues and systems throughout the body.
It might be tempting to ignore and leave a broken tooth untreated, but it's wise if you don't. Leaving a broken tooth untreated can lead to tooth decay, tooth sensitivity, and ultimately, tooth loss.
Most dentists can remove teeth that are broken to the gum line. In these cases, certain instruments such as forceps and elevators will be used to remove what is left of the damaged tooth. In some situations, your dentist will need to reflect your gum tissue to gain access to the tooth.
If a damaged tooth can be restored, whether by filling, root canal, or crown, saving your natural tooth is the best choice. In some cases, however, the damage can be so extensive that the tooth simply cannot be saved. In these circumstances, the best alternative is to have the tooth extracted, or taken out.
Hydrogen sulfide is a gas that smells like rotten eggs and is produced by the bacteria in decaying teeth.
If the infection spreads, you may also develop a high temperature (fever) and feel generally unwell. In severe cases, you may find it hard to fully open your mouth and have difficulty swallowing or breathing.
People with a tooth infection spreading to the rest of their body tend to experience stomach pain, diarrhea, and even vomiting. Both of these symptoms eventually lead to dehydration.
Dental abscesses can also make you generally ill, with nausea, vomiting, fevers, chills and sweats.