Yes, an untreated tooth abscess can be very dangerous and potentially "poison" you by spreading infection to other parts of the body, leading to life-threatening conditions like sepsis (blood poisoning), brain abscesses (pus in the brain), meningitis, or Ludwig's angina, causing organ failure, and even death. The infection can enter the bloodstream, triggering a severe body-wide response (sepsis) or traveling to vital organs, necessitating prompt dental treatment.
Pain or discomfort with the pressure of chewing or biting. Fever. Swelling in your face, cheek or neck that may lead to difficulty breathing or swallowing. Tender, swollen lymph nodes under your jaw or in your neck.
Common symptoms include fever, chills, rapid heart rate, low blood pressure, confusion, and shortness of breath. It is important not to underestimate the dangers of a tooth infection spreading to the bloodstream. Swift treatment is crucial as sepsis can lead to organ failure, tissue damage, and ultimately death.
Left untreated, these infections can be extremely painful and pose a significant risk of descending into the deep neck space or ascending to intracranial sinuses. Identifying, treating, and educating patients about a dental abscess will grant symptomatic relief and prevent dangerous complications.
Symptoms of a dental abscess
pain that's worse when lying down, which may disturb your sleep. redness and swelling in your face. a tender, discoloured and/or loose tooth. shiny, red and swollen gums.
The 4 Stages of a Tooth Abscess
Symptoms of sepsis
Fast, shallow breathing. Sweating for no clear reason. Feeling lightheaded. Shivering.
The 3-3-3 rule for toothache is a temporary pain management strategy: take 3 ibuprofen (200mg each) three times a day for 3 days, but 3 hours apart (or every 8 hours), to reduce inflammation and pain until you can see a dentist; it's crucial to consult a doctor first, especially with underlying conditions, as it's not a cure but a short-term fix for inflammation.
Common symptoms include persistent, throbbing pain in the tooth, jaw, or face, noticeable facial swelling, and fever. Some people may also experience swollen lymph nodes, foul-tasting discharge from the gums, or difficulty swallowing.
When an infection occurs, bacteria can move out of the tooth to the bone or tissue below, forming a dental abscess. A dental infection can lead to sepsis.
If an abscess bursts in your mouth and you accidentally swallow it, most likely no harm would befall you aside from the terrible taste of the infection. However, there is a small chance of a complication if you're immunocompromised or if you've some other ongoing health issue.
Here are the red flag symptoms that may suggest the infection has reached the brain:
Gum redness and swelling can also arise. If the tooth abscess is severe, a fever can arise as well. The final stage is tooth loss. This stage is often accompanied by throbbing pain and a lot of discomfort.
Untreated tooth abscesses can kill you. Untreated infections can spread to surrounding tissues in your body. This can cause serious complications including sepsis and necrotizing fasciitis, which can lead to death.
Dr. Madsen: If you're at a point where it's not just tooth pain but you've got a lot of swelling on the side of your face, if it's extending down into your neck, certainly if it's causing any trouble breathing, absolutely go to the ER. That's a situation where we need to see you emergently.
The timeline depends on the cause and severity of damage. For minor decay, the nerve may take weeks to die. For severe trauma or infection, it could die within days.
Code 1 – Slight bleeding when probed, no calculus or gingival pockets under 3.5mm. Code 2 – Slight bleeding when probed, Calculus or Plaque present and gingival pockets under 3.5mm. Code 3 – Calculus and Plaque present under the gum margin and gingival pockets between 3.5 – 5.5mm.
Consider taking a pain reliever you can buy without a prescription to dull the ache. But don't place aspirin or another painkiller directly against your gums because it may burn your gum tissue. If the toothache is caused by trauma to the tooth, apply a cold compress to the outside of your cheek.
At a glance. Sepsis is a fast-moving, life-threatening emergency caused by an extreme immune response to infection. Use TIME: Temperature, Infection, Mental decline, Extremely ill — to recognize sepsis symptoms early. Prevent sepsis by treating infections early, practicing hygiene and staying current on vaccinations.
To check yourself for sepsis, watch for a combination of symptoms like fast breathing, rapid heart rate, confusion or drowsiness, fever or low temperature, shivering, extreme pain/discomfort, clammy skin, or a rash that doesn't fade, and decreased urination, especially if you have an infection. Sepsis is a medical emergency, so if you suspect it, seek immediate medical help by calling emergency services or going to the hospital.
Stage 1: Sepsis
A high fever above 101℉ (38℃) or low temperature below 96.8℉ (36℃) A heart rate above 90 beats per minute. A bacterial infection, fungal infection, or viral infection confirmed through positive blood culture results. Rapid breathing rate higher than 20 breaths per minute.
If the swelling from a dental abscess extends to your cheeks, jaw, or neck, it may signal that the infection is spreading beyond the mouth. Why It's Dangerous: Swelling in the neck can obstruct airways. It may lead to a condition called Ludwig's Angina, a severe bacterial infection of the floor of the mouth.
Don't wait. A tooth abscess will not go away on its own. It is important to get treatment early to stop the infection from spreading and help you feel better faster. An untreated abscess might get worse and can lead to life-threatening complications.
When stressed, our body's ability to fight off infection can become compromised, which makes us more susceptible to bacterial viral or fungal infections inside the mouth, such as abscesses. They can form inside the gums, teeth or bone around the mouth and can be very painful.