At some point in your life, there’s a good chance that you’ll have a toothache. Some tooth pain is minor and is caused by small cavities. These can generally be repaired with a dental filling and aren’t usually considered an emergency. Unfortunately, that isn’t the case for all forms of dental pain. Some toothaches may be a sign of a serious oral health issue, but can neglecting to have them treated be deadly? Continue reading to learn if a toothache can ever be fatal and what your dentist can do to fix it.
Potentially Fatal Tooth Pain
The nerves in a tooth are located in the pulp, which is the innermost part of the tooth. Cavities, small cracks in the tooth, or eroded enamel expose the sensitive inner layers, which causes them to become aggravated. If you have untreated tooth decay or a tooth that has been severely injured, the irritation can make its way past the dentin and into the pulp. This leaves it vulnerable to infection.
If the tooth becomes infected, you’ll develop a dental abscess. An abscess is a pocket of pus that forms in a tooth when it’s infected. Unlike in other parts of the body, the infection won’t go away with time or antibiotics. For this reason, you need to seek professional help as soon as possible. If you don’t, this may lead to severe swelling in the mouth that makes it difficult to breathe and swallow.
Additionally, the bacteria may enter the bloodstream and cause a condition called sepsis. It can also infect your kidneys, lungs, or heart. All of these issues are life-threatening and should be avoided at all costs by seeking treatment urgently.
5 Symptoms of a Dental Abscess
If you have a toothache, there are some signs that you should look out for that might indicate that you have a dental abscess. Some of the most common ones include:
- A small bump on the gums near the aching tooth
- Pus, swelling, or discharge around the tooth
- A stabbing pain when chewing or biting
- Darkening or looseness of a tooth
- Tooth pain that suddenly stops
What to Do If Your Tooth Hurts
If you have a toothache call your emergency dentist as soon as possible. Describe to them what the pain feels like as well as anything else about the tooth that looks or feels off. They’ll schedule an appointment for you to come in as soon as possible and will walk you through what to do about the toothache in the meantime. This involves rinsing with warm salt water or mouthwash to get rid of bacteria near the tooth.
You can also use an ice pack to numb the area and lessen inflammation. Over-the-counter pain relievers can make the tooth hurt less until your dentist can take a look at it. If you have a bump on your gums, leave it alone and wait until your dentist can treat it.
Toothaches aren’t always a sign of something serious, but sometimes they indicate that you’re in danger of a potentially fatal oral health issue. Make sure to let your dentist know as soon as any of the above symptoms arise so they can administer prompt, effective treatment.
About the Practice
Platinum Dental Group is located in San Juan Capistrano and is led by Dr. Ben Omrani. They treat all kinds of oral health issues, from minor cavities to serious reconstructive procedures. If you have a toothache, they can get to the bottom of the cause and treat it quickly. Before you know it, you’ll be back to a pain-free smile! If you want more information or are ready to set up an appointment with Dr. Omrani, call Platinum Dental Group at (949) 661-2052 or visit their website.