How Long Before a Tooth Infection Becomes Fatal?
How Long Before a Tooth Infection Becomes Fatal? Choosing to suffer through the pain of an infected tooth without seeking treatment from a dental professional may jeopardize more than just your comfort. Medical studies are increasingly finding a correlation between dental and body health, finding that lingering tooth infections could lead to serious health issues, including illness and disease.
How tooth infections occur
Before we go into how a tooth infection can cause other health issues, it’s essential to understand how a tooth infection occurs and know if you may have one. The mouth is a gateway to the rest of the body and is often exposed to various types of bacteria. Routine dental care, such as regular brushing and flossing, along with the natural defensive system of our saliva, is usually enough to keep our mouths clean, fresh, and healthy. However, if bacteria are allowed to build up, it can cause an infection.
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You feel bloated and uncomfortable, and the idea of making it through the afternoon with what feels like a rock in your stomach makes you want to crawl back into bed. Add to that a tight deadline and a packed schedule, and you’re tense and stressed out as well.
Our body responds to bacterial infection by sending immune cells to the area to attack the bacteria, typically causing inflammation, which is what causes you to experience swelling, pain, and other discomforts. However, it is possible to have an infection without experiencing any symptoms, making it even more important to have routine dental exams to detect problem areas before they lead to other health issues.
Spotting the signs of infection
Your mouth has a way of sending distress signals when things go awry.
Is your tooth throbbing as if it’s rehearsing for a drum solo in a rock concert? That’s a telltale sign of a dental infection.
But it doesn’t stop there. Other red flags include facial swelling that can make you resemble a chipmunk storing nuts for winter and a fever that could probably fry an egg.
These symptoms aren’t just your mouth’s way of complaining; they’re your desperate call for professional help.
Causes of Tooth Infection
Tooth infections, also known as dental abscesses, occur when bacteria invade the dental pulp – the innermost part of the tooth that contains blood vessels and nerves. But what leads to this invasion? There are several culprits:
- Dental Decay and Cavities: The most common cause. Bacteria in the mouth convert sugar and carbohydrates into acid, which erodes the tooth enamel, forming cavities. Over time, these cavities deepen, allowing bacteria to reach the dental pulp and cause an infection.
- Gum Disease: Also known as periodontal disease, it’s an infection of the tissues that hold your teeth in place. It’s typically caused by poor brushing and flossing habits that allow plaque—a sticky film of bacteria—to build up on the teeth and harden.
- Trauma and Injury: If a tooth is cracked or chipped, bacteria can easily access the pulp. Trauma might be from a sports injury, biting on a hard object, or even a severe tooth grinding habit.
Symptoms of Tooth Infection
Tooth infections don’t always involve noticeable symptoms initially. As the infection progresses, common symptoms include:
- Pain and Sensitivity: This may occur continually or only when pressure is applied to the tooth.
- Swelling and Abscess: A pocket of pus, known as a dental abscess, may form. There can also be swelling in the face or cheek.
- Bad Breath and Foul Taste: Due to the pus and bacterial activity, there might be persistent bad breath or a foul taste in the mouth.
How Long Does It Take for a Tooth Infection to Turn Fatal?
So, how long does it take for a tooth infection to become fatal? The answer depends on several factors, including the individual’s overall health, the severity of the infection, and how long the infection has been left untreated.
On average, a tooth infection can progress into a serious and potentially deadly condition in just a few days to weeks. However, the timeline can vary depending on the person and how quickly medical intervention is sought. Here’s a general breakdown:
- Initial Stage (Days 1-3): The infection may start as a mild toothache, with little to no symptoms of spreading.
- Progression (Week 1-2): If left untreated, the infection can spread to nearby tissues, causing swelling and pain. It may also start to affect the lymph nodes.
- Severe Stage (Week 2 and beyond): As the infection continues to spread, it can enter the bloodstream, resulting in sepsis. This stage is life-threatening and requires immediate medical attention.
It’s important to note that in some cases, tooth infections may lead to brain abscesses or other fatal complications, which can occur even faster.
Increased Risk for Heart Disease, Heart Attack, and Stroke
Chronic inflammation is the most common cause of cardiovascular issues. Inflammation is your body’s natural reaction to infections, but when it is excessive, it can create blood clots and overwhelm blood vessels leading to your heart, causing them to burst. The same happens with severe inflammation in an affected tooth.
The risk of heart problems increases when an infection is symptomless, or the patient ignores the indicators and fails to receive prompt treatment. Having an untreated tooth infection can increase heart disease risk by nearly three times. In the same way, the inflammation can cause issues with the blood vessels leading to your heart, it can also cause issues with the blood pathways to your brain, leading to a stroke. Either way, receiving prompt medical and dental care is essential if you’re experiencing an infection.
Sepsis and Septic Shock
What may start as a small infection somewhere in your tooth can eventually spread its way through your body and cause sepsis or septic shock. When sepsis occurs, it can create blood clots or damage to blood vessels, compromising your organs. If it progresses into septic shock, your blood pressure will rapidly drop, and your body begins to shut down.
Early indicators that your tooth infection may be leading to septic shock include a decrease in tooth pain (as the infection typically bursts or spreads), headaches, nausea, fever, pain or swelling in the jaw or neck, and increased heart and breathing rate.
The best way to prevent severe injuries, illnesses, or death that can result from sepsis is to promptly address any type of infection in the body, including infections in the teeth and mouth.
The Dangers of Ignoring a Tooth Infection
Ignoring a tooth infection can lead to life-threatening complications. In addition to causing sepsis and organ failure, untreated tooth infections can also lead to the formation of an abscess, which may require more invasive treatments like root canal surgery or tooth extraction. If left untreated for too long, the infection can spread to the brain, lungs, or other organs, leading to fatal consequences.
Why Early Treatment Matters
The earlier you address a tooth infection, the better your chances of avoiding severe complications. Timely intervention can prevent the infection from spreading to other parts of your body and reduce the risk of fatal outcomes.
The connection between dental infections and overall health
Your mouth serves as the gateway to your body, influencing more than just your ability to chew food.
Dental infections can wreak havoc on your overall health, forming unholy alliances with conditions like heart disease and diabetes.
Maintaining oral hygiene is more than just a bright smile; it’s safeguarding your body’s well-being.
When tooth infections turn deadly
While tooth infections turning into fatal adversaries are rare, they’re not impossible.
This section serves as a stark reminder that neglecting dental health can lead to consequences we’d rather not star in.
Real-Life cases and statistics
Peek into real-life tales of dental infections gone awry and delve into chilling statistics. These stories aren’t just for campfire horror tales; they provide a sobering perspective on the gravity of oral hygiene.
