“This pain is killing me.” Have you ever said that? Regardless of the nature of your complaint, you might have known that it could not actually result in your death; it may have just been extremely uncomfortable. But some types of pain, including severe toothaches, can signal a life-threatening situation! This blog post explores how a toothache might turn deadly and why you should receive timely treatment from an emergency dentist.
How Can Toothaches Kill?
Very often, a severe toothache is the result of an infection inside a tooth. Infections occur due to an overabundance of harmful microorganisms inside living tissues; the microorganisms are programmed to multiply and spread. They may spread beyond your tooth and get into the bloodstream, where they could have the opportunity to harm your systemic health and possibly even prove fatal.
In 17th century London, tooth infections were listed as the fifth or sixth leading cause of death. Even in more recent times (early in the 20th century), infected teeth proved fatal in 10 – 40% of cases.
The Importance of Treatment
In modern times, deaths from infected teeth are rare. In fact, one study calculated that only 5 – 10 people die each year as a result of this problem. Therefore, there is no need to be overly worried that a dental problem will prove fatal.
However, keep in mind that deaths from infected teeth are rare only because modern dental care is so excellent. In fact, having a good oral hygiene routine and attending regular dental visits has the potential to drastically reduce your risk of developing a serious tooth infection.
Recognizing an Infected Tooth
If you ever believe you have an infected tooth, you should visit an emergency dentist right away for treatment. Here are some symptoms to look out for:
- A persistent, throbbing toothache
- Extreme sensitivity to hot and cold temperatures in a particular tooth.
- A pimple-like bump on your gums.
- Redness and swelling in the gums around a tooth.
If the infection spreads beyond your tooth, you might also experience a fever, chills, headache, and other systemic symptoms. If your symptoms are severe enough, you might need to visit the emergency room so they can get the situation under control before a dentist cares for your tooth.
Treating an Infected Tooth
In some cases, an infected tooth must be extracted. In other cases, more conservative procedures are effective. Regardless of the treatment you require, you can be confident that your dentist will do all they can to eliminate the infection and preserve both your oral and overall health.
Tooth infections are extremely serious! Taking good care of your smile might just be a matter of life and death!
Meet the Practice
Under the leadership of Drs. Shawn Schlessel and Benjamin Hornstein, our Beachwood practice provides comprehensive dental services, including emergency care. We always strive to make room in our schedule to tend to urgent cases ASAP. If you are concerned about an infected tooth or other oral health issues, contact the Center for Advanced Dentistry at 216-595-1710.