How a Toothache Can Become Life-Threatening

Obviously, toothaches aren’t any fun. If your tooth hurts, it can take the joy out of eating, make speaking difficult, and even make it hard to sleep.

And yet, some people still believe that they can just ignore a toothache until it goes away. Unfortunately, the fact is that oral infection will only get worse if you do nothing, and can even potentially put you in the hospital. If you’re wondering how that is and what to look out for, here’s why toothaches constitute a dental emergency and why it warrants immediate attention.

How Can Toothaches Be Dangerous?

Often, toothaches that are enduring, throbbing, and feel like they’re coming from within a certain tooth are a consequence of an infection. There are other reasons teeth can hurt—you would need a dentist to diagnose you—but infection is one of the most common.

For reasons too complicated to fully explore here, the body isn’t able to fight off infections in the mouth the way that it can elsewhere. That means that oral infections are degenerative, only getting worse with time.

If things get bad enough, it’s possible for the bacteria from an oral infection to seep into the bloodstream via the gums. This can cause an infection elsewhere in the body, which can even become life-threatening if nothing is done.

Signs That an Oral Infection is Spreading

If you have a toothache and start to notice any of these symptoms, it’s a sign that the infection has begun to spread. You should call an emergency dentist immediately.

• You notice flu-like symptoms, including headache, dizziness, and fatigue.
• You’re running a fever, your skin is flushed, and you’re sweating constantly.
• Your face is swelling.
• You notice you’re seriously dehydrated.
• Your heart rate is exceedingly high.
• You’re hyperventilating.
• You have stomach pain, diarrhea, or are vomiting.

If you’re running a high fever, having trouble breathing, vomiting constantly, or are experiencing another serious issue, you should go to the emergency room. They don’t have the tools necessary to treat an oral infection, but they can stabilize you until you can see a dentist.

About the Author

Dr. Julia Karpman’s philosophy as a dentist is that her patients should have smiles that are beautiful today, and remain healthy for years to come. To do that, she centers her work on being able to both treat the issues that people have today and help them form good habits for the future. Dr. Karpman received her degree from the University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine, and since then has completed advanced training in a wide variety of fields.

If you have any questions about treating toothaches, we can be reached at our website or by phone at (860) 563-3766.