Symptoms of Tooth Infection Spreading to Heart

posted in: General Dentistry | 0

How will you react if you come to know that toothache can cause death? Yes, it is true. We all know that most toothaches result from bacterial infections that present as minor painful inconveniences. If not treated in time, this dental infection spreads to the body via blood-stream and can become a serious issue or even deadly.

Symptoms of Tooth Infection Spreading to Heart

To avoid this happening, you can learn the symptoms of the tooth infection spreading to the body and thereby to the heart. It will help you to understand when to seek immediate dental attention.

 

 

A Tooth Abscess Can Spread to the Body:

 

A tooth abscess is a pocket of pus that forms around the tooth. Its drainage point is generally found at the root tip. You may have the following symptoms if you have a tooth abscess:

Symptoms of Tooth Infection Spreading to Heart

 

1) A throbbing toothache

2)Extreme and sudden sensitivity to hot and cold food

3) Tooth sensitivity while eating

4) Swelling on face

5) Pimple-like pus-filled pocket near the gum line

6) swelling of lymph nodes under the jaw bone.

 

If you go for proper treatment, this does not get very severe. You can easily save the tooth and get rid of the abscess by getting a root canal treatment done. However, if you avoid this or keep taking OTC medications to get rid of the pain, the dental abscess has the potential of spreading to the body system and adversely affecting the heart.

 


Symptoms of the Tooth Abscess Spreading to the Body:


If the abscess ruptures from the drainage point, you may feel the foul salty taste in the mouth. After the drainage, you may become symptomless as the pain subsides, and you might think that the problem is over.

You will be sad to know that this is not true.

Symptoms of Tooth Infection Spreading to Heart

The rupture by itself is the first sign of the start of the spread to the body. The entrance of this infection into the body leads to a life-threatening condition known as sepsis. Sepsis can lead to Bacterial Endocarditis. It is a condition of severe damage to the heart valves and linings. It is caused by the spread of infection from other organs to the heart. Therefore, if you notice a rupture, you should seek medical attention as soon as possible. The burst of abscesses generally doesn’t occur by itself. Mostly when the condition becomes severe, this happens.

 

Therefore, even if thereis no rupture and you see the following symptoms, you should get medical attention at once:

 

1) Feeling Sick:

 

You suddenly start to feel unwell. The pain doesn’t stay limited to the tooth, radiates to the jaw bone, and creates headaches and earache.

You also start to feel tired and don’t feel like accomplishing the regular chores.

 

2) Pain Presenting Itself With Fever:

 

Fever is a natural defense against infection. High body temperature attempts to kill the invading bacteria to get rid of the infectious status of the body. However, it is not necessarily always a good thing. If the fever stays consistently high above 101 degrees Fahrenheit, this can indicate the beginning of sepsis. Also, a drop in the body temperature below 96.8 degrees Fahrenheit is not good and indicates danger. You can experience classic fever symptoms like chills and shivering too.

 

3) Increase in Heart Rate and Breathing Difficulties:

 

When sepsis sets in, they can appear as symptoms. One can be seen panting for enough air to breathe. The heart starts beating at a faster rate. If this happens, do not wait and see your doctor at once as it signs an emergency.

 

4) Swelling on the Face and Under the Jaw-Bone:

 

It is normal to have minimal swelling on the face in case of a dental abscess. However, if this does not resolve, it can start affecting your breath pattern and swallowing and may become life-threatening.

 

5) Progression of Sepsis (Dehydration and stomach problems):

 

If you notice that your urinary needs have gone down and your urine is getting darker in color, it means that you are getting dehydrated and progressing towards the second stage of sepsis. You can also begin to experience stomach aches and vomiting, which speed up dehydration and causes even more problems.

 

PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE:

 

We have discussed the symptoms that may appear in case of the dental abscess and its further spread. However, we should understand that it is just for knowledge. In real life, we should altogether avoid getting such a tooth infection. Therefore, we must maintain good oral hygiene habits, such as:

Symptoms of Tooth Infection Spreading to Heart

Brush twice every day.

Floss regularly

Use mouthwash/mouth rinses to keep unwanted bacteria away.

Change a toothbrush every 3-4 months.

Visit your dentist every six months, as recommended.

Avoid a sugar-rich diet.

 

By following the regular oral care routine, you can easily save yourself from such a big hassle known as a dental abscess and its consequences.

 

Now, as you know the symptoms of a tooth infection that can spread to the body, you can easily keep a check on this. Also, you can do yourself a favor of maintaining your oral hygiene and keeping yourself healthy. By following the above measures, you can easily prevent a tooth from getting infected; hence you will never have to deal with the unpleasantness of the dental abscess, root canal treatment, or in the worst condition, bacterial endocarditis or sepsis.