Just like any infection, tooth infections can be serious and dangerous, and are not to be ignored. In this post, we’ll let you know why tooth infections are considered a dental emergency, and what symptoms you can look for.
Why Take a Tooth Infection Seriously?
A tooth infection can also be referred to as a dental abscess. A dental abscess is simply an area of pus within or around the tooth that has been caused by a bacterial infection. The infection can occur either inside the tooth, affecting the tooth root, or it may occur on the gums. You should always take infection seriously, as any infection can spread throughout the body, posing serious, even life-threatening, health risks.
Tooth Infection Symptoms to Watch For
Tooth infection symptoms include:
- An intense toothache
- Sensitivity to pressure and/or temperature
- A fever
- Swelling
- Swollen lymph nodes in the neck and jaw area
- A foul taste and/or smell in the mouth
- Trouble breathing or swallowing
Who’s at Risk for Infection?
Really, anyone is at risk of developing a tooth infection, but there are some factors that can elevate that risk significantly. In general, these are the same issues that can put you at risk for a whole host of other dental woes: poor oral hygiene and an unhealthy diet. Do your best to avoid an infection by stepping up your care and limiting the amount of sugar you consume. Doing these things will lessen your chances of developing cavities, and therefore lower the potential to develop infection as a result.
Treating Infection at Johnson Family Dental
Here at Johnson Family Dental in Paducah, we consider any sort of infection to the teeth or gums worthy of an immediate phone call and a subsequent visit to the office. In order to accommodate infections and other dental emergencies, we keep time available every day for same-day appointments. Notice some of the tooth infection symptoms listed above? Give us a call at (270) 554-2432. Johnson Family Dental is conveniently located at 2913 Lone Oak Rd in Paducah, KY. Our normal office hours are Monday through Thursday from 8am to 5pm.