Things To Know About Chronic, Low-Lying Dental Infection
Dental infections are conditions that should be taken seriously because they can lead to a serious problem if they are not attended to in good time. Chronic, low-lying dental infection can result in a toothache, leading to sensitivity, sharp pains, or soreness in your mouth. Failing to address the infection in good time can lead to tooth extraction, and this is something you don't want to go through. However, you don't need to worry in case your teeth are extracted since there are other available options to replace the teeth like dentures and dental implants. Keep reading to learn more about this type of infection.
Signs and Symptoms of Chronic, Low-Lying Dental Infection
A throbbing or sore tooth is the first symptom of a chronic, low-lying dental infection. If this is untreated, it can cause chronic pain, swelling, redness, and fever, which is an indication that the body is fighting this infection. Also, you might notice that your mouth has bad breath or foul taste that doesn't go away even after brushing or using mouthwash to rinse your mouth.
In some cases, people with broken teeth can have undetected infections that go deep into their teeth without even showing any external symptoms other than swelling and pain.
Doctors warn that if you start experiencing both swelling and high fever, or you experience challenges in swallowing or breathing, you should seek immediate medical attention. This can be an indication of severe infection, which might have spread to the jawbone and the areas close to it. You may be able to see an emergency dentist to have the tooth treated safely if the infection has not become systemic.
Causes
Most dental infections are caused by a cracked tooth or untreated tooth decays. If bacteria penetrates the enamel, it can cause infection in the soft nerves of your tooth's pulp tissue. When this happens, you need to seek immediate medical attention from your dentist. If you wait too long before seeking treatment, this infection can become more complicated and threaten your health.
Treatment Options
First, a dentist usually cleans the infection before the tooth repair process begins. Mostly, a dentist can recommend a root canal if the damage on the tooth is not extensive. The root canal can be either major or minor, but this depends on how long you have had the dental infection. In some other cases, a dentist can decide to extract your teeth, especially where a root canal is not an option. In these cases where the tooth is extracted, the doctor might recommend dentures or dental implants to replace the extracted tooth. Also, the dentist might prescribe antibiotics in order to treat the dental infection, but this can only happen in the early stages of the infection.
Prevention
You cannot avoid wear and tear on your teeth, but you can prevent cavities by brushing your teeth twice every day. Flossing and brushing your teeth helps in getting rid of any bacteria in your mouth, thus preventing dental infection from happening. Also, schedule regular dental checkups to check for possible cavities as well as weak spots. A dentist can address some of the minor issues before they become serious.
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