Tooth Infection

How Teeth Become Infected

Typically, when a tooth gets an infection is it due to bacterial contamination of the root pulp. The bacteria make their way through the tooth structure and eventually enter the pulp of the tooth. The pulp of the tooth is integrated into the blood stream of your ENTIRE body, thus we don’t want to allow these VIRULENT bacteria to cause you damage!

An abscess is where there is a proliferation of bacteria causing damage at the tip of the tooth root. Abscesses keep multiplying in the bone of your upper or lower jaw. This process is very painful and causes pain, swelling, and a general lethargic feeling.

Did You Know

Did you know that the health of your mouth affects the health of your whole body? When you have a bacterial infection in your mouth, that same bacteria travels into your blood stream, and thus your whole body.

What To Do When You Have An Infected Tooth

The spread of this infection has been directly linked to heart attack, stroke, diabetes, and numerous other serious conditions. At Love Your Smile Today it is our goal to help you achieve optimal overall health. Signs of oral infection can be bleeding gums that are puffy or red, foul odor, tenderness, or pain.

When you suspect an infected tooth, there are a few home remedies you can try. These remedies are temporary. You should make an appointment with a dentist as soon as you feel severe pain. To ease the pain immediately, you can take over-the-counter medications such as Advil, Tylenol or Ibuprofen. Other temporary remedies are salt water (saline) rinses, swishing your mouth with a baking soda paste (1/2 tbsp baking soda with 1/2 cup water and a touch of salt) and cold (ice pack) compress for 15 minute intervals. Again, these are temporary measure for relief of pain and will not solve the problem. Your safest bet is to see a dentist as soon as possible.

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms or if it’s been awhile since you’ve seen a dentist, call us today to schedule an examination. We look forward to seeing you soon!