How to Tell if Your Tooth is Infected
Are your teeth sensitive to hot and cold foods? Does it hurt to bite down when you chew? If it’s a tooth infection, you’ll want to schedule an appointment with our emergency dentists in Grand Rapids, MI. The longer you wait to seek emergency dental care, the more the problem will grow.
What is a tooth infection?
A (also called an abscess) is a pocket of pus trapped within your tooth. If left untreated, the infection will spread to the tips of your tooth roots. At this point, your only option would be an emergency root canal or extraction.
You may be at higher risk for an if you neglect oral hygiene. Once a cavity is deep enough to penetrate the inner chamber of your tooth, you’ll develop an abscess. This means that the live tissue (pulp) inside your tooth is infected.
What does an abscessed tooth feel like?
A tooth abscess is painful. In fact, your teeth may be throbbing and keeping you awake. We always recommend our patients come to us before they’re in unbearable pain. That way, we’re able to catch issues when they’re small and at their most treatable.
Signs you have an infected tooth include:
- Severe toothache
- Sensitivity to hot and cold foods
- Difficulty swallowing
- Pain when biting down
- Fever
- Swollen, tender lymph nodes in the neck or jaw
- Swollen face or cheeks
Recognize any of the above symptoms? If so, schedule an appointment with our emergency dentists. The longer you ignore an abscessed tooth, the more you jeopardize your health. Call our dental practice today to request emergency dental care.
Don’t think that the abscess is gone if the pain subsides. While you can manage some of the pain from home, our dentists will need to remove the infected dental pulp. They’ll then have to reseal the tooth and cover it with a crown. If our dentists can’t salvage the tooth, they’ll extract it before the infection spreads to your jaw.
READ MORE: What Is a Dental Emergency? >>
Do tooth infections go away on their own?
No, a tooth infection will not go away on its own. Instead, it’ll only get worse until the abscess bursts. When this happens, the infection will spread to your jawbone, as well as the rest of your head and neck. You may even develop sepsis, which is life threatening.
Do NOT ignore the symptoms of a tooth infection! If you suspect you have an abscessed tooth, you’ll need to call our emergency dentists as soon as possible. The sooner you call, the more likely we’ll be able to save your tooth.
For example, our emergency dentists may be able to treat a small abscess with a root canal. Otherwise, you’ll need emergency tooth extraction.
What should I do for an infected tooth?
First, you’ll need to schedule an appointment with our emergency dentists in Grand Rapids, MI. Our dentists are always willing to squeeze you in for a dental emergency.
Next, manage the pain with over-the-counter pain medication until it’s time for your appointment. If you notice any swelling, a warm or cold compress can also help. Try eating easy-to-chew foods like mashed potatoes until you’re able to come into our office. Only our dentists can solve the problem permanently.
Need to Make an Appointment?
Our have years of experience with helping patients overcome infected teeth. To request an appointment with Bander Dental Group, give our office a call at (616) 949-5980.