A General Dentist Explains How Dangerous a Tooth Infection Can Be

Nobody likes to have an infection, let alone a tooth infection as these tend to be pretty painful. However, they are common and often very dangerous to a person’s overall health. 

Sometimes people have an infection in their tooth, but they aren’t aware of it. People ignore the signs or don’t have them addressed by a general dentist, out of fear or laziness. But, tooth infections are pretty dangerous, and it is important for people to understand why.

In this article, we go over a general dentist discussing how dangerous tooth infections can be. It’s important to know, in case a person has any warning signs present. Read more below!

The danger of tooth infections from a general dentist

Irreparable damage

An infected tooth can cause irreparable damage to occur. Infections involve bacteria which will eat away at the entire tooth over time. Once a tooth has been severely decayed, it is often difficult to restore or repair it without an invasive dental procedure.

And, if a tooth continues to be infected without treatment, a person’s entire mouth is in danger. A tooth that does have an infection will likely become eroded, and then the bacteria may move on to the surrounding area - such as the gums or the root of the tooth. Once the roots of a person’s tooth are also eroded, the tooth may be very difficult to repair. General dentists often have to refer their patients to a specialist once this happens.

Risking infection elsewhere

An infected tooth may not seem dangerous to the rest of the body, but it actually is. General dentists point out that an infection within the mouth can easily be transferred to the rest of the body through the bloodstream.

Because infections involve bacteria, the bacteria will eat the infected tooth away and then move on to the rest of the healthy parts of the body. And, once the infection is within the rest of the body, there is a good chance that it will only worsen. Infections in certain areas of the body can result in a person becoming septic which can be fatal. 

Consult with a general dentist

Because tooth infections are so dangerous, it is vital that a person visits their general dentist as soon as any warning signs are noticed. Tooth infections may produce pain, abnormal spots or even alter the appearance of the tooth itself.

A general dentist will need to examine the infected tooth to determine how to treat it. Having a general dentist examine the tooth will ensure that a person is no longer at risk of further damage.

If you have questions that weren’t answered in this article, then reach out to our office so that we can help you further. Let our trained professionals provide more information on the dangers of tooth infections, give us a call or stop by!

Request an appointment here: https://www.lilburnfamilydentistry.com or call Lilburn Family Dentistry at (770) 800-0178 for an appointment in our Lilburn office.

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