A toothache may not sound that bad to you, all things considered. It’s just a slight pain in your mouth that won’t affect you much, right? However, ignoring a toothache can be fatal in some cases. You should have it diagnosed and treated promptly; otherwise, you may end up in the ER. As for why that’s the case, your Chicago dentist is here to explain. Please keep reading to learn about toothaches, tooth infections, and how dentistry can help.
Context: Consider Your Ache’s Cause
For starters, remember that toothaches don’t come out of nowhere. They often stem from an underlying infection of one (or more) of your teeth.
A tooth infection (per its name) occurs when harmful bacteria reach your tooth’s pulp. At that time, the microbes can irritate your dental nerves enough to send pain signals to your brain. The resulting ache is often severe and won’t stop until you receive treatment or the tooth “dies.”
Tooth Infections Can Turn Deadly
If left unchecked, a tooth infection won’t just harm your mouth. It’ll have an impact on the rest of your body and cause deadly problems like:
Meningitis
Often, a tooth infection can trigger a severe case of meningitis. This latter condition – a harsh swelling of the brain and spinal cord – can be quite life-threatening. Based on current research, it has a death rate as high as 70% of its cases.
Breathing & Respiratory Issues
The bacteria from a tooth infection can eventually reach your lungs. In that scenario, each lung would become an ideal breeding ground for the harmful microbes. The resulting multiplication would then result in a high risk of deadly respiratory issues.
Sepsis
In extreme cases, a body can release large amounts of chemicals to fight a tooth infection. This process of “sepsis” causes a chain reaction that leads to widespread inflammation. After enough time, it ends with deadly organ failure.
How Can Emergency Dentistry Help?
Thankfully, emergency dentists can treat the infections that often cause toothaches. Their most typical go-to methods include:
- Abscess Draining – When an infected tooth develops a dental abscess, a dentist can cut into the swollen area and drain its pus.
- Root Canal Therapy: With a root canal, a dentist can remove a tooth’s infected pulp and the “bad bacteria” along with it. The treatment would then clean and fill your pearly white, as well as give it a dental crown.
- Tooth Extraction: A dentist will sometimes extract an infected tooth when it can’t be saved. This option treats the infection, but it’s only done as a last resort.
While ignoring a toothache can be fatal, quickly treating it can be life-saving! So, see your dentist for a proper diagnosis and procedure soon!
About the Practice
Smile 312 is based in Chicago, IL. Led by the esteemed Dr. Harvey J. Mahler, our practice has been helping local grins for nearly forty years. We’ve always offered preventive, cosmetic, and restorative treatments tailored to each patient’s needs, and we continue to do so today. That means our team can give your family the smiles of their dreams! For more details or to book a visit, please contact us on our website or by phone at (312)-263-5262.