Can An Infected Tooth Affect Your Overall Health?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Having an untreated tooth infection can actually increase your risk for heart disease by nearly three times . The same way the inflammation can cause issues with the blood vessels leading to your heart, it can also cause issues with the blood pathways to your brain, leading to a stroke.

What are the symptoms of a tooth infection spreading to the body?

  • Nausea and vomiting.
  • High fever.
  • Confusion.
  • Shortness of breath.
  • Drooping eyelids.
  • Pain in the tongue or mouth.
  • Swelling in the face or cheeks.
  • Severe, persistent headache.

Can a tooth infection cause extreme fatigue?

One side effect from having a dental abscess, in fact having any infection, is that it can cause a person to feel chronically tired .

Can an abscessed tooth cause health problems?

Dentists will treat a tooth abscess by draining it and getting rid of the infection. They may be able to save your tooth with a root canal treatment, but in some cases the tooth may need to be pulled. Leaving a tooth abscess untreated can lead to serious, even life-threatening, complications .

Can a tooth infection lower your immune system?

Your oral health affects your overall health

Bacteria from your mouth do not normally enter your bloodstream. But if you allow the bacteria to remain in your mouth unchecked, it can lead to gum disease and inflammation, causing your immune system to weaken and ignore other parts of your body .

Which tooth is connected to the heart?

Heart – Upper and lower third molars (wisdom teeth)

How long can you have a tooth infection before it kills you?

A tooth infection can cause death in several months . It first forms into a dental abscess if not treated promptly. Once an abscess has developed, you may experience severe tooth pain and swelling. In a few weeks or months, the infection may spread to other tissues.

Can tooth infection spread to lungs?

An abscessed tooth can also cause a face and jaw infection which can restrict airways. Like in the case of Anatoliyevich, infection can spread to the lungs . The bacteria that cause diseases like bronchitis and pneumonia often come from the oral cavity.

Can tooth infection spread to heart?

As such, bacterial infections associated with poor oral health, such as gingivitis and periodontitis, can also spread to the heart . The toxic bacteria can enter the bloodstream and can end up in the heart where they can then cause deadly endocarditis.

Can tooth decay make you feel unwell?

If a cavity is not drilled and filled in an early stage, bacteria can enter the pulp of the tooth, leading to infection and pain. This abscess, or collection of pus, can spread into the bone, making your whole body ill. Symptoms of decay include tooth sensitivity, pain when you bite or chew and dark spots on teeth.

Can a tooth infection make you dizzy?

Signs of an infected tooth

Symptoms also include bad breath, unpleasant taste, and pus which indicates infection in the tissue. In rare cases, the infection can present with serious symptoms like fever, vomiting, difficulty breathing, nausea, and dizziness or vertigo .

What diseases can tooth infection cause?

Increased Risk for Heart Disease, Heart Attack, and Stroke

The same happens with severe inflammation in an affected tooth. The risk of heart problems increases when an infection is symptomless or the patient ignores the indicators and fails to receive prompt treatment.

What can happen if a tooth infection is left untreated?

An untreated tooth infection can eventually lead to bacteria in the bloodstream, sometimes called blood poisoning, also known as bacteremia or septicemia . If left untreated, septicemia can cause a severe whole-body infection called sepsis, which can be life-threatening.

Can cavities affect your health?

When cavities and decay become severe, you may have: Pain that interferes with daily living . Weight loss or nutrition problems from painful or difficult eating or chewing. Tooth loss, which may affect your appearance, as well as your confidence and self-esteem.

Can a tooth infection cause autoimmune disease?

Conclusion. Dental focus of occult infection may be a prime cause/trigger of autoimmune disorders and inflammatory disorders , requiring surgical intervention to remove.

How oral health affects the rest of you?

These include head and neck cancers, rheumatoid arthritis, and an immune system disorder known as Sjogren’s syndrome. Oral health involves more than just preventing bad breath. Maintaining a healthy mouth also prevents tooth decay, gum disease, and tooth loss associated with aging .

Can gum disease make you sick?

In the early stage of gum disease—called gingivitis—signs such as bleeding gums and slight gum recession are ignored. However, if not addressed in the early stages, it is possible to experience swollen gums that are constantly tender, chills, fever, and a runny nose.

Are tooth nerves connected to the brain?

Teeth connect with other organs in the body via nerves which aid in sensory reception and proprioception. Specifically, teeth have a correlation with parts of the brain .

Can tooth infection cause heart palpitations?

Gum disease does not directly cause palpitations , but it increases the risk of heart disease, which is a trigger. The bacteria present in gingivae can spread to the surrounding tissues and the bloodstream, causing inflammation.

Can a tooth infection cause shortness of breath?

Nonetheless, bacteria that originate in a dental abscess can also be at fault in mediastinitis. It is a serious and life-threatening condition. A delay in diagnosis or treatment can cause death. If you have this condition, you may notice chest pain or shortness of breath.

Can a toothache cause breathing problems?

When a toothache is an emergency

chest pain, shortness of breath , lightheadedness, or other signs of a heart attack. wheezing, a cough that won’t go away, or coughing up blood. trouble breathing and swallowing, which may be signs of lung cancer.

Can rotten teeth affect your eyes?

When left untreated, an infected tooth can cause pain and lead to infection in other areas of your body, including your eyes . If your infected tooth is at the upper part of your mouth, the swelling can progress upwards and, in some cases, cause your eye to swell shut.

Rebecca Patel
Author
Rebecca Patel
Rebecca is a beauty and style expert with over 10 years of experience in the industry. She is a licensed esthetician and has worked with top brands in the beauty industry. Rebecca is passionate about helping people feel confident and beautiful in their own skin, and she uses her expertise to create informative and helpful content that educates readers on the latest trends and techniques in the beauty world.