Gum disease (periodontitis) is associated with an increased risk of developing heart disease. Poor dental health increases the risk of a
bacterial infection in the blood stream
, which can affect the heart valves. Oral health may be particularly important if you have artificial heart valves.
Are bad teeth bad for your heart?
Gum disease (periodontitis) is associated with an increased risk of developing heart disease. Poor dental
health increases the risk of a bacterial infection
in the blood stream, which can affect the heart valves. Oral health may be particularly important if you have artificial heart valves.
Can an infected tooth affect your heart?
An infection in your mouth could cause more than oral health issues. According to a 2016 study by the Journal of Dental Research, having
an undetected tooth infection increases your risk of heart disease by 2.7 times
.
How does teeth cleaning affect your heart?
In a large study, people who had their teeth professionally scaled at least once every two years were 24% less likely to have a heart attack, compared with those who skipped the hygienist. Scaling
cleans between the gums and the teeth
.
How do you know if a tooth infection has spread to your brain?
The tooth infection spread to brain symptoms are more or less similar to the symptoms you see when the infection has spread to the body, but brain abscesses also have some other telltale clues:
Confusion or irritability
.
Issues with nerve function
, like muscle weakness or even paralysis. Seizures.
Can bad teeth affect your blood pressure?
Poor oral health may interfere with blood pressure control in people diagnosed with
hypertension
. Periodontal disease — a condition marked by gum infection, gum inflammation and tooth damage — appears to worsen blood pressure and interferes with hypertension treatment.
What does bad teeth do to your body?
If you have poor oral health you are at risk for
cardiovascular disease
. The bacteria from the infected gums enters the bloodstream, and can cause the arteries to build up plaque. This can put you at risk for a heart attack.
Can infection from tooth go to brain?
A dental abscess can also travel to the brain
, leading to the development of another abscess. If the infection reaches your brain, it can be life-threatening. Since a brain abscess is so dangerous, the condition requires a visit to the hospital or emergency room for urgent treatment.
What can happen if a tooth infection is left untreated?
The most lethal effect of untreated tooth root infection is sepsis. It happens when the bacterial infection has spread through your entire bloodstream, and your immune system triggers a system-wide inflammation that can rupture your organs and block arteries.
Can a tooth infection go away on its own?
A tooth infection will not go away on its own
. Your toothache may stop if an infection causes the pulp inside your tooth to die. The pain stops because the nerve isn’t functioning anymore, so you may not be able to feel it. However, the bacteria will continue to spread and destroy surrounding tissue.
What does tooth infection look like?
Your gum is swollen and filled with pus. The raised swelling may look similar to
a pimple
around your infected tooth. An open pimple called a draining fistula, ruptures and releases pus, which is a sure-fire sign of an infection. A bad taste in your mouth or bad breath may also be an indicator of an infection.
How long does it take for a tooth infection to go away?
The only way to get rid of a tooth abscess infection is to remove the nerve or extract the abscessed tooth. Most people experience relief after about 48 hours on an antibiotic. Significant improvement occurs
within three to five days
. In most cases, antibiotics are needed for up to two weeks.
What happens when a tooth infection gets in your bloodstream?
When an infection occurs, bacteria can move out of the tooth to the bone or tissue below, forming a
dental abscess
. A dental infection can lead to sepsis. Sometimes incorrectly called blood poisoning
Can poor oral hygiene cause heart problems?
Gum disease (periodontitis) is associated with an increased risk of developing heart disease. Poor dental health
increases the risk of a bacterial infection in the blood stream
, which can affect the heart valves. Oral health may be particularly important if you have artificial heart valves.
