Signs & Symptoms of Tooth Infection Spreading to Your Body or Brain

Signs & Symptoms of Tooth Infection Spreading to Your Body or Brain

May 01, 2022

As a leading cosmetic and emergency dentist in Andover, MA, we provide information about the perils of an untreated tooth infection and how to treat the infection. If you suspect a tooth infection, referred to as a tooth abscess, please call our office for emergency triage instructions. Treating a dental infection as early as possible is the surest way to prevent its spread into other parts of your body.

Some of the most common symptoms that you may notice at home include:

  • Fever or flu-like symptoms
  • Swelling, inflammation, tenderness, or a collection of pus near the affected tooth
  • Tooth sensitivity or a throbbing and severe toothache
  • Swelling in the lymph nodes in the neck
  • Pain when biting down or chewing
  • Bad taste in your mouth accompanied by bad breath

Any visible gum swelling can be life-threatening (accompanied by pain or not). When you visit us for your exam, our dentists will drain the abscess and prescribe antibiotics as the first line of treatment to prevent the infection from spreading to other parts of your body.

Septic Shock and Why Early Treatment is Necessary

When left untreated, a dental infection can lead to sepsis – a life-threatening condition that causes a patient’s immune system to overreact to the infection and culminate in septic shock. Some of the most noteworthy complications include:

  • Heart failure
  • Abnormal blood clotting
  • Kidney and other organ failures
  • Respiratory failure
  • Brain damage and stroke
  • Liver failure

If you believe you are experiencing any of the symptoms mentioned above and want to avoid potentially fatal complications, please call Andover Cosmetic Dental Group for emergency triage instruction. Our dentists have the training and experience to deal with any emergency dental problem you may be experiencing. Our office has the latest technology and treatment methods for immediate infection intervention.

You Can Avoid Dental Infections

Although any patient can succumb to a dental infection based on any number of variables, there are some things you can do to reduce your risk of developing one. These include best practices in at-home oral hygiene, such as:

  • Brushing your teeth twice a day
  • Using a toothpaste that’s fortified with fluoride
  • Flossing your teeth at least once a day, but preferably after each meal
  • Rinsing your mouth with mouthwash before bed
  • Limiting the number of sugars or refined carbohydrates in your diet
  • Scheduling professional teeth cleaning appointments every six months

Each of the above preventive measures is equally important. If it’s been more than six months since your last professional teeth cleaning appointment and you’re searching for a dentist near you for dental exams in Andover, MA, we will help you get back on track.

Why Choose Us?

As one of the top-rated multi-specialty dental practices located in Andover, MA, our dentists provide care across a broad range of treatment areas in general and cosmetic dentistry and emergency dentistry. Our specialists have the experience, expertise, and state-of-the-art technology to provide comprehensive care to patients of all ages.

Families can also enjoy having one central location for all their dental concerns. For example, if you’d like to correct the alignment of your smile or your child’s smile, our dentists are Invisalign® approved in Andover, MA.

Here are a few of the other services we provide to ensure a healthy and beautiful smile:

If you don’t see your concern listed above, it does not mean we cannot treat it. Call us to learn more about our scope of services from our comprehensive dentists near you.

Our dentists in Andover, MA also welcome patients from the below nearby areas:

  • North Andover
  • Lawrence
  • Methuen
  • Tewksbury
  • North Reading
  • Middleton
  • Wilmington
  • Dracut
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