{"id":33,"date":"2022-10-10T23:39:00","date_gmt":"2022-10-10T23:39:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ptdentalgroup.com\/blog\/?p=33"},"modified":"2022-11-08T17:52:11","modified_gmt":"2022-11-08T17:52:11","slug":"toothache-can-it-be-fatal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ptdentalgroup.com\/blog\/toothache-can-it-be-fatal\/","title":{"rendered":"Can Ignoring a Toothache Be Fatal?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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At some point in your life, there\u2019s a good chance that you\u2019ll have a toothache. Some tooth pain is minor and is caused by small cavities. These can generally be repaired with a dental filling and aren\u2019t usually considered an emergency. Unfortunately, that isn\u2019t the case for all forms of dental pain. Some toothaches may be a sign of a serious oral health issue, but can neglecting to have them treated be deadly? Continue reading to learn if a toothache can ever be fatal and what your dentist can do to fix it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Potentially Fatal Tooth Pain<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The nerves in a tooth are located in the pulp, which is the innermost part of the tooth. Cavities, small cracks in the tooth, or eroded enamel expose the sensitive inner layers, which causes them to become aggravated. If you have untreated tooth decay or a tooth that has been severely injured, the irritation can make its way past the dentin and into the pulp. This leaves it vulnerable to infection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If the tooth becomes infected, you\u2019ll develop a dental abscess. An abscess is a pocket of pus that forms in a tooth when it\u2019s infected. Unlike in other parts of the body, the infection won\u2019t go away with time or antibiotics. For this reason, you need to seek professional help as soon as possible. If you don\u2019t, this may lead to severe swelling in the mouth that makes it difficult to breathe and swallow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Additionally, the bacteria may enter the bloodstream and cause a condition called sepsis. It can also infect your kidneys, lungs, or heart. All of these issues are life-threatening and should be avoided at all costs by seeking treatment urgently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5 Symptoms of a Dental Abscess<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you have a toothache, there are some signs that you should look out for that might indicate that you have a dental abscess. Some of the most common ones include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n