What happens if you ignore tooth pain?

If you begin to feel a sharp, stabbing pain, it could be an indicator that you have a cavity or infection in your mouth. If left untreated, the condition of your teeth and gums can worsen and lead to gum disease or tooth loss.
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What happens if you ignore toothache?

You should never ignore toothaches. Toothaches caused by tooth decay can get worse if left untreated. Toothaches are usually not life-threatening, but in some cases, they can be signs of serious conditions that require immediate medical treatment.
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What happens if you leave a toothache for too long?

The longer you leave it, the worse it will get. If your toothache isn't treated, the pulp inside your tooth will eventually become infected. This can usually lead to a dental abscess, with severe and continuous throbbing pain.
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How long can tooth pain go untreated?

If left untreated, it may take a few more weeks or months for the infection to spread to other tissues and cause complications. However, once this has happened, death can occur quickly. Factors like older age, having diabetes, or being immunocompromised can increase your risk of complications from a dental abscess.
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Can a toothache go away on its own?

Can my toothache go away on its own? Some toothaches that come from pain around (but not inside) your tooth can get better without a trip to the dentist. Pain from a temporary irritation (redness) in the gum can be resolved within a few days. During this time try not to chew around the affected area.
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What Happens If I Ignore My Toothache?



How do I know if my toothache is serious?

See your dentist as soon as possible about your toothache if:
  1. You have a toothache that lasts longer than 1 or 2 days.
  2. Your toothache is severe.
  3. You have a fever, earache, or pain upon opening your mouth wide.
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How do you tell if your tooth is infected?

Below are some tell-tale signs of a tooth infection or tooth abscess.
  1. Extreme sensitivity to hot, cold, sugary, or acidic foods.
  2. Change in tooth color.
  3. Swelling of face, jaw, gums, or surrounding lymph nodes.
  4. Raised swelling around a tooth that may resemble a pimple. ...
  5. Bad breath or sour taste in your mouth.
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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.
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Can a rotten tooth make you sick?

Can a bad tooth make you sick? The short answer is yes, eventually. Poor oral health allows bacteria to build up in your mouth and potentially cause infections. An infection in the tooth is called an abscess, and if left untreated, it can have serious consequences.
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Can you have a tooth infection for years?

An infection in your body is considered a threat. If they are not treated, they can last for several months or years. There are two types of dental abscess – one can form under the tooth (periapical) and the other in the supporting gum and bone (periodontal).
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How do you deaden a nerve in your tooth?

How to kill the tooth nerve pain temporarily at home.
  1. Cold compress. Hold the ice on the affected side for 15 minutes on and 15 minutes off. ...
  2. Salt water rinsing. ...
  3. Listerine rinsing. ...
  4. Hydrogen peroxide rinsing. ...
  5. Oregano oil. ...
  6. Peppermint tea bag. ...
  7. Garlic. ...
  8. Thyme oil and Clove oil.
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How do I know if my tooth infection has spread to my jaw?

If you have a fever and swelling in your face and you can't reach your dentist, go to an emergency room. Also go to the emergency room if you have trouble breathing or swallowing. These symptoms may indicate that the infection has spread deeper into your jaw, throat or neck or even to other areas of your body.
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Can a tooth infection go to your brain?

If you have a tooth abscess you could develop meningitis. This life-threatening condition occurs when the membranes near the spinal cord and the brain become inflamed. This bacterial infection could spread to the bloodstream and surround your brain and spinal cord. Meningitis could require extensive hospitalization.
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Which tooth is connected to the heart?

Wisdom teeth, on the other hand, connect to the central nervous system, heart, liver, and intestines. They can also signal high blood pressure, eczema, headache, liver disease, pain in the extremities, and cardiovascular disease.
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Can a tooth infection affect your whole body?

Without treatment, a tooth infection can spread to the face and neck. Severe infections may even reach more distant parts of the body. In some cases, they may become systemic, affecting multiple tissues and systems throughout the body.
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Can rotten teeth cause brain damage?

Tooth decay and gum disease can lead to serious health problems, including brain or heart infections.
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How long does it take for a brain abscess to develop?

In two-thirds of cases, symptoms are present for as long as 2 weeks. On average, doctors diagnose the issue 8 days after symptoms start.
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Why does tooth pain come and go?

Tooth sensitivity is often linked to weakened tooth enamel or receding gumlines. If you visit your dentist regularly and begin to experience tooth sensitivity, it may be due to enamel wear; however, severe tooth sensitivity could be due to serious tooth decay or a cracked tooth that has led to tooth root exposure.
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How do you know if root canal is needed?

If you feel pain in your tooth while you're drinking or eating something hot or cold you might need a root canal. The sensitivity can manifest itself as a sharp pain or a dull ache, and if you can feel it for a longer period of time, even after you finish drinking or earing.
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What does throbbing tooth pain mean?

Throbbing tooth pain is a sign that you might have tooth damage. Tooth decay or a cavity can give you a toothache. Throbbing tooth pain can also happen if there is an infection in the tooth or in the gums surrounding it. Toothaches are typically caused by an infection or inflammation in the tooth.
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Why is toothache worse at night?

Toothaches can be painful in the day, but they may seem to get worse at night. One reason that this may occur is because when a person is lying down, blood rushes to the head. This extra blood in the area may increase the pain and pressure that people feel from a toothache.
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Should I rest with a tooth infection?

And don't wait to treat a tooth infection. A tooth infection is serious and should be treated right away. The longer an infection goes untreated, the more likely it is to spread to the rest of your body, causing a lot of damage to your health and well-being. The bottom line?
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What happens when a tooth infection gets in your bloodstream?

If the infection continues to spread, your immune system may get overwhelmed and trigger inflammation throughout the body, which is called sepsis. If sepsis isn't untreated, it can result in septic shock, a life-threatening condition that can develop when sepsis causes a person's blood pressure to drop dangerously low.
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When is a toothache an emergency?

When Is a Toothache a Dental Emergency? If you have a toothache that lasts more than 1-2 days and is causing you a lot of pain or discomfort, you're having a dental emergency. This usually indicates an advanced cavity or an infected tooth. Without proper care, your condition will only get worse.
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Can a rotten tooth make you dizzy?

Tooth Infection

Damage to the labyrinth, or the small, fluid-filled structure found in the inner ear that helps control balance, is generally the reason for dizziness. This is due to severe tooth infections that spread to the ear nerves. Other tooth infection symptoms include: Tooth sensitivity to hot and cold.
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