{"id":199,"date":"2022-07-01T18:43:00","date_gmt":"2022-07-01T18:43:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fairfaxdentalgroup.com\/blog\/?p=199"},"modified":"2022-08-10T18:46:14","modified_gmt":"2022-08-10T18:46:14","slug":"can-a-toothache-fairfax-be-fatal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fairfaxdentalgroup.com\/blog\/2022\/07\/01\/can-a-toothache-fairfax-be-fatal\/","title":{"rendered":"Can a Toothache Be Fatal?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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It seems like everyone experiences tooth pain at some point in their lives. Maybe you feel a flash of discomfort if you eat too many sweet things, or maybe you bit down too hard on a popcorn kernel. Fortunately, the vast majority of toothaches are caused by minor problems like cavities and enamel damage. That being said, your smile should not be causing you significant pain, and some toothaches can become fatal if left untreated. Read on to learn more and discover when you should call your emergency dentist!<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Dental Abscesses: Potentially Fatal Tooth Pain<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The hard shell of enamel around your teeth can\u2019t really \u201cfeel\u201d, so any time you feel dental discomfort, it\u2019s likely because the inner portion of your tooth is irritated. Problems like cavities, slight cracks, and enamel erosion expose the sensitive layer of dentin underneath your enamel, which causes pain when aggravated. However, untreated tooth decay or a severe injury can breach the dentin as well as the enamel to expose the pulp of your tooth, leaving it vulnerable to bacteria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If bacteria reach the pulp of your tooth and infect it, you\u2019ll develop what\u2019s called a dental abscess. Since the pulp of your tooth doesn\u2019t work like the rest of your body, the infection won\u2019t go away or get better without professional help. Instead, leaving a dental abscess untreated can lead to severe swelling in the mouth that hinders breathing and swallowing. Additionally, the harmful bacteria could escape into your bloodstream and infect other parts of your body, such as your kidneys, lungs, or heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

No one wants to call an emergency dentist over a little thing that turns out to be nothing. However, a dental abscess needs to be treated as quickly as possible to prevent serious complications! So when should you call your emergency dentist? As soon as you notice any of these symptoms:<\/p>\n\n\n\n