Poor Dental Hygiene Can Lead to Tooth Infection

Tooth infection often results from poor oral care. Visiting your dentist for dental checks and professional dental cleaning should be part of your oral care routine. Brushing and flossing every day are important to maintain in between dental visits. Failure to do these often breeds dental problems. If you want to know how poor oral care leads to tooth infection, here are the details.

Tooth decay

This is an early beginning of a possible tooth infection. It is damage to the outer layer of the tooth or the enamel. This happens because bacteria produce acids while consuming the sugars from food particles in the mouth. Tooth decay starts as white spots on teeth. These are signs of mineral loss or enamel weakening.

Bacteria continue to eat away the enamel until tiny holes or cavities appear in the teeth. These harmful microorganisms continue to eat through the teeth until dental fillings cover the holes up. Untreated tooth decay results in dental pain, which is a sign of tooth infection. This can lead to tooth loss.

Gum disease

The presence of a cavity can go with gum disease. This develops from the over-accumulation of plaque. Removing plaque is possible through daily brushing after every meal. Failing to do this allows plaque to form along the gumline. Bacterial acid attacks cause gum bleeding, redness, and swelling. Untreated gum disease can lead to tooth infection, jawbone infection, and tooth loss.

Abscessed tooth

Ignoring tooth decay can lead to an abscessed tooth. This is a deep tooth infection in which the cavity penetrates the pulp layer. This can cause terrible pain, gum infection, and tooth loss. An abscess can start at the side of the dental root or even at the tip of tooth roots.

This abscess will appear at the side of the tooth as a pimple-like, pus-filled growth. The tooth infection may have developed from a previous dental treatment, cavities, or dental trauma. Draining the abscess is the first thing an endodontist could do. In some instances, the dentist might suggest root canal treatment or dental extraction. Either procedure can end the infection and prevent it from spreading. Here are some of the symptoms of a dental abscess:

• Difficulty swallowing or breathing
• Painful, throbbing toothache
• Fever
• Swelling in the neck and face
• Pain when chewing or biting
• Gum swelling and redness
• Temperature sensitivity
• Swollen lymph nodes in the jaw and neck

When a tooth infection does not receive treatment

A dental abscess will only become dangerous if it does not receive treatment. The tooth infection will continue to spread to the surrounding bone, teeth, and soft tissue. This could lead to more serious general health problems. Infection can spread to the neck area, which can lead to difficulty in swallowing and breathing.

The spread of infection is common among those with weak immunity. A worsening tooth infection can cause sepsis. This triggers the onset of different conditions like organ failure. The conditions will have lasting effects.

You can prevent tooth infection by sticking to a consistent oral care routine

Sometimes, it can be difficult to maintain oral care habits. Visiting the dentist as part of this routine can be a challenge, especially with busy schedules. Determination is key to maintaining good dental health. Working with your endodontist can treat your tooth infection and keep it at bay.

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