It’s easy to brush off a toothache, particularly during festive periods when sugary foods are in abundance, but one dentist has warned that ignoring it could have fatal consequences. Dr. Smita Mehra, Principal Dentist at The Neem Tree Dental Practices, emphasised the dangers of overlooking a “normal toothache”.
She cautioned that if your toothache is coupled with an inflamed tooth, which intensifies the pain due to lack of space for swelling in your mouth, you need to seek medical attention urgently. Neglecting this could lead to tooth loss, infections and abscesses throughout the body.
The dentist explained: “Bacteria from infections, dental abscesses, or gum diseases can spread to other parts of the body, potentially causing life-threatening conditions such as sepsis or infections in the jaw, neck, or even the brain. This is why seeing a dentist is crucial, as they can prescribe the appropriate antibiotics, if needed, to address the infection.”
Untreated tooth infections often result in abscesses, a pocket of pus around the problematic tooth, which can exacerbate your pain and cause swelling and fevers. The dentist stressed these need to be “treated immediately”.
Suffering from any type of dental pain or enduring long-lasting toothaches can lead to irreversible harm to your teeth, gums, or even the jaw bone – all things that won’t regenerate after reaching a certain point. Leaving such issues untreated may force dentists, as a last resort approach, to remove your teeth altogether.
Sepsis, which is an improper response by the body to an infection, causes widespread inflammation, tissue damage, potential organ failure, and can lead to death in severe instances. Dental infections not promptly addressed that result in abscesses could potentially lead to sepsis.
Also, it’s worth noting that putting off a trip to the dentist for your toothache doesn’t save time or money, as the dentist stressed: “Early-stage dental issues are often more straightforward and less expensive to treat. Delayed care, however, may require more invasive and costly procedures, such as root canals, surgeries, or implants.”
Should toothaches arise, your first port of call should be your dentist, who is best placed to evaluate the issue, prescribe necessary medications and treatments, or suggest further action. Dr Mehra also offered some advice on managing dental discomfort at home while awaiting your dental appointment or medical assistance.
Begin by figuring out what kind of pain you’re experiencing: “Determine if the pain is dull, sharp, or intense, and is it accompanied by swelling. Determine how long it lasts and whether it subsides with painkillers. Dental pain lasting less than two days and improving with painkillers may not always require a dentist visit, but for peace of mind, consider booking an appointment.”
If you begin to experience swelling in your neck or mouth alongside pain, the expert cautions: “Visit your local A&E immediately.” For less severe dental discomfort, it’s advised to keep essentials like salt, clove oil, painkillers, and cold compresses handy.
These items can help reduce pain and swelling, offering temporary relief from dental agony. Gargling with a mixture of warm water and ½ a teaspoon of salt can stave off infections and cleanse wounds, while clove oil may numb other toothache symptoms for a short while.