A toothache is your body’s way of telling you something is wrong, and ignoring it long enough can turn a fixable problem into a serious one. But how serious? Can this common dental emergency be fatal? It sounds dramatic, but the answer is yes. In rare and extreme cases, an untreated toothache can become life-threatening. But there’s no need to panic. Keep reading to learn more about toothaches and how to keep yourself safe.
What Causes Toothaches?
Most toothaches are caused by decay, a crack, or an infection that has reached the deepest layer of a tooth. This inner area is called the pulp, and it’s made up of soft tissues full of blood vessels and nerves.
When bacteria make it that far, they begin to break down and inflame the tissue, causing throbbing pain. In the most serious cases, an abscess forms—a pocket of infection that can cause prolonged oral and physical health issues.
What Happens When You Wait Too Long?
A dental abscess doesn’t only affect your mouth, especially if left alone for too long. Once a few days or weeks have passed, it begins to spread. The infection moves through your bloodstream into the surrounding bone and soft tissue, and from there into the jaw, neck, or even your brain.
This progression, while rare and extreme, has led to serious hospitalizations and, in documented cases, death. The structures of your head and neck are closely connected, which is why a localized dental infection can quickly become a systemic emergency.
Even discarding the worst-case scenario, prolonged tooth infections can also lead to sepsis—a dangerous, whole-body response to infection. Once this takes hold, it requires emergency medical treatment to return your body to normal.
What the Pain Is Telling You
A toothache that lingers, throbs, or wakes you up at night isn’t something to wait out. This is especially true if there’s any swelling in your face or jaw, fever, difficulty swallowing, or a bad taste in your mouth.
These are all signs that an infection may be spreading through your smile, and an emergency visit is necessary. While emergency rooms aren’t typically staffed or equipped to deal with teeth, they are more capable of treating severe infections, so they should be your first stop.
While the topic of tooth infection can be unnerving, it’s not all gloom and doom. When caught early, a tooth infection is very manageable with a root canal, antibiotics, and other treatments. So, don’t tough out your toothache and hope it goes away. Call your dentist.
About the Practice
At Killeen Choice Dental, Dr. Alvi and Dr. Altaher offer same-day emergency dental care for toothaches, infections, and a wide range of urgent dental issues. If you’re in pain, don’t wait. Our team is standing by to help you get in quickly, relax, and get back to smiling. Call (254) 220-4422 or visit our website to schedule an emergency dental exam with us and find relief fast.