{"id":97,"date":"2022-02-04T16:11:00","date_gmt":"2022-02-04T16:11:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cocodentalcenter.com\/blog\/?p=97"},"modified":"2025-11-07T13:39:07","modified_gmt":"2025-11-07T13:39:07","slug":"could-ignoring-a-toothache-be-fatal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cocodentalcenter.com\/blog\/2022\/02\/04\/could-ignoring-a-toothache-be-fatal\/","title":{"rendered":"Could Ignoring a Toothache Be Fatal?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-medium\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cocodentalcenter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/man-mouth-pain-300x200.jpeg\" alt=\"Man with green shirt rubbing jaw in pain\" class=\"wp-image-98\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cocodentalcenter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/man-mouth-pain-300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.cocodentalcenter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/man-mouth-pain-1024x682.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/www.cocodentalcenter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/man-mouth-pain-768x512.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.cocodentalcenter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/man-mouth-pain-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/www.cocodentalcenter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/man-mouth-pain-2048x1365.jpeg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re like most people, you probably experience tooth pain every now and then. You might just take some over-the-counter pain relievers and forget about it once the discomfort subsides. Even though a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cocodentalcenter.com\/emergency-dentistry.html\">toothache<\/a> may not seem like a big deal, it\u2019s possible that the tooth is infected, which could put your overall health at risk. In fact, brushing off a toothache might even prove deadly! Read on to learn what can happen when you ignore a toothache, signs that you have a tooth infection, and how to handle the situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Dangers of Overlooking a Toothache<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>When a tooth becomes infected, the bacteria that have gathered inside and around the tooth may end up spreading. They could infect your surrounding teeth, gums, and other tissues in your mouth, but that\u2019s not all. If bacteria access your bloodstream, they have the chance to wreak havoc on many areas of your body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Some of the serious, potentially life-threatening complications of a tooth infection spreading throughout the body include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Sepsis<\/strong> \u2013 Sepsis is an extreme response to a bacterial infection in the bloodstream, which can weaken the immune system.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Difficulty breathing<\/strong> \u2013 If bacteria from a tooth infection enter the lungs, they could make it hard to breathe. Worse, the lungs are an easy breeding ground for the bacteria to multiply.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Ludwig\u2019s angina<\/strong> \u2013 This occurs when the infection causes swelling in the throat and chest, resulting in difficulty swallowing and breathing.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Endocarditis<\/strong> \u2013 The inner lining of the heart, called the endocardium, could become inflamed, increasing the risk of heart failure.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Do I Have a Tooth Infection?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Not all toothaches are caused by infection, but yours might be if your tooth pain is throbbing. You may also have one if your pain is accompanied by:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Red or swollen gums<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A persistent foul taste in your mouth<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Bad breath that doesn\u2019t go away<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Dark discoloration of the tooth and nearby gums<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Should I Do When I Have a Toothache?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The best thing to do when your tooth hurts is to call your dentist. They\u2019re the experts when it comes to diagnosing and relieving tooth pain. Over the phone, they\u2019ll ask you about your symptoms and let you know what to do next. This typically involves coming into their office right away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If your dentist\u2019s office isn\u2019t open and you can\u2019t reach a member of their team, then you can head to the nearest emergency room. While the doctors there are most likely <em>not<\/em> dental professionals, they can at least manage your pain and\/or provide antibiotics to prevent the infection from worsening. Then, get in touch with your dentist as soon as you can.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Deaths from tooth infections are rare these days, but there\u2019s still a chance it could happen to you. To be on the safe side, call your emergency dentist when you have a toothache to receive the expert, potentially lifesaving care you need!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">About the Author<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>At Coco Dental of North Dallas, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cocodentalcenter.com\/meet-the-dentist.html\">Dr. Sujal Patel<\/a> provides same-day care for patients with dental emergencies, including toothaches. With more than a decade of experience in the dental field, he\u2019ll get your smile back on track right away. His practice offers Saturday appointments for convenience, and they currently have a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cocodentalcenter.com\/emergency-special.html\">special offer<\/a> for a $29 emergency visit, including exams and X-rays. If you need fast care for your toothache, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cocodentalcenter.com\/contact-us.html\">call<\/a> Coco Dental of North Dallas at 972-818-5649.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If you\u2019re like most people, you probably experience tooth pain every now and then. You might just take some over-the-counter pain relievers and forget about it once the discomfort subsides. Even though a toothache may not seem like a big deal, it\u2019s possible that the tooth is infected, which could put your overall health at [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-97","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v24.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Could Ignoring a Toothache Be Fatal? | Coco Dental of North Dallas | Emergency Dentist<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Has your tooth been hurting? Overlooking a toothache could potentially turn deadly. 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