A tooth infection can linger in your mouth for quite a while and you might not even know something is terribly wrong with your oral health. If you are not aware of the common symptoms of tooth infections, the problem will only get worse as time progresses.
Take note of the common signs of tooth infections below.
By speaking up when you experience these symptoms, a dentist may be able to preserve the integrity of the tooth.
The presence of oral pain and/or difficulty chewing food are cause for concern. These symptoms are typically the first signs of a tooth infection. So do not shrug off that pain you feel when biting down on food. If you feel any sort of oral pain when there is no injury, there is a good chance you have an infection. Meet with your dentist as soon as possible to address this problem.
When you suspect that you have an infection, lightly tap the tooth with your fingernail or the end of a clean fork or spoon. If you feel pain upon contact, there is a chance the tooth has an infection.
A tooth that is sensitive to cold or hot beverages/foods might have an infection. You should not have to live with such sensitivity. Nor should you have to soldier on with an infected tooth. Such sensitivity is a clear sign that you need to visit with the dentist to determine if there is an infection or if there is another issue.
An infected tooth has the potential to drain pus and create a foul taste in your mouth. In some cases, this taste will be bitter.
If there is a bad odor in the mouth after cleaning the teeth, then the cause might be an infected tooth. Infections can create nasty odors so do not assume it is the garlic-laden meal from earlier in the day.
If the face and/or gums swell or turn red, you might have an infected tooth. Such swelling occurs as a pus pocket forms along the portion of the tooth root in the jaw bone. If someone neglects such an infection, it will manifest in the form of swelling along the gum by the tooth. The swelling can move all the way up into the face.
Tooth infections can even cause the gums to bleed. It is difficult for a layman to discern gingivitis from a tooth infection so do not assume one or the other is the cause of your bleeding gums. Meet with your dentist to determine the true cause of the blood. In some cases, the cause may truly be an infection.
Request a dental appointment here: or call Grove Creek Dental at (801) 449-8897 for an appointment in our Pleasant Grove dental office.
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