Can a tooth infection spread to your cheek?

Can a tooth infection spread to your cheek?

A dental abscess is an infection at the base of a tooth. It means a pocket of fluid (pus) has formed at the tip of a tooth root in your jawbone. If the infection isn’t treated, more serious infections may spread to the face (facial cellulitis). This makes your face swell.

Can a tooth infection cause a rash on face?

A dental abscess, which is typically produced by tooth decay, can quickly lead to facial cellulitis and it must be treated as soon as possible. Again, cellulitis may occur in any part of the body, and one part is the face.

How long does a tooth infection last?

Although a person may begin to notice their symptoms go away after a couple of doses, completing the full round of antibiotics helps prevent the infection from coming back or getting stronger. As the International Dental Journal study notes, the majority of acute infections resolve in 3–7 days.

What does an abscess tooth look like?

There is swelling on the gum tissue that is filled with pus. The raised swelling looks like a pimple near the affected tooth. An open pimple is called a “draining fistula” and has ruptured to release pus. This is an obvious sign of infection.

What happens if a tooth infection spreads?

If the abscess ruptures, the pain may decrease significantly — but you still need dental treatment. If the abscess doesn’t drain, the infection may spread to your jaw and to other areas of your head and neck. You might even develop sepsis — a life-threatening infection that spreads throughout your body.

Will a tooth abscess go away with antibiotics?

When you are suffering from a tooth infection, you may want an easy solution, such as a course of antibiotics. However, antibiotics won’t cure your tooth infection. Oral bacterial infections cause abscesses, which are small pockets of pus and dead tissue in the mouth.

How common is death from tooth abscess?

A 2013 study published in the Journal of Endodontics looked at 61,000 hospitalizations for abscesses between 2000 and 2008, and found that 66 of those patients – or roughly one in 1,000 – died from the infection.

Is a tooth abscess an emergency?

Tooth abscess is absolutely a dental emergency. If you have a tooth abscess, you need to seek treatment immediately. Left untreated, abscess can lead to infection that spreads through the body causing serious and even life-threatening effects.

Will the ER pull teeth?

Not only can they not pull teeth in an emergency room, it is illegal for anyone other than a dentist to perform an emergency tooth extraction, emergency root canal or any other dental care.

What will the ER do for an abscessed tooth?

If you have a life-threatening abscessed tooth, you will need to visit an emergency dental clinic. ER doctors can prescribe you antibiotics and pain medications until you are able to book an appointment with your dentist for treatment. You can also take over-the-counter pain relievers if you have an extreme toothache.

Can Urgent Care drain a tooth abscess?

When you seek urgent care for tooth abscess, your dentist will treat it or refer you to an endodontist, a specialist who’s trained to work with abscessed teeth. The goal is to drain the infection and try to save the tooth.

How do you get rid of a swollen face from a tooth infection?

How can you care for yourself at home?

1. Reduce pain and swelling in your face and jaw by putting ice or a cold pack on the outside of your cheek. Do this for 10 to 20 minutes at a time.
2. Take pain medicines exactly as directed.
3. Take antibiotics as directed. Do not stop taking them just because you feel better.