How to Deal With The Symptoms and Dangers of a Dental Abscess ~ 6 Frightening Dangers to Prevent!

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How to Deal With The Symptoms and Dangers of a Dental Abscess
6 Frightening Dangers to Prevent!

It is not uncommon for people, especially those who don’t have dental plans, to forgo visits to the dentist.
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More often than not, they just ignore seemingly small problems concerning their oral health.
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However, there are dental emergencies that you can never ignore. The simple reason is that your problem could eventually get worse and become life-threatening. A dental abscess is one such condition.
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What is a dental abscess?

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This is a bacterial infection that affects the base or root of the tooth or the area between the tooth and the gums.
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A dental abscess is marked by a sore pocket of pus-filled tissue that is often painful.
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Lack of dental care and poor dental hygiene are usually blamed for the formation of a dental abscess. However, an additional culprit could be a diet high in sugar. Sugar, can cause cavities, which, when left untreated, give bacteria an entry point all the way to the root of the tooth.
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The symptoms of a dental abscess
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The most common symptom of a dental abscess is a continuous toothache which is often characterized by sharp, throbbing, and gnawing sensations.
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There is also pain when chewing or biting, as well as a sensitivity to hot and cold temperatures.

Swollen gums are also a common indicator of a dental abscess. The gums may be red and draining pus. .
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And since you’re suffering from an infection, the lymph nodes under your jaw or in your neck may also feel swollen and tender.
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A dental abscess can also make your breath smell foul, and the taste in your mouth bitter. In more severe cases, the swelling becomes big enough to be apparent on your face or cheek. You may also suffer from headaches, nausea, and fever.
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6 Dangers of An Untreated Dental Abscess

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A dental abscess is a condition that should be treated right away because it won’t heal without treatment. In fact, it could only get worse. Among the complications of an untreated dental abscess are:
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#1. Damaged jawbone
The infection could spread to and eventually damage the jawbone, which can also lead to tooth loss.
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#2. Cavernous sinus thrombosis
The bacteria from a dental abscess could spread and cause the formation of a blood clot in a large vein at the base of your brain. This rare condition is known as Cavernous sinus thrombosis, one in ten cases of which is estimated to have originated from a dental infection.
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#3. Sinus infection
The maxillary sinuses, which are situated behind your cheekbones, could become infected by bacteria from a dental abscess. While not serious, maxillary sinusitis can still cause pain, a feeling of tenderness across your cheeks, and fever.
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#4. Septicemia
This is a life-threatening condition that could arise out of a dental abscess. The bacteria from such an abscess could infect the entire bloodstream when one pocket ruptures. You are going to need long-term hospitalization and IV antibiotics when bacteria is circulating throughout the body.
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#5. Bacterial endocarditis
When bacteria from a ruptured dental abscess pocket enters the bloodstream, it will most likely reach the heart and cause endocarditis, a life-threatening condition in which the lining and the muscles of the heart muscle become inflamed.
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#6. Cancer
Several studies have shown that there is a possible link between chronic oral infections—which is what a dental abscess can be—and an increased risk of development of cancer.
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These are just a few of the reasons why you should never ignore a dental abscess. If you are suffering from one now, you should waste no time in scheduling a visit to the dentist before it’s too late.

Post by Ralph Gamboa
ralph@mybizniche.com