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HWN Suggests

Can tooth infections lead to death?

The idea that tooth decay can be life threatening may seem absurd at first, but there's evidence to suggest that what goes on inside your mouth may have far-reaching implications for your whole body health. One of the most widely believed connections is that between poor oral health and heart disease. This long acknowledged potential relationship was further cemented by a 2015 study published in the Journal of Periodontology, which found a solid link between less than stellar oral hygiene and hypertension (high blood pressure), itself a well-known risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). CVD is the leading cause of death in the U.S.

There are a couple of theories that…

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Featured

 Hidden tooth infections may predispose people to heart disease

An infection of the root tip of a tooth increases the risk of coronary artery disease, even if the infection is symptomless.

 It’s time to break down the wall between dentistry and medicine

Ever since the first dental school was founded in the United States in 1840, dentistry and medicine have been taught as — and viewed as — two separate professions. That artificial division is bad for the public’s health. It’s time to bring the mouth back into the body.

Articles of Interest

Infection Outbreak Shines Light On Water Risks At Dentists Offices

When people go to the dentist, they generally expect to leave in better health than when they walked in. But the water that dentists use to rinse teeth sometimes carries infectious bacteria.

Can Your Toothbrush Make You Sick?

Not from a cold you already had.

Common Dental Infections in the Primary Care Setting

Family physicians commonly encounter patients with dental infections, such as dental caries and periodontal disease. Dental caries is caused by bacteria that destroy the enamel and dentin; it can be detected by an oral examination that shows stained pits or fissures on the tooth surface. Use of fluoride is the most effective prevention measure for dental caries.

Dirty dentists putting patients at risk of infection

An analysis reveals that of the 1,667 dental practices inspected by the CQC last year, 189 were found to not be following Department of Health instructions on how to clean instruments and surgeries. Some 8,100 dentists are registered in England.

How gum disease in pregnant women poses a risk to their newborns

Women who develop severe mouth infections and suffer from bleeding gums when they are pregnant have a greater chance of delivering their babies preterm if they don’t treat the infection.

Oral Infections Causing More Hospitalizations

Studies have shown that dental problems account for hundreds of thousands of emergency room visits each year. The new analysis, published in the September issue of the Journal of Endodontics, focused on patients who had to be hospitalized because of an infection of the tip of the tooth’s root, called a periapical abscess. It is a common consequence of untreated tooth decay, and it can be dangerous if it spreads.

Oral Infections Causing More Hospitalizations

“To call this an epidemic of dental infections we are seeing in major hospital environments and in our emergency rooms — it’s not an overstatement,” Dr. Wong said.

Systemic Diseases Caused by Oral Infection

Recently, it has been recognized that oral infection, especially periodontitis, may affect the course and pathogenesis of a number of systemic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, bacterial pneumonia, diabetes mellitus, and low birth weight.

Wisdom of Having That Tooth Removed

In 2005, a review by the respected Cochrane Collaboration said the number of extractions could be reduced by 60 percent if they were done only when patients were in pain or developed a condition related to wisdom teeth. The group also said there is “reliable evidence” that suggests that removing wisdom teeth does not prevent or reduce crowding of front teeth.

Resources

Antibiotic Therapy

Empiric therapy

StatPearls

Dental infections are infections that originate at the tooth or its supporting structures and can spread to the surrounding tissue. Dental infections have always been common and were one of the leading causes of death hundreds of years ago.

Abscessed Tooth

Common symptoms of a dental abscess include swelling, pain when chewing, a constant toothache or a dull, constant throb associated with the tooth.

Merck Manual

Summary of conditions that develop from dental caries or trauma including various types of inflammation and infection.