4 Unusual Symptoms Of An Abscessed Tooth
If you have an abscessed tooth, you may have the usual symptoms of pain, swelling, and difficulty chewing. While these are the most common manifestations of an infected tooth, there are other, less obvious symptoms that may also be related to your oral infection. If you develop any of the following, see your dentist who can determine if you have an abscessed tooth:
Facial Numbness And Tingling
A tooth abscess can be so extensive that it can affect the cranial nerves, including the facial nerve. This is especially true with long-standing, untreated, or smoldering infections, or those resistant to antibiotic therapy. If you notice numbness and tingling of the forehead, cheek, or chin your tooth may be to blame.
You may not recognize the correlation between facial symptoms and oral health because abscesses are not always painful. If your tooth infection has damaged the pulp or root of your tooth, pain may be absent. Numbness and tingling of the face related to a tooth abscess typically resolve once a full course of antibiotics have been taken.
Sometimes, however, nerve damage may take months or years to resolve, and occasionally, the effects are permanent. If you develop facial symptoms as a result of your infection, your dentist may refer you to a neurologist for further evaluation and treatment. In addition to numbness and tingling of the face, an abscessed tooth may also lead to spasms of your jaw muscle, explains Patient.
Sore Throat
A sore throat is another potential symptom of an abscess. When your tooth is infected, bacteria-containing purulent discharge may seep out of your tooth or gum line, and drip down into your throat. The microorganisms responsible for your tooth infection may cause a severe sore throat, difficulty swallowing, redness, and inflammation.
If your sore throat is not accompanied by other symptoms of a cold or flu, your tooth may be the culprit. Antibiotics will help alleviate your sore throat; however, in cases where the abscess is severe, tooth extraction may be your only choice.
Bad Taste In Mouth
Extensive tooth infections sometimes lead to the development of pus around the gum line and under the affected tooth. The result may be a very unpleasant taste in your mouth which may still persist despite optimal oral care. The bad taste is often more noticeable when chewing or biting down, but can occur at any time.
If you notice a foul taste in your mouth, or if you have a new onset of bad breath, see your dentist. In addition to oral antibiotics, you may be prescribed an oral microbial rinse that will help treat both the tooth infection and resultant bad taste in your mouth.
Cold Symptoms
Other unusual symptoms of a tooth abscess include nasal congestion, runny nose, sinus pressure, watery eyes, and post nasal drip. You are more likely to develop these symptoms if your infected tooth is one of your top molars. The infection can channel its way into your nasal passages, producing symptoms identical to the rhinovirus or chronic sinusitis.
If your symptoms last longer than normal, visit your physician and dentist to determine if a tooth infection is the cause. Antibiotic therapy, root canal, or tooth extraction will be recommended, depending upon the source and extent of your infection.
If you develop any of the above symptoms, with or without tooth pain, see your dentist. The sooner an abscessed tooth is diagnosed and treated, the less likely you are to experience nerve damage, systemic infection, tooth loss, or jaw pain. Early treatment will help stave off an extensive infection; however, even if dental intervention is sought during the earliest stages of the abscess, the aforementioned complications may still arise.