110 Can a Tooth Infection Spread to the Jaw

Can a Tooth Infection Spread to the Jaw?

A tooth infection is bad enough on its own. It’s painful and can lead to serious oral health issues. You may end up needing to replace part of your tooth, and you even may end up requiring an extraction. It becomes even more problematic when the tooth infection spreads lower…into your jawbone.

Can a Tooth Infection Spread to the Jaw?
Yes! While people often don’t think about their jawbone when they think about a tooth infection, a severe infection can continue to spread downward and into the jawbone. This makes the infection even more dangerous and harder to treat. It’s very important to have a tooth infection treated before it gets to this stage.

What Are the Symptoms
If you are concerned about your tooth infection and you are wondering if it has reached your jaw, consider the symptoms below:
* Swelling
* Redness
* Fever
* Drainage of pus
* Pain in the jaw or mouth
If you are experiencing some or all of these symptoms, set an immediate appointment with your dentist. Don’t wait around for your next checkup or hope it goes away on its own. It won’t. The infection needs to be addressed as soon as possible.

Other Reasons for Jaw Pain
If you are experiencing jaw pain, it may be a result of a jawbone infection. It also may not be. There are a variety of reasons for jaw pain. Some of these include:
* Bruxism
* Poor jaw alignment
* Injury
* And more
It’s only by visiting the dentist that you can get the issue properly diagnosed and treated. Reach out to your dentist and set an appointment if you have jaw pain.

Avoiding Jaw Pain
Jaw pain can be avoided. Below are a few things that you can do to decrease your chances of jaw pain or avoid it entirely:
* Sleep with a mouthguard. A very common cause of jaw pain is bruxism. This is the grinding and clenching of your teeth. While it can happen during the day, most often it happens at night. This makes it difficult to diagnose without a trip to the dentist. If you are experiencing jaw pain, consider purchasing a mouthguard to place in your mouth when you sleep at night.
* Lower your stress levels. Bruxism is often caused by high levels of stress. Consider meditation, mindfulness practices, and even therapy to help address your stress levels.
* Take good care of your oral health. In order to avoid an infection, make sure you take proper care of your oral health. This means brushing, flossing, and rinsing twice a day, every day. You also need to visit your dentist twice a year for cleanings and checkups.

Reach Out to Your Dentist
If you are experiencing jaw pain, set an appointment with your dentist immediately. They will take a look at your jawbone and teeth to see what the root cause is. They will then put together a plan of action to resolve the issue.