DENTAL EMERGENCIES

Unfortunately, any infection in the tooth or the jaw bone doesn't go away entirely until the source of the infection is removed. The simple explanation is the lack of adequate blood flow to the teeth to carry a concentration of antibiotics strong enough to remove the infection entirely. A course of antibiotics can help reduce the infection temporarily but a definitive treatment, usually a root canal or tooth removal is needed to remove the tooth infection or abscess completely.

If not treated promptly, a tooth abscess can spread to adjacent areas causing swelling of the face and neck also known as cellulitis. If the swelling reaches the throat area, it will cause difficulty swallowing and even breathing which can be life-threatening.

There have been instances of patients dying from suffocation due to severe infection and swelling which started off as a simple tooth abscess. If you have difficulty swallowing or breathing, it is a LIFE-THREATENING EMERGENCY and you should call 911.

The way salt water helps with infection is by rupturing the cell walls of bacteria when it comes in contact with it. It can help with very low-grade infection of the gums where salt water can permeate into the infection directly. Saltwater rinses cannot help with abscesses of the teeth as they cannot reach inside the bone where the abscess is usually located.

A tooth abscess is an infection which cannot heal on its own entirely even with antibiotics. It is never recommended to leave any area of infection in the body untreated as the bacteria can spread through the blood into other organs of the body such as the heart, liver, and kidneys. Or it can spread into the face and throat causing life-threatening emergencies.