Treat Oral Infections Early to Prevent Serious Health Consequences

oral infection exam Cincinnati

“It’s just sore, it will go away.”
“I’m too busy right now, I’ll take my child to the dentist later.”
“A little sensitivity is no big deal.”

There has been a lot of talk about viral infections lately. In this article, we concentrate on oral infections.

There are many causes of oral infections. In kids, they are usually caused by decay.

The teeth become sensitive to cold drinks. A tooth develops a dull ache. The child may have difficulty describing where the pain is coming from.

A sore on the gums doesn’t heal. An injured tooth darkens. Pain begins in the lower sinus area.

This is definitely not one of the scenarios where the “ignore it and it will go away” mentality is a good idea.

The dangers of ignoring oral infections

There are hazardous consequences of postponing treatment. Oral infections can destroy teeth, gums, and jawbone and even lead to life-threatening sepsis.

In centuries past, tooth decay-related infection was a leading cause of death.

Possible symptoms of an oral infection

An oral infection doesn’t always bring about pain. Bad breath, fever, swelling in the gums, glands, or jaw, or a strange taste in the mouth can indicate the presence of an infection.

Treat oral infections early

If an infection is caught and treated early, there may be no additional dilemmas. However, usually, the infection is the result of a dental dilemma that needs to be treated. If the infection is caused by tooth decay, the decay will have to be removed and the tooth filled. If the decay has penetrated to the pulp of the tooth, a root canal may be necessary.

The infection may be caused by a pocket of undrained pus called an abscess. Pus is a by-product of the immune system’s efforts to resist infection and consists of dead white blood cells.

Mouth sores have various causes including an infection or virus. White patches in the mouth can indicate thrush (an oral yeast infection). All of these conditions can be addressed—but you need to see your dentist.

Contact Pediatric Dental Center:

5495 N Bend Rd Ste 102
Burlington, Kentucky 41005

Phone: 859-534-5640

220 Thomas More Pkwy
Crestview Hills, KY 41017
Phone: 859-341-3012

418 Cross Roads Blvd
Cold Spring, KY 41076
Phone: 859-341-3012

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