Have you been ignoring a nagging toothache? There’s a chance a tooth infection can spread to the brain and turn into a life-threatening condition.
Tooth or dental infections occur when bacteria attack your tooth pulp and begin to spread to the surrounding tissues. The symptoms of dental infection often include toothache, bad breath, swollen gums, pus discharge from the gums, and discoloration.
Is Tooth Infection Serious?
In its early stages, tooth infection isn’t a serious health concern. However, it can have a significant effect on your comfort as it causes sensitivity or pain. The infected tooth pulp may swell and exert pressure on the external tooth. This causes a toothache (pain).
If the infection isn’t treated, it can spread to the surrounding tissues and other parts of your body. This can be life-threatening, especially when it spreads to your respiratory system, brain, or heart. This happens when the bacteria (from dental abscesses) enter the bloodstream.
Tooth Infection Spread to the Brain: Symptoms
When a dental infection reaches your brain, it often shows in different ways. Here are the signs a tooth infection has reached your brain.
Sudden and Severe Headache
You’ll experience a deep headache when the infection reaches your brain. The pain may seem to affect one side of the brain and doesn’t go away even after taking normal medicine. It feels like pressure on your head that will get worse with time. Remember, this isn’t the mild headache you may have experienced before.
Neck Stiffness
Your neck may be painful and feel stiff when turning from side to side. A stiff neck happens when an infection has spread into the spinal area and into the brain. Neck stiffness limits movement and causes discomfort when you try to perform simple tasks.
Fever & Chills
High fever occurs when your body is fighting an infection. If you have a high fever and drops to chills suddenly, and you feel weak, the chances are the infection has become serious. That means the tooth infection may be spreading to your brain.
Nausea & Vomiting
Once the tooth infection reaches your brain, your body may react in different ways. For instance, you may begin to experience strong nausea and eventually vomiting. Seek immediate medical attention if you have a tooth infection and suddenly start vomiting.
Unexplained Change in Your Mental Status
Other signs that an infection may have spread to your brain include difficulty thinking clearly, acting confused, and unexplained sleepiness. Strange behavior, memory issues, and slow responsiveness may also occur.
What to do when a Tooth Infection spreads to the Brain?
If you have a tooth infection and notice any of the symptoms discussed, seek immediate medical attention. Quick medical intervention can stop the infection from worsening. If not treated, a tooth infection that has spread to the brain can be fatal.