If You’re Getting Sick A Lot – Visit Your Family Dentist to Determine if You Have an Infection

Oral infections can go undiagnosed, making a trip to the family dentist extremely important.  If you feel as though you are sick all of the time, the best place to start is with a trip to the doctor.  If they can't figure out what is wrong or you keep feeling sick, come see the dentist.

An oral infection can make you sick just like any other type of infection.  You can run a fever, start to feel achy, get the chills and more.  This typically leads to a trip to the doctor's office as very few people associate these symptoms with an oral health issue.  If the doctor gives you antibiotics for your sickness and the symptoms keep returning, it could be because you have an oral infection that isn't going away.  Antibiotics alone can't solve the problem so this won't be enough.

As a family dentist, we will look for signs of an infection during every dental exam.  After your teeth have been cleaned, and the bacteria and plaque removed, it is easy to see if the tooth is infected or if you are showing signs of gum disease.  Both can become painful and lead to other feelings of being sick.  Our goal is to identify and treat infections right away so that you don't have to experience pain or discomfort.

If we identify any signs of gum disease, we will start by removing the bacteria that has built up underneath your gums.  This is the most likely cause of gum disease and once removed; your gums will start to heal themselves naturally.  If the disease has grown and spread, you may have pockets in your gum tissue.  This is particularly dangerous because it exposes your tooth structure and root system, making them more likely to become infected.  Once this point has been reached, a gum graft is necessary for closing the pockets and protecting your tooth.

When your tooth becomes infected, it can also lead to pain and create problems with your overall health.  A simple cavity creates minor discomfort but when the center of your tooth becomes infected, it can be painful and infect your roots.  If this happens, we will likely perform a root canal in order to remove the infected portion of your tooth and roots.  Afterwards, we will clean the area to remove any remaining infection, complete a filling, and place a temporary crown around the tooth.  Your permanent crown will protect the tooth and make it possible to bite down without pain.  Once the infection is removed, you will start to feel better.

The goal is to catch and treat any oral infections before they turn into a dental abscess.  This level of infection is painful, and surgery may be required in order to remove it.  As a family dentist, we want you to stay in excellent health so if your tooth hurts, or you are constantly sick, call us for a dental exam.