General Question

idream3r's avatar

Can someone die from a infected tooth?

Asked by idream3r (439points) January 23rd, 2017

I had a root canal done on my teeth about a year ago. Unfortunately it got infected. To the point that the back portion of my tooth broke off. The root canal was in between 2 teeth. The gums is pushing through the teeth as well so I have to get it extracted now.

Was about to when I got pain on another tooth on the other side of my mouth. I went to the dentist on Saturday where they told me the tooth is infected. I have no insurance and little money. The cost to save the tooth was about $3,500. I decided to just pull the tooth for $400. Its all the way in the back so it won’t be noticed. The procedure will be done tomorrow. After that I have to find some money to get the 2 teeth with the root canal extracted as well.

I heard people have died due to an infected tooth. When the bacteria spreads to the brain or lungs or heart. I heard it is very rare, however I am still pretty scared. I am scared the infection has already started spreading. But since my dentist made no mention of it after seeing the xrays I doubt it has.

After I get this tooth extracted I will save up money to get the 2 with the root canal extracted as well. I am planning to borrow some money to get an x ray done on all my teeth just to make sure there is not any more issues. I have been rinsing my mouth recently with salt water and hydrogen peroxide which I heard helps prevent bacteria from spreading. I am in pretty good shape just suffer from a bit of anxiety. Should I be worried? I really don’t want to die due to a tooth infection.

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20 Answers

Cruiser's avatar

First off if I felt my life was on the line I would not be asking for advice here especially in Social. If you want responses as serious as can be afforded here, ask this in General. Perhaps the Mods could help out and move this to General.

That said as far as I have read, poor dental hygiene has been connected overall health issues as you have stated. I would not panic but do consult with the Dr./Dentist you are having the tooth extraction with as to where this journey could lead you in the long run. Bad teeth are IMHO reflective of a greater neglect of ones health overall. I doubt this will kill you straight away but maybe just a wakeup call for you.

Tropical_Willie's avatar

Yes get to dentist, tooth infection and gum disease can and do cause heart problems (includes inflammation of heart valves) or kidney infection that can put you on dialysis forever.

kritiper's avatar

I believe many people in the past died of tooth problems, abscesses in general.

Darth_Algar's avatar

He didn’t prescribe you a course of antibiotics?

idream3r's avatar

@Cruiser Thanks, yeah I went to dentist on Saturday and will go back tomorrow for the extraction. I will also have him evaluate the rest of my teeth to make sure their aren’t and more issues. Hopefully its just a wake up call as you mentioned.

@Tropical_Willie Thanks, hopefully things get better after this, don’t want this to cause long term issues

@kritiper Thanks, Yeah, I have heard which makes me quite worried. Also the reason why I want to get this taken care of as quickly as possible to avoid further complications.

@Darth_Algar Thanks, They did, however I don’t think the order has reached my Pharmacy yet. I will make sure to call tomorrow.

LornaLove's avatar

I think you are really anxious. I get like that and blow it all out of proportion. For sure infected teeth have to be attended to. It is very important. However, if you looked at some of the teeth here in Britain you’d probably calm down, since loads are rotten, black, broken and probably infected yet the people are still walking around it appears.
Plus, you are going to get it sorted tomorrow? Ask for an antibiotic too. Good luck and I hope you feel better soon.

johnpowell's avatar

Whoa whoa whoa.

I’m not going to get into your dental health stuff here. But there should be a public clinic that will do extractions. My mom just had a few done and it was 20 a tooth and they did the x-rays for free. I would call around if you just want extractions. 400 for a extraction is cray.

My normal dentist charges 80 for a extraction. 400 is just bonkers. You need to shop around.

edit :: I should add that I am in the United States.

JLeslie's avatar

Yes! Are you in a lot of pain? Usually, an infection that is deadly causes a lot of pain, but not necessarily. The upper teeth are more dangerous than the lower, but both are dangerous.

You sound coherent, I’m assuming you don’t have a high fever, and you are getting it taken care of tomorrow. Don’t panic, but you must cure the infection. If by day 4 of antibiotics the pain is not letting up you go get different drugs! Go to the emergency room if your dentist isn’t taking it seriously.

VenusFanelli's avatar

I think it possibly could. Don’t take any chances. See a dentist at once.

Pachy's avatar

Absolutely. I had an uncle who did. The infection migrated from an infected molar to his heart. It was a slow and painful illness, the cause of which his doctors did not understand until it was too late. This was decades ago—hopefully that diagnostic ability has improved.

Suggest you get yourself checked out immediately.

idream3r's avatar

@LornaLove Thank you, they ordered antibiotics which should arrive at my pharmacy soon. hope all goes well today.

@johnpowell Thank you, since it was so bad I went to the closest dental clinic just to get out the way. After I get this one done I will look for other options. I live in NYC.

@JLeslie Thank you, they ordered antibiotics just waiting for my pharmacy to get them. Been rinsing with warm salt water and hydrogen peroxide .The tooth will be extracted today, hopefully that should make things better. Planning to get a full mouth x ray as well to make sure my other teeth are good.

@VenusFanelli Thank you, saw one on Saturday, will go back today and get the tooth extracted.

@Pachy Thank you, sorry about your Uncle, really unfortunate. I went to the dentist on the weekend and will go back today to get the tooth extracted.

Judi's avatar

My husband worked with a dentist on a medical mission in Jamaica and they saved a guys life. His jaw was hugely swollen.
You won’t die if your under a dentists care and he at least gets you antibiotics. This guy who almost died had gone for a very long time with zero treatment.

JLeslie's avatar

^^You can die. Dentists underprescribe too often. ER doctors deal with it too often. My niece was given two different antibiotics not strong enough when a dentists botched her wisdom teeth being removed. It was very very bad. Finally the third one worked. She couldn’t move her jaw the infection was so bad. The dentist was incompetent and never should have done the surgery. Trailsillustrated helped us with it.

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RocketGuy's avatar

@Pachy is right – for some reason, bacteria from the jaw can migrate to the heart and cause heart problems. My step dad had to get his gingivitis cleared up before his cardiologist would agree to operate on him.

LornaLove's avatar

@idream3r Good luck, I know it is stressful (dental phobe here) but once it is over you can heave a sigh of relief.

zenvelo's avatar

Hope you got that tooth taken care of. A young man in Sacramento died from an infected tooth.

idream3r's avatar

UPDATE: Sorry for the late response.
@Judi @JLeslie @RocketGuy @LornaLove @zenvelo

Thank you all for the response’s and concern really appreciate it.
I got the tooth extracted and is healing pretty well. I was also given some antibiotics.
already setting up an appointment to take out another 2 which aren’t a severe case.
Have to lay of the sugar and start improving my dental hygiene.
Thank you all once again.

tommy78's avatar

You’d better go to a doctor to check your tooth, it can be dangerous and rather painful if you wait for too long. Hope you’ll feel better soon)

idream3r's avatar

@tommy78 Thank you very much, I got the tooth extracted and its healing fine.

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