A bone infection after tooth extraction is a dangerous ailment. If not treated, a patient can go into sepsis. Sepsis is an infection caused by anything (virus, bacterial, fungal) that enters the bloodstream and can impair flow to the vital organs in your system.
What Should You Do If You Get an Infection After a Tooth Extraction? Avoid relying on natural remedies for a suspected tooth infection. Though some mouth rinses can provide short-term relief, you need to see your dentist as soon as possible to have the infection drained and treated with an antibiotic.
The chances of infection after the tooth extraction are low.
Unfortunately, if a significant portion of your tooth is infected, the optimal option is to eradicate the infection from your mouth by extracting the tooth and completing the entire course of antibiotics recommended by the dentist to eliminate the infection from your jaw.
Signs of bacteremia could be slight fever, nausea and distal infection. Rarely, bacteremia may resolve on its own. It also may progress into septicemia, a more serious blood infection that is always accompanied by symptoms such as chills, high fever, rapid heartbeat, severe nausea, vomiting and confusion.
Some patients can benefit from taking antibiotics after tooth extraction, but it is not necessary for everyone. The decision to take antibiotics after tooth extraction should be made by a healthcare provider who knows your medical history.
A persistently high fever, dizziness, lightheadedness, a rapid heart rate, shortness of breath, confusion, and digestive problems are potential signs of sepsis and should be treated as a medical emergency.
The socket will heal and get better on its own. However, contracting a bacterial infection is a potential complication following a tooth extraction. People with symptoms that indicate an infection, such as pus from the socket, should seek treatment, even if the affected area is not painful.
You may see white or yellow pus form after extraction. Pus indicates that there is an infection. Other signs of infection include: Persistent swelling.
Continued Swelling: While swelling and redness are common following an extraction, if they last longer than 24 hours, contact your dentist. Pus Discharge: If yellow or white pus discharges in the area of the empty socket or surrounding areas in the mouth, you may have an infection.
Tooth infections that have traveled to the jawbone can lead to severe dental abscesses and jawbone infections. Osteomyelitis in the jaw causes persistent pain, jaw stiffness, swelling, and tenderness. Additionally, bacterial infections of the teeth can also spread to the bloodstream and cause sepsis.
Penicillin-type drugs are common forms of antibiotics for tooth infections. This includes penicillin and amoxicillin. Some dentists may also recommend amoxicillin with clavulanic acid, which a person can get under the brand name Augmentin. This combination may help eliminate more stubborn bacteria.
In most cases, the pain or discomfort should have subsided after 7 to 10 days.
If, due to any reason, you still see an empty socket in the gums after tooth removal, immediately see your dentist. Slow healing or frequent dry sockets can increase the chances of infection development. Along with that, expect excruciating pain and discomfort.
Rinsing the mouth with warm salt water can help reduce bacteria and swelling. It can also flush out any food particles from the socket. Keeping this area clean can reduce pain and lower the risk of infection.
As sepsis worsens or septic shock develops, an early sign, particularly in older people or the very young, may be confusion or decreased alertness. Blood pressure decreases, yet the skin is paradoxically warm. Later, extremities become cool and pale, with peripheral cyanosis and mottling.
Early symptoms of sepsis may include: a high temperature (fever) or low body temperature. chills and shivering. a fast heartbeat.
Amoxicillin's role in preventing infections
Several studies have proved that Amoxicillin's use (as a prophylactic antibiotic) can reduce the chances of infection post tooth extraction. Amoxicillin is cost-effective and works with significantly fewer adverse effects.
The most common antibiotics for a tooth infection include amoxicillin, penicillin, azithromycin, clindamycin, cephalexin, and metronidazole. Antibiotics have to be prescribed by a healthcare provider, such as a dentist. You may be able to get a prescription more quickly via a telehealth visit.
Antibiotics work relatively quickly to resolve tooth infections and control symptoms. If you follow your healthcare provider's instructions, the effects of antibiotics should take effect within a few days.
Sepsis following a bacterial infection from a dental condition or treatment is rare. However, it can be a life-threatening condition if patients are not managed appropriately. It is therefore essential providers and their teams are aware of the signs and symptoms of sepsis and how it should be managed.
In rarer cases—usually when the abscess is left untreated—a tooth infection can spread. Dental infections often spread locally. However, if the abscessed tooth isn't treated, the infection can continue to spread to other areas of your body and potentially cause sepsis, a life-threatening medical condition.