Dangers Of An Abscessed Tooth

Dr. Jay Jorgensen D.D.S.

You woke up in the morning, put your clothes on and went to take your small breakfast. Everything seemed to be the same except an unpleasant feeling in your oral cavity accompanied by a general discomfort. You went to the bathroom, found a mirror and opened the mouth.

That moment you realized what was the cause of the pain you had had while chewing, the cause of that bitter taste in the mouth, the sudden and unknown sensitivity of the teeth to hot and cold, and that unpleasant bad breath that could be easily felt the first moments of that day.

Dentists call it “tooth abscess“. At first abscess looks like a swelled area that turned red. It hurts and you can feel how the temperature increased. Abscess usually appears when a tooth cracks or develops a deep cavity and the pulp is exposed.

Then bacteria invades the center of the tooth and the pulp starts to die. As the tooth infection progresses, pockets of pus form at the root of the tooth. Sometimes a patient will not even know abscessed tooth exists until he has a routine exam and x-ray.

An abscessed tooth must be treated. If it is ignored then complications are inevitable. Here are some of really frequent dangers of tooth abscess:

1. Loss of the tooth –  It is a painful process and you need to avoid it.

2. Spread of infection to the jaw bone – mandible or maxilla are strongly effected by abscessed tooth infection.

3. Spread of infection to soft tissue – tooth abscess can cause facial cellulite or Ludwig’s angina, a rare disease that is accompanied by fever, deviation of the pharyngeal walls, an impending airway disaster, including muffled voice, inability to tolerate secretions, and protruding tongue.

4. Sinusitis – any infection or inflammation of the sinus cavities behind the nose and eyes. Symptoms vary according to which sinus cavity is infected.

5. Brain abscess – this very important organ is situated close to the infected area. Tooth abscess and abscesses in and around the nasal sinuses, face, ears, and scalp may work their way into the brain.

6. Blood infection – the blood flow increases to the trouble area. If the abscess ruptures into neighboring areas or permits the infectious agent to spill into the bloodstream, serious or fatal consequences are likely. It is called blood poisoning – a term commonly used to describe an infection that has spilled into the blood stream and spread throughout the body from a localized origin. Blood poisoning, known to physicians as septicemia, is also life threatening. In this case important organs are affected like heart, for example.

7. Death – indubitable it is the worst and dangerous complication of abscessed tooth and it must be avoided.

Now you know that the abscessed tooth danger is big enough and next time when you feel uneasiness and dental pain, you should not ignore it and pay us a visit. This reduces the risk of tooth abscess and eases you from its dangers.


760-323-2771

Cavities Are Preventable

Dr. Jay Jorgensen D.D.S.

Cavities are preventable and caused by certain types of bacteria (germs) that live in your mouth.  Bacteria stick to the film on your teeth called plaque. The bacteria feed on what you eat, especially sugars (including fruit sugars) and cooked starch (bread, potatoes, rice, pasta, etc.).  About 5 minutes after you eat, or drink, the bacteria begin making acid as they digest your food.  This acid can break down the tooth’s outer surface and dissolve valuable minerals that protect your teeth.  The result is cavities. 

You are not born with the bacteria that cause cavities. These bacteria are usually transferred to you at a young age by your primary care taker, most often your mother.  To reduce the chances of passing the bacteria to your children, avoid sharing utensils, straws or other items that may have saliva on them.    


How to Prevent Decay 
• Brush your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste 
• Clean between teeth daily with floss 
• Eat a balanced diet and limit between-meal snacking 
• Visit us regularly for professional cleanings and exams  
• Ask us about:  
Dental sealants
Xylitol gum and mints  
Fluoride treatments including varnish 


Call us today: 760-323-2771

Dental Care May Prevent Heart Attacks

Dr. Jay Jorgensen D.D.S

How can teeth, a part of the body so relatively insignificant, that it can even be pulled out almost at will, have an effect on one of the most important and almost irreplaceable body parts – the heart?

For decades, most scientists and reflexology practitioners have argued how each part of your body is connected to others, and how proper treatment of some of the most unnoticed body parts can have huge benefits on the most invaluable ones. Being one of the most complex systems in the world it is invariable that there are little known links within the body.

This is true when it comes to teeth as well. Professor Howard Jenkinson of the Bristol University, along with the Royal College of Surgeons, has identified the link between poor dental health and heart disease through their studies.

The risks of poor dental care

The mouth has almost 700 different types of bacteria living in it. Some bacteria are the harmful kind. But, there are harmless bacteria as well. These bacteria help in breaking down food particles. Every time you eat, drink or even open your mouth the numbers of bacteria in your mouth increase. Through regular brushing and proper dental care the bacteria are kept under control.

However, improper dental care can result in gum infections, gingivitis and similar oral diseases. This causes the harmful bacteria to enter the blood stream. Streptococcus gordonii and Streptococcus sanguinis are some of the bacteria causing oral infections. Such bacteria have been identified to be factors resulting in heart disease.

How to prevent heart disease

It has been the case that certain antibiotics do not seem to work against heart disease. It is possible that oral bacteria could be the reason. Professor Jenkinson and Dr Steve Kerringan are working to find a solution to this. Until such time, prevention of oral diseases and maintaining proper dental hygiene and care is the best possible method in protecting yourself.

Regular brushing, especially after meals, is the main method of keeping mouth disease at bay. Protection can be further enhanced by the use of dental care products such as anti-bacterial sprays and mouthwash. This will help to prevent against oral bacterial diseases. In turn, this would also protect against one of the causes of heart attacks.

Dr. Jay Jorgensen D.D.S. 760-323-2771