Can tooth decay cause a fever?

Toothache is an unpleasant symptom, which in most cases indicates the development of a pathological process. Sometimes it can be accompanied by fever, and then the question arises: does fever occur with dental caries. We will answer this question in the article.

Mechanism of caries development

Caries, according to experts, is the most common disease in the world, occurring in more than 90% of the world's population. Despite this, many people have only a superficial knowledge of tooth decay. Therefore, questions often arise about possible symptoms of the disease, in particular, whether the temperature can rise with caries. To understand, let’s first consider what the carious process is. Essentially, this is the slow destruction of a tooth under the influence of various factors, the main ones of which are oral bacteria and carbohydrate foods.

Microbes with cariogenic effects feed on sugars and convert them into acids, which cause destruction of dental tissue. If a person does not remove plaque (colonies of bacteria on teeth) well and at the same time eats a lot of carbohydrates, he creates favorable conditions for the development of caries.

This pathological process in most cases develops gradually. Acids first attack the enamel, then penetrate the dentin, damaging the dental tissues deeper and deeper. If caries is not cured in time and the deep spread of pathology is not stopped, sooner or later caries will develop into pulpitis or periodontitis. These are severe conditions in which the tissues of the pulp (neurovascular bundle) and periodontal tissue (they surround the tooth) become inflamed.

Alveolitis sockets

Even after the tooth itself has been removed, problems may arise. But this is normal, the pain may last for two more days after removal. If the operation was complex, the pain will last a week, gradually fading away. When the temperature rises, this indicates that the tooth socket is inflamed due to infection, alveolitis.

The blood clot may break if the rules of conduct during recovery prescribed by the doctor are not followed. Although compliance with all the rules does not guarantee preservation from complications. The latter can occur, for example, in the case of a patient’s reduced immunity or medical errors.

Symptoms of alveolitis: temperature rises to 39; intense pain where the tooth was removed; gray plaque at the site of the hole; putrid odor from the mouth; swelling on the face; lymph nodes are enlarged.

What are the symptoms of caries?

Symptoms of caries directly depend on its stage, that is, on how deep the damage is.

Spot stage.

The earliest stage of caries development is practically asymptomatic. Nothing bothers the person, there is no hole in the tooth, but the process of demineralization of the enamel has already begun. This is indicated by a small white spot. Of course, at the early stage of caries the temperature does not rise.

Superficial caries.

This is the stage when a hole appears in the tooth, but it is still concentrated in the enamel area and has not spread to the dentin. The doctor can easily detect a defect in the tooth surface during a visual examination. At this stage, pain may occur in response to irritants (hot or cold, sweet or salty food), and the sensitivity of tooth enamel may increase. Body temperature is normal.

Average caries.

It is characterized by periodic pain and a carious cavity, which is easy to feel even with the tongue. As in earlier stages, with average caries the temperature does not rise.

Deep caries.

This is the latest stage of the carious process. The bottom of the carious cavity is located in close proximity to the pulp, the sensitive part of the tooth. Therefore, a person feels acute pain and discomfort while eating. Pain also occurs during a dental examination using a probe. Although deep caries is the most advanced form of the disease, even this stage is not characterized by an increase in temperature.

Thus, with ordinary caries the temperature should not rise. However, complications of an advanced carious process can lead to such a symptom.

At what age does pulpitis occur in children?

Development of pulpitis

Some parents believe that a small child cannot develop caries, not to mention pulpitis. They think that a newly erupted tooth is protected from disease, so they do not examine the child’s mouth or take him to the dentist.

However, children's teeth are actually very susceptible to disease. The risk of developing pulpitis is especially high in cases where the child is often given sweets, but even if you do not overfeed the baby with sugar, his teeth can still get sick.

Even at two years old, pulpitis can affect the front milk teeth. But at 3–4 years of age, caries and pulpitis most often affect the posterior chewing teeth, while the anterior teeth remain virtually unaffected by inflammation.

The danger of fever due to toothache

Thus, if toothache and other dental symptoms are accompanied by an increase in temperature, in most cases these are indicators of pulpitis or periodontitis. Without treatment, these diseases can be dangerous because the infection will spread to other organs. Therefore, if an adult or a child’s body temperature rises during toothache, you should immediately consult a doctor.

How to rinse your teeth when they hurt?

Rinsing cannot replace full treatment, but it will help alleviate the patient’s condition for a short period of time. For rinsing you can use:

furatsilin solution, which can be slightly warmed before use;
a solution of baking soda, to which you can add a pinch of table salt;
if there is severe inflammation of the gums, you can (in the absence of other means for rinsing) use an alcohol solution or vodka.

To prevent toothache from taking you by surprise, visit the dentist on time.

Why does the temperature rise after caries treatment?

Sometimes a slight increase in temperature is observed after treatment of the carious process. Most often this happens in the following cases:

After a complex invasive procedure, such as root canal cleaning. This is how the body reacts to interference.
In case of infection (after therapy for purulent periodontitis with a cyst or granuloma). An infectious process can occur due to unprofessional treatment, as well as if the patient does not follow the dentist’s recommendations after the procedure.

Severe stress. It's no secret that even some adults are afraid to have their teeth treated, and a natural reaction to stress can be an increase in body temperature.
Sometimes an elevated temperature is nothing more than a symptom of an incipient ARVI, which simply coincided with a visit to the dentist.

If you have a fever after treatment for caries or another dental problem, you should pay attention to your general condition. If you feel normal, if the thermometer does not show above 38°, you can wait a couple of days until the temperature returns to normal. If this does not happen on the third day, you should consult a doctor.

You cannot postpone a visit to the dentist if the temperature is very high (38.5-40 degrees), there is general weakness, headache, inflammation of the lymph nodes, severe pain in the area of the treated tooth, redness and swelling of the gums. Such symptoms may indicate a progressive inflammatory process.

Consumer reviews about Asepta Active mouthwash

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Sources:

The role of anti-inflammatory rinse in the treatment of periodontal diseases (L.Yu. Orekhova, A.A. Leontyev, S.B. Ulitovsky) L.Yu. OREKHOVA, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Prof., Head of Department; A.A. LEONTIEV, dentist; S.B. ULITOVSKY, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Prof. Department of Therapeutic Dentistry of St. Petersburg State Medical University named after. acad. I. P. Pavlova
Report on clinical trials of anti-inflammatory balm for gums "Asepta" adhesive, St. Petersburg State Medical University, 2007
Report on determining/confirming the preventive properties of commercially produced personal oral hygiene products: Asepta toothpaste used in combination with Asepta mouthwash and Asepta gum balm Head. Department of PFS Doctor of Medical Sciences Professor S.B. Ulitovsky St. Petersburg State Medical University named after Academician I.P. Pavlova. Faculty of Dentistry. Department of Preventive Dentistry.

Periostitis

If you start periodontitis and do not start treatment on time, an even more serious complication may arise - periostitis. In this case, the periosteum and jaw bones become inflamed. Abscesses form and purulent inflammation develops. Pus comes out of the abscess through the fistulous tract. Symptoms of periostitis are as follows:

acute toothache;
temperature increase;
facial tissues swell greatly on one side;
weakness from intoxication;
the pain radiates beyond the affected area - to the temples, ears, neck, eyes.

Important ! If periostitis develops, the gums swell not only around the affected tooth, but also around nearby teeth.

Treatment methods for periostitis

Under no circumstances should you self-medicate and the patient should immediately go to an emergency dental care center. There they determine how the treatment will be carried out - surgically or conservatively.

With the surgical method, a purulent abscess on the gum is operated on and the contents are drained; In order to avoid the accumulation of pus, drainage is installed. The actions are carried out under local anesthesia.

Important ! If the tooth is too damaged and conservative treatment does not help, extraction is performed. If the condition of the tooth and adjacent tissues allows, the canals are cleaned and a filling is placed.

During the rehabilitation period, physiotherapy is prescribed and antibiotics are prescribed.

Otitis media

Fever and toothache do not always occur only with pathologies associated with teeth. Sometimes they appear due to otitis media. The area of the tympanic cavity in the middle ear becomes inflamed. This happens due to various infections - for example, ARVI.

Symptoms: