Catie McBain
Member
- Joined
- Nov 13, 2020
- Messages
- 86
- Location
- Northern California
Anytime I read about dental infections on this forum, it's usually the same thing. I read the professional replies and they say the infections usually don't spread, they usually don't become severe, they die off quickly because the immune system fights them off.
Well, here's my story.
Back in November of last year, I developed an infection in my wisdom teeth. I only have two, one on the bottom left and one on the top right. They came in normally and have plenty of room so they've never bothered me until recently. The crown broke off the left one a couple months ago, and the right one crumbled away to nothing, so I've only got roots left.
When I first started having symptoms, I didn't think much about it because it was mostly just an intermittent toothache. There was a moderate amount of pain, but it was nothing I couldn't tolerate. Then, after about a week, I started feeling feverish. I had trouble breathing, like my breathing was slow and labored. I had tightness in my chest, my heart rate was faster, and I started feeling out of it. Like my thoughts were slowed, I was sluggish mentally. Couldn't think too clearly or quickly. And, on top of that, I developed horrible stomach pain and nausea. I think that might have been due to the infection draining into my mouth and down into my stomach. And I just felt absolutely awful, all over my entire body. Just miserable, like something was really wrong.
When I got to the doctor, he gave me antibiotics, and within an hour or so after taking the first dose it started getting easier to breathe. Gradually I started breathing better, easier. It was the same way each time the infection came back. I would lay in bed, struggling for breath, and it wasn't until I started the antibiotics that I could breathe better.
So my question is did the infection spread and cause me to have these symptoms? I'm afraid of the infection spreading to my heart and lungs, or possibly developing sepsis. My wisdom tooth on the left side drains easily enough, though. Because when the crown broke off, it left a big hole in my gums that occasionally fills with pus and needs to be cleaned out. And I've heard that, supposedly, as long as it drains it doesn't get into your bloodstream and cause sepsis. But I don't know how much of that is true, so I thought I'd post here and ask.
Funny thing is, I saw my regular doctor today, and he doesn't seem to think it's a big deal. He acted like I don't even need to have my wisdom teeth removed because I'm not having any pain or symptoms right now. I know there's a bad taste and smell coming from that tooth on the left. That's the worst one. The one on the right rarely bothers me, and when it does, it's mild in comparison to the problems the other one gives me. But should I be concerned about this? Is this infection spreading quickly when it comes on? And if so, what're the chances that it'll keep spreading and get worse?
I'm honestly too afraid to have anything done about this right now. And I was told I couldn't have a consultation until April anyway. I'm trying to take good care of myself, eating well and taking vitamins and a lot of garlic, hoping it'll at least keep the infection from getting too severe if/when it comes back. For a while I feared that the infection would kill me, but I'm also afraid that the procedure could kill me due to my family's history of having negative reactions to anesthetic. So it's like I'm stuck here, just looking for some answers and advice.
Well, here's my story.
Back in November of last year, I developed an infection in my wisdom teeth. I only have two, one on the bottom left and one on the top right. They came in normally and have plenty of room so they've never bothered me until recently. The crown broke off the left one a couple months ago, and the right one crumbled away to nothing, so I've only got roots left.
When I first started having symptoms, I didn't think much about it because it was mostly just an intermittent toothache. There was a moderate amount of pain, but it was nothing I couldn't tolerate. Then, after about a week, I started feeling feverish. I had trouble breathing, like my breathing was slow and labored. I had tightness in my chest, my heart rate was faster, and I started feeling out of it. Like my thoughts were slowed, I was sluggish mentally. Couldn't think too clearly or quickly. And, on top of that, I developed horrible stomach pain and nausea. I think that might have been due to the infection draining into my mouth and down into my stomach. And I just felt absolutely awful, all over my entire body. Just miserable, like something was really wrong.
When I got to the doctor, he gave me antibiotics, and within an hour or so after taking the first dose it started getting easier to breathe. Gradually I started breathing better, easier. It was the same way each time the infection came back. I would lay in bed, struggling for breath, and it wasn't until I started the antibiotics that I could breathe better.
So my question is did the infection spread and cause me to have these symptoms? I'm afraid of the infection spreading to my heart and lungs, or possibly developing sepsis. My wisdom tooth on the left side drains easily enough, though. Because when the crown broke off, it left a big hole in my gums that occasionally fills with pus and needs to be cleaned out. And I've heard that, supposedly, as long as it drains it doesn't get into your bloodstream and cause sepsis. But I don't know how much of that is true, so I thought I'd post here and ask.
Funny thing is, I saw my regular doctor today, and he doesn't seem to think it's a big deal. He acted like I don't even need to have my wisdom teeth removed because I'm not having any pain or symptoms right now. I know there's a bad taste and smell coming from that tooth on the left. That's the worst one. The one on the right rarely bothers me, and when it does, it's mild in comparison to the problems the other one gives me. But should I be concerned about this? Is this infection spreading quickly when it comes on? And if so, what're the chances that it'll keep spreading and get worse?
I'm honestly too afraid to have anything done about this right now. And I was told I couldn't have a consultation until April anyway. I'm trying to take good care of myself, eating well and taking vitamins and a lot of garlic, hoping it'll at least keep the infection from getting too severe if/when it comes back. For a while I feared that the infection would kill me, but I'm also afraid that the procedure could kill me due to my family's history of having negative reactions to anesthetic. So it's like I'm stuck here, just looking for some answers and advice.
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