What Happens If Tooth Decay Gets To The Bone?

Tooth decay is not a fun thing to go through, no matter what form it takes or how far advanced it is. Have you ever wondered what happens if tooth decay gets to the bone? Well, read on because we’re about to fill you in with all the details!

What Happens If Tooth Decay Gets To The Bone?

If you notice signs of tooth decay, you really need to get it sorted as soon as you can, so that it doesn’t spread to the bones of your face.

If tooth decay reaches the bone, the tooth itself will almost certainly have to be removed – plus the bone itself can become infected, if you leave it too long.

Visit your dentist regularly, as many infections can be halted with the use of antibiotics, so that you can save your tooth.

Even if the decay is not too major, if it spreads to the bone it can cause other problems, such a lot of pain and the weakening of the bones of the jaw.

If you notice a decaying tooth, your first step should be to visit your dentist, who can advise you on the next steps.

You may need antibiotics to treat any infection, and in the worst case scenario you may lose the decayed tooth altogether.

There are other options, such as a root canal, that can save the tooth, but your best option is to get any decaying tooth seen to by a specialist as soon as you can.

No one loves going to the dentist, but if it can save your teeth and prevent decay from spreading, this is definitely the preferable option!

Here is a useful article, that tells you everything you need to know about tooth decay.

What Happens If A Decayed Tooth Is Not Removed?

Let’s face it, having a rotting tooth in your mouth is not much fun! It can cause pain, bad breath and infections.

If you bury your head in the sand and just ignore it, this can cause much bigger problems than just the potential loss of one tooth.

If a cavity is left untreated, the hole can get bigger and bigger and allow the bacteria to spread to the pulp of the tooth.

Once the pulp is infected, this can spread to the root of the tooth, and further into the bone of the jaw.

If this happens, you can develop abscesses and a lot of pain, and you will almost certainly need dental surgery to fix the problem.

Leaving a severely decayed tooth without any treatment can also cause problems for the rest of your teeth, as the rot can spread if the bacteria are allowed to spread.

No one likes to go to the dentist, let’s face it, but if you notice a decaying tooth then you really need to get it seen to as quickly as possible, to avoid further problems.

Attending regular checkups is also a great idea, as dentists can spot things that you might not have noticed, and can act fast to stop the damage from spreading.

When Is Tooth Decay Too Far?

Tooth decay, if you catch it early enough, can actually be dealt with – if not reversed, then at least it can be prevented from spreading.

However, if the decay has been left untreated for some time, things might not look quite so rosy.

If the decay has formed a cavity in your tooth, the dentist will need to fill it to prevent bacteria from getting in and the decay from spreading further.

When the decay reaches the pulp – the soft tissue in the middle of your tooth – you will almost certainly need root canal treatment to save the tooth.

In some cases, the best and only option is to remove the offending tooth entirely. All dentists will do whatever they can to save your teeth, but you do need to see them – book the appointment today!

Is Tooth Decay Life Threatening?

Having a tooth in your mouth that is showing signs of decay will not kill you, don’t panic. However, you definitely want to get it sorted out as soon as possible.

Tooth decay generally only affects the teeth. But in serious cases it can spread further, and can cause problems in the rest of the body.

If the tooth decay turns into an infection that is left untreated, the bacteria can spread into other parts of your body.

There are a frightening amount of different medical conditions that can result from ignoring tooth infections from decay!

Although it is extremely rare for a tooth infection to kill you these days, because of improvements in medicine and dental treatment, you should still take it seriously.

You should always attend regular dentist check ups, and ensure that you brush and floss your teeth very well.

How Fast Does Tooth Infection Spread?

If your tooth infection has spread to the bone, don’t panic too much – you are not about to die!

Sadly, infections in the mouth can spread from tooth to tooth, if the bacteria are allowed to continue without outside help.

A tooth infection should be treated seriously and dealt with as soon as possible – your dentist will be able to advise you.

An infection doesn’t instantly leap from your tooth to the bone of your jaw – it can take a long time for this to happen.

It generally between a few weeks to a few months for an infection to spread to other tissues in the body, and it’s not something that could happen without you noticing.

You would feel considerable pain and swelling at the site, and abscesses may start to form. If you notice anything like this, get booked into your dentist as an emergency!

This video will show you how decay and cavities can spread:

Final Words

Anyone who has had to deal with tooth decay will tell you that it is no joke, and that you should treat it as fast as you can to get the best results.

Hopefully you now have a better idea of what you are looking out for, and what you can do to stop tooth decay before it reaches the bone.