Infection is one of the most common signs of any anomaly in the body.
In most cases, infection results in inflammation of the affected part. Almost all inflamed body parts show five symptoms which are rubor(redness), calor(heat), dalor(pain), tumor(swelling) and loss of function.
Pain is the cardinal sign of infection, but sometimes no pain is felt in oral infection, and in such cases, a question may arise Can You Have A Tooth Infection Without Pain?
If you want to know the answer, then keep on reading.
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Can You Have A Tooth Infection Without Pain
Dental abscesses are one of the most common signs of any oral disease, and it is initiated when bacteria penetrate deep into oral structures and start to multiply exponentially.
In most cases, the initial symptoms of oral infection are pain and swelling, but in rare cases, people feel little to no pain, so how can such people even tell that they have developed an infection?
If that is the case, we will discuss types of abscesses, symptoms of abscesses, and how to tell if you have developed an abscess. If you’re thinking to get a teeth whitener, you can read our guide Arc Blue Light Teeth Whitening Kit review that can help you to make your decision.
Gingival Abscess
This type of infection, also known as gum infection, forms between the gums and the tooth.
It is formed on the gum line or gingival margin and spreads rapidly. These result from poor oral hygiene, and the primary symptom is mostly bleeding.
In most cases, it is not painful in the beginning but may be painful when turned into chronic gingivitis, known as periodontitis.
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Periodontal Abscess
Periodontal infection is not on the surface like a gingival one and is mostly penetrated deep into the gum tissues.
This is common in patients suffering from gingivitis or periodontitis, resulting in poor oral hygiene and tartar.
The most common symptom of this type of infection is tooth loosening and excessive pain.
Periapical Abscess
As the name indicates, the periapical abscess is developed in the root of the teeth.
Bacteria can enter the pulp chamber through a cavity or any crack in the tooth surface.
This type of infection affects the dental pulp and the root of the teeth. Pulp has sensory nerve endings, so this type of infection can cause severe pain.
If you ignore this pain, then with time, your nerve will degenerate because of a bacterial attack, and you will feel no pain.
If you are looking for a home remedy to treat abscess pain, then look at Heat Or Ice For Abscess Tooth. – Ultimate Guide
How Does Abscess Look And Feels In Mouth?
After realizing that it is not always necessary to feel pain because of infection, you may question how oral infection looks.
The dental infection is often painful and tender to the touch. If you are developing Peri apical infection, then in addition to pain and swelling, you will also develop pus pockets near the root.
If the pocket is ruptured, a yellow foul-smelling liquid is released.
Oral infection of the tooth abscess can make the whole oral structure sensitive and hot to the touch.
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Stages Of Abscess
The stages of periapical infection Development are
- Tooth decay involving the enamel and Dentine
- Spread of decay into the pulp cavity and nerves
- Infection builds up in the root, spreading to bone, gums, and other oral structures if not treated immediately.
Can You Have An Infection In Mouth Without Pain?
You rarely feel no pain with tooth infection because, in most cases, the infection is painful, and you even can’t sleep without taking a painkiller.
The infection will also show other symptoms in your mouth, like redness, swelling, and loss of function. It is extremely rare to have an entirely pain-free infection.
Here are some cases in which you may feel little to no pain because of a tooth infection
Root Canal Treatment
If you have already suffered from tooth decay and caries in the past and your dentist has performed a root canal treatment, then it is most likely that you feel no pain because of the infection.
Your nerve has already been killed, so the pain signals can’t be transferred to the brain.
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Death Of Soft Tissue:
Sometimes bacteria leak into the inner Chamber of the teeth, and the resulting infection can kill the nerves in the inner tissues. In such cases, you may initially feel pain, but not when the infection progresses fast.
Active Defense Mechanism
If your immune system is extremely healthy and active, it may initially launch an attack against the bacteria. In such a case, you will feel no pain but may feel a little swelling.
So, immediately visit your dentist if you observe any swelling and pain symptoms.
Diabetes
Another reason for feeling little pain because of the infection is diabetes. In most cases, diabetes can weaken the nervous system, and such patients cannot feel extreme pain.
How To Identify Tooth Infection Even With No Pain?
You are feeling little to no pain in your oral structures, but still, you feel that you are suffering from an oral infection. If that is the case, then here I am going to discuss some symptoms which you may observe In your mouth even if you have no pain.
- One of the most common signs of tooth infection is dentine hypersensitivity. The infection will weaken your tooth structures and never tissue, resulting in extreme sensitivity to Hot and Cold foods.
- You will also observe a change in the tooth color.
- A soft or hard lump around a tooth that may resemble a pimple.
- This pimple can be a tooth abscess or a gum boil, but both are infectious and contain pus and bacteria.
- Swelling of cheeks, jaw gums, and surrounding lymph nodes
- Sinusitis
- Halitosis and sour taste
- Trouble in Jaw movements and speaking, eating or performing normal activities.
- Headache and earache
If not treated on time, then it may result in fever. Immediately visit your dentist even if you observe a slight swelling in the mouth because, at chronic stages, a dental infection can spread into the jaw and may kill you.
If you want to know how much time you can survive with infection and the downside of not treating it, then look at How Long Until a Tooth Infection Kills You?
FAQs
What is silent tooth decay?
It is a condition in which you feel no pain but still have dental caries or infections. It can only be detected with visual signs and symptoms, not by physiology.
What is the treatment plan for infected teeth?
In most cases, if the infection is not spreading to the mouth, then the dentist uses antibiotics and professional cleaning.
If the infection spreads and the tooth decays, amalgam filling or other restorative fillings are used.
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Conclusion
Sometimes, people don’t feel any pain from a tooth infection, and the infection is detected when they visit their dentist for a regular checkup.
In most cases, people visit the dentist after six months, which is a long time, and the infection may spread into the whole jaw. If you also feel that you are developing an infection but don’t observe any pain and have a question about how you can have a tooth infection without pain, then go through this article.