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Scared that tooth infection ha spread...

How will I know if my tooth infection spread to my brain or other parts of my body??? Scared... I have a sinus infection and eye infection. Are all of these related??? Saw a dentist and doctor recently. I've had all sorts of symptoms for 2 + months. I'm so scared that I hVe a brain abscess. Please help... Thank you...
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Avatar universal
I feel I should add some things. This all started 2 months ago with head pressure. I scared myself silly. I went to 4 doctors, the er, and to the dentist. At that time I had 4 teeth (3 wisdom and a molar) that had cavities. At that appt. The dentist said there was no infection. Was going through a lot of stress, still am, and am really scared about my health all of a sudden. Saw my doctor on Wednesday and he said it sounded like anxiety. Dentist on Thursday, said I had a tooth infection. Freaked out, bc I know that this can spread to your brain. I've had a stye and a sinus infection, so now I'm convinced that it's spreading to my brain. My doctor said it's unlikely, so did the dentist. I'm taking an antibiotic and will be getting the infected tooth out next week. Possibly all 4... It's a top molar that's infected. Could you give me some kind of symptoms on what would happen if it did spread??? Since the head pressure started, I've had horrible health anxiety. As in, I've been researching online every waking moment, not doing anything I should be doing. I'm taking something for the anxiety, but the doc says it takes a bit to work. Is there any test I should be getting to see if it's spreading??? Would the dentist have been able to tell??? He said there's a "minor infection", and didn't seem concerned at all. Any help would be very much appreciated...
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Avatar universal
Hi,
Please try not to worry about this spreading to your brain.  If it were, you would not be writing online, you'd be so sick you couldn't function at all.  You would have a raging fever and delirium with a headache where you couldn't see straight.  You would KNOW you were very seriously ill. There is no mistaking or questioning.

You have antibiotics so that will not happen.  You are addressing the dental problems so you now have that under control.  From what you relate, I would say you have your entire situation WELL under control and taking care of it.

It's easy to let anxiety get out of hand when you have numerous things occurring at the same time.  Your head pressure feeling probably comes from the tooth.  An upper molar can make the sinus feel full and cause the head pressure you describe.  It's normal for an upper tooth infection for things to feel this way.  Antibiotics take around three days to work.

You have this under control.  Try to rest a bit easier that all will go well.
Good luck with your extraction.  My bet is that will go easily also and you will be able to come back with a success story!

My very best to you,
Gellia
Helpful - 0
2 Comments
What if you had an infection for years, with no antibiotics and no dentist ti help you. No dentist to pull the teeth or give a root canal?
well I kind of pulled it lose a little at home and got worried and I still dont know what to do
Avatar universal
I really appreciate your response. I have been so scared, I've been crying! I do have a headache on the same side, but I think it's from the crying. I've been through so much with this anxiety in the last 2 months. It literally popped up out of no where. I've always been a worry wart, but never like this. The dentist didn't mention an abscess, just a tooth infection. Are they the same thing??? It's really weird, bc I don't have pain or swelling in that area.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi again,
Please don't cry.  Everything really will be fine.

The pressure feeling is probably from the minor infection around the tooth root.

Your dentist gave you the antibiotics so it won't get any worse.  In a few days he will be able to remove the tooth.   All the pressure feeling should go away as it heals.  I know it's easy for me to say try to relax, but that's what I will say.
Do try to relax.  You really have nothing to worry about here as you are doing exactly what you should be doing.

And, ah yes, the crying headache.  I do believe I've had one or two of those myself.  Don't worry.  This will all be well.

Best to you, Gellia


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Avatar universal
I'm trying!!! Since this has been going on, I've been freaking out. Needless to say it's put a huge weight on my fiancé and my relationship, and on my relationship with my six year old son... I'm constantly scared. Wake up shaking... Which went away when I was told it was anxiety, but now is back. It's so scary. I'm assuming if the infection spread, #1 my dentist would have seen something going on, and #2 my doctor would have also. Thanks again, and I hope to keep in touch. It's nice to be able to talk to someone...
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Avatar universal
Hi,
Your dentist would have told you if the infection was worse and believe when I say you would know it.  There is no question when a tooth is badly infected.  

You're doing everything right.  It really will be OK.  Try to relax by knowing that you are doing everything according to schedule.  You need to take the antibiotics for a few days before the tooth comes out.  Your dentist has arranged for that with perfect timing.  You're taking charge and taking care of the problem.  Feel empowered by that and your anxiety will diminish.

I usually check into this site a few times a day.  Do let us know how you are doing.  We really LOVE success stories!

Best to you,
Gellia
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1 Comments
Hi, I had  2 teeth extracted 9 days ago these were both together on my bottom jaw.  Had severe pain on 2nd day. Went back to the Dentist they pulled a bit of tooth out. Had to go back on day 4 gums swollen and infected. Dentist cleaned out cavity and flushed out with medication. Packed it with clove and given 2 lots of antibiotics. I've been rinsing mouth with warm salt water. Taken codeine  and Ibuprofen constantly. Gums still swollen hurt like hell, headache feel sick . What can I do. Thanks Tina.
Avatar universal
Hi again... I woke up thi morning feeling extremely anxious. I could feel my heart beating in my head, my pulse rate was high, and my palms and feet are sweating. I cried, again, and blew my nose and ofcourse there was a bit of blood-tinged mucous. This doesn't help. I think now that the infection has moved to my sinuses and is in my brain. I also had a stye a couple of days ago, and believe that that was the infection moving too. Still no severe pain or swelling. My neck is bothering me, and I've had a know begin my ear for 2+ years, and now think that my teeth have been infected that long. Should I go to the er and demand an MRI???
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi,
You say you "think" the infection has moved to your brain but seriously there is no medical evidence to support that.  I think you've gotten yourself in a tizzy.  With all the amount of crying you've been doing I'm really not surprised you have the other symptoms you've described.

It's imperative that you get your anxiety under control.  Not doing so is allowing your mind to get away from you and imagining all kinds of things.
Crying is creating most of the problems you're having.  Tensing up the muscles in your neck will create all kinds of problems you describe, too.

Take a deep breath and relax.  Consider that you're on antibiotics for only a minor infection.  The infection will not get away from you and cause more problems.  The antibiotics would prevent that.  You have been prescribed this by someone that has the medical degree that he spent years to get to back this up.  You have to start to believe the people that have the experience to know this better than you.  Let them do their job and have confidence that they know it well.
Your dentist said you had a "minor infection".  Believe him.  He is not lying to you.  He gave you antibiotics to cover you for this.  Trust that they are doing their job, too.  

Your crying is creating all the problems you are now describing.  Blood tinged mucous from the sinus is very common with prolonged crying.  Seriously, if the infection was getting worse, you would not feel well enough to be online.  You would definitely know it and wouldn't be asking questions here.  Serious infections present themselves very clearly and without question.

I'm not sure what to tell you to help you relax, but you have to try.  

You are becoming your own worse enemy.

Do whatever you do to relax and know that the tooth will be gone soon and everything is fine until then.  
Best to you,
Gellia

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Avatar universal
Hey... Got my 3 wisdom teeth and one molar pulled on Monday... Awful... I'm really hoping no dry socket or infections follow. I went to my pcp today, and he still says anxiety. I've been crying so much lately, and after my teeth were pulled I started getting dizzy, not spinning, but feel like I might fall over. Having a lot of sinus pain, especially in my cheeks, and headaches in my temples. Can't shake this feeling that something serious is wrong... My doc did a neuro exam today and said if it were something more than anxiety, there would be stronger symptoms and he would be able to find something on this exam. He denied an MRI for me! He said he really doesn't think I need one. Just curious if you have had any dizziness with tooth extraction. Still scared, but trying to calm down.
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Avatar universal
Hi,
I really have to agree with your doctors.  Crying and anxiety is the problem.  Your crying will stuff up your sinuses and make you dizzy.  It can give you pressure in your head.  It can give you toothaches and tense muscles.  All from crying.

Think about it.  Do you really think these drs are keeping something from you?  If so, why would they do that?  

You're anxiety is not allowing you to trust in their judgement.  Why would you pay them then?  You're paying them, but neither listening nor believing them.  Getting this anxiety under control, and understanding that these drs know about these things far better than you will go a long way into controlling the anxiety that is giving you symptoms and problems you need not have at all.  

Good luck with this.  I hope you can succeed.
My best to you,
Gellia

Helpful - 1
Avatar universal
Hello again. It's been 4 days... I'm still having strange headaches, but I am also now having pain on one side where an upper wisdom tooth was extracted and an upper pre-molar. I went in today, but only saw a dental assistant. He flushed them all, and put a clove paste on the 3 wisdom teeth. I still can't eat regular foods, b/c it all gets stuck in my teeth... And I can't see the upper wisdom teeth holes bc they were turned towards my cheek... Ugh... I'm afraid that there is food getting trapped and I won't know it. The headaches are mainly in the temple region, and the right sided pain from my teeth, is only there when I lick my lips or move my mouth in a certain way. The dental assistant said no dry socket, but didn't mention anything about infection. Also, when they gave me my teeth, one of them looked almost crystalized around the root??? Would this be an abscess??? It wasn't the tooth that was infected and the dentist didn't mention anything. Still worried about infection. I have no fever, but I am sweating a lot... Which was happening before the teeth came out. Also, after the teeth were pulled I had dizziness 2 days after, it seems to have let up (knock on wood), but just wanted to know if this is typical.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi,
Everything sounds normal!  Congratulations for finally getting them out and working through your fear.  You will heal now.  If there had been any infection the assistant would have seen it.  That nothing was mentioned means there is none.  You will have headaches for awhile.  Your crying stuffed up your sinus and they will now have to recover also.  The roots of all teeth can appear different.  Any infection is now gone because any infected teeth are gone.  Don't worry about food getting trapped.  Everyone worries about that and I have yet to hear of it happening after extraction.  You are just advised to use good common sense when eating for a few days to allow it to fill in some.  Any pain in the immediate dental area is from surgical trauma.

Relax now.  This is all normal healing.  Give yourself a break and mostly let your sinus recover from a prolonged crying jag.

Good luck.  You're doing fine.
Best to you,
Gellia
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Avatar universal
hi my name is dustin and i was wondering i have been on antibios three time because of my top wisdom teeth they are broken and keep getting infected... wat will happen if the abcess gets into my sinus cavaty im making an appt. to get a consult and from there they are going to refer me to a oral surgen but im kinda worried that ill need more surgery to lean out my sinuses too... can you help me out lol thx....
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Avatar universal
I hope your anxiety has improved by now. Maybe my experience will help you. Three years ago I was treated for a tooth infection. It was quite painful. I had to wait almost two weeks for treatment! So I was given a course of amoxicillin. A
Two days into that prescription, I began having SEVERE anxiety! I had trouble with generalized anxiety o disorder in my teens and early 20s, but I got over them by around my 30s, basically by just surviving them and living life. I too have a MORBID fear of dental work. Anyway, fast forward to 3 years ago, as I said I was having terrible anxiety so bad that I could not control it. I literally had to take a leave of absence from work and all I could do was spend most of my time in my bedroom watching TV reruns of old TV shows I found comforting and beading. Oh, and drinking wine. I tried Xanax a couple of times but it made me feel...weird, so I really didn't get into it. But here's the thing; I happened to be reading the side effects of amoxicillin and believe it or not, anxiety is one of them! So how do you like that, we already have anxiety over our condition and then the treatment for it can make the anxiety worse! Well, I want to reassure you that eventually my anxiety did pass and I returned to my old, normal self. I am convinced the amox was what pushed me over the edge and will never take it again, but I also think the infection itself contributed to it. The body is a closed system, all parts work together and it's a delicate balance. It doesn't take much to create subtle changes, that can lead to sudden huge problems if ignoref, as we often do becuz "it's not that bad," or not that noticeable. Please rest assured, you will get better soon. I was able to go back to work after a month post dental treatment, my anxiety had reduced significantly although it was still present and when I had an episode it wasn't totally incapacitating. But it took ALMOST A FULL YEAR for it to completely resolve! So these things take time. Two things may help reassure you further: You can have residual infection in the bony structures surrounding the site of extraction. If you continue to have any symptoms of pain in those areas, get to a dentist immediately for x-rays to check for that. They can treat you with different antibiotics that are better for deeper infection. It's likely NOT in your brain, truly, or you would be much sicker. Google symptoms of osteomyelitis and brain abscess, you will see. Secondly, remember it will take time. Took me a year to return to normal! Thirdly, try changing your diet! It is AMAZING how much it helps! Please read "Heal Tooth Decay Naturally" by Ramy Nagel. He also has a website, www.****.com. Truth is, you CAN heal tooth decay with the methods he advocates, but even he cautions that infections can be serious and deadly and to see a dentist if you aren't having success. Infection does need to be treated promptly and not messed around with, but you have done that by getting treatment so you should begin seeing improvement every day. As far as your anxiety that may take longer to clear up, but for me it really helps just knowing someone else experienced it and got better. Give yourself time, breathe, think about what I've said here--it WILL get better!--read books (really helps distract you and "take you away" from it), or watch shows that calm you, and change your diet and you will get better. Trust the process, and I wish you a speedy recovery!
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Avatar universal
I recently went to the dentist for a broken decaying tooth. the dentist pulled my tooth upper molar. The dentist didn't give anything. went back three days later due to the pain. He then gave me a prescription for amoxicillin and percocets, its now five  days later and still same pain. I been on the antibiotics for this is now my second day taking them. Any idea on when this pain should stop. or should I go back to my dentist
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Avatar universal
hi I have had an abcess in one off my top teeth today I have woken with swelling in my nose what shall I do
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Avatar universal
8 very I'll untreated infection in my bone and broken teeth I can barely see I'm in a scary delirium I can barely function to write or see this I been untreated for a serious bone infection top and bottom teeth broken exposed I done have insurance I've been waiting a year or so for a church to help me I'm bed ridden my head hurt my bone teeth ringing in ears and head blurred triple vision I'm so weak I can't get up I'm using my cell phone text to reach out for help I can't see hardly I'm confused and all seems like a scary dream I'm nauseated vomiting fever I try to control with ibuprofen can't think strait pain heart is doing something weird can't move hardly with out feeling I'm going to pass out my heart going very fast infection was seen over a year ago then a few months ago t hen 1 math ago was seen by dentist who said I was badly infected in my jaw and teeth but was told to get help for surgery from church they know I'm in danger but I'm still waiting because I don't have money nor insurance I'm so scared my lips are dried and cracked open I have open wounds that don't heal please some one tell me if this sounds like it's moved into my brain I feel it has due to mental delirium fever sight messed up can't see strait help please and thank u
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Avatar universal
you need to call an ambulance asap and get to the ER!!! you cant put a price on life
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Avatar universal
Dear Sir,

I Abstracted my abscess third molar tooth, before 9 days. I feel sweeting smell when i gargle. Please suggest.
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Avatar universal
Hi I'm Anthony and I've had an abcess tooth since I was 17 and now I'm 31 and its been somewhat of a pain not a lot of pain or swelling and not a lot of pus anymore about a year ago is when the pain started but only for
day and now the pain only starts when I put pressure on the affected area above my front tooth then it swells...and beside my nose on the right side it is sore and feels like the other root hurts but my tooth beside the one that hurts looks. like it is crooked now like its moving away from the other tooth and the swelling isn't bad not like it was when I had feeling. in the front tooth and I'm not sure now if its getting ready to fall out or what cause my front tooth is like a gray color now and very little feeling in it what should I do cause I can't afford a dentist right now?!
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Avatar universal
Hi I'm Darrell I have a wisdom tooth on the bottom left side infected I've been on amox 875mg every 12 hours the pain in my tooth stopped hurting after a few day's of taking the meds for it but my mouth is still sore and I can't really open my mouth I don't know if this will go away after awhile I still got 2 more days of the amox 875mg to take today is the 9th and I've been taking them since the 4th should the infection be almost cleared up by now and still waiting to see a dentist got to call for appt on Monday because there close on weekends. I have really bad anxiety and I'm always thinking this will kill me if anyone can put my mind to rest about this I would like too really thank you so much.
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Avatar universal
BONE INFECTION IS AN MEDICAL EMERGENCY CALL 911
Get someone to take you to the hospital now
You have to go now it can be fatal no kidding around.
Look the hospital does see  people even when they have no insurance
What a crazy system where people can be dying and because they
have no insurance they would rather wait and possibly die! Absolute
broken medical system
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1 Comments
My name is Tami and im a proud Canadian! I can't imagine a world where you can't go to the hospital or dentist if you don't have insurance :( here healthcare is free, and i deff dont take that for granted now reading all of these comments. My prayers are with you all ! <3
Avatar universal
It's true I've been fighting 2\3 abscess two on my bottom one on top visit the er every few months to get antibiotics however the infection always comes back I have lost about 7 teeth in back on all 4sides I have medicare. I can't even get a cleaning they won't do it they say I need few root canals few extractions I noticed over time heart beats fast harder at times feel swollen bloted at times I feel tired all the time currently waiting on ssi appeal s date I think fighting my dental issues have only made my depression anxiety mood swings worse there's one place medicare of fl referred me to costal dental however 80$ needed upfront only for first visit and I'm a single parent of 3  yr income under 9000.  There's just nothing to save to afford the dental surgery I need I mean I heard of people going broke waiting on disability but never slowly dying because let's face it foks if I let it go longer its been sometime already it juys might kill me I'm 35 I had perfect teeth before I got myself into a controlling abusive relationship with my children's father that lasted a decade that's how this dental issue started .since won full custody n moved from my to here in fl . let's face it economics in the US is going bad I just heard that loto not even paying winners smh ..this government don't seem to care about its own people
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15674832 tn?1442192813
I have insurance but still need a good dentist that would work with you in huntsville al for possible root canal.have cml
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1 Comments
DENTISTS ARE NOT THOROUGHLY TRAINED TO PERFORM ROOT CANALS AND SHOULD NOT BE DOING THEM.

WHAT YOU NEED IS AN ENDODONTIST THAT WILL ASK FOR A REFERRAL FROM YOUR REGULAR DENTIST.

CHECK PATIENT REVIEWS ON YOUR HEALTH PLAN PROVIDER LIST OR LOOK ON YELP FOR THE MOST POPULAR.

JUST TYPE( BEST  ENDODONTIST HUNTSVILLE, AL) INTO THE YELP SEARCH FIELD
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