Can a Dead Tooth Hurt You?
Dr. Andre Eliasian is a Dentist practicing in Glendale, CA. Dr. Eliasian specializes in preventing, diagnosing, and treating diseases and conditions associated with the mouth and overall dental health. Dentists are trained to carry out such treatment as professional cleaning, restorative, prosthodontic, and endodontic procedures,... more
Some people may find this response surprisingly, but it has been said that an infected tooth can potentially kill a person. There was a medical case that involved a 12-year-old boy, who died from the bacteria associated with an abscessed tooth. This bacteria spread to his brain which ultimately lead to him passing away. According to studies, there have been various medical cases where people had to visit the emergency room due to dental related issues.
If someone is concerned whether they have a dead tooth or not, they can try out a trick which involves putting an ice cube directly on the tooth. If the tooth feels the coldness of the ice cube than that particular tooth is alive and functioning well. However, if the tooth is dead, it won't react or feel cold when against the ice cube. A tooth without feeling and that isn’t discolored yet, may be in the process of dying. In this case, the patient needs to make an appointment with the dentist to reverse the damage. This is because a dead tooth tends to discolor in time because the nerves and blood inside the tooth are no longer receiving oxygen and fresh blood to the tooth. Don’t let this condition worsen as this relates to your overall health. As we have mentioned, a 12-year-old boy was the victim of a dental infection related to tooth decay. There can also be impacts on other body organs based on your oral health care. Read More.
