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Dr. Judy Sturm & Associates is a place of comfort, care, and friendliness.  We look forward to welcoming you to our Dental Family.

Monday-Thursday: 8am to 6pm, Friday 8am-3pm 77 Bloor St W #1202, Toronto, ON M5S 1M2, Canada 416-967-4212 admin@yorkvillesmiles.com

Dr. Judy Sturm & Associates

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Your Emergency Dentist Treats Oral Infections

Attempting to self-diagnose an oral infection can be dangerous. If you suspect that you have a mouth infection, we recommend you contact us – your emergency dentist in Yorkville – as soon as possible.

If the infection is left untreated it could spread and become more serious.

By no means should you attempt to diagnose your condition or take measures to treat yourself.

How to tell if you have an oral infection …

If you have an oral infection, our team at Dr. Judy Sturm & Associates is best suited to accurately diagnose it. These are the common symptoms to look out for:

  • Severe persistent pain in the gums, jaw, or teeth.
  • Fever and chills.
  • Swelling of the face, cheek, or gums.
  • Swollen and tender lymph nodes on the neck.
  • Persistent bad breath.
  • Sensitive teeth
  • Tender or bleeding gums.

Types of mouth infections

The symptoms of a mouth infection can be uncomfortable, painful, or unsightly. But if ignored, the outcome can be far worse. A mouth infection can be an indicator of serious disease.

If caught early, treatments for oral infections are often cheaper, safer, and faster. So … take action at the first sign of infection.

Below are the most common types of oral infections. Although this blog may help you identify some of your symptoms and potential causes, leave the diagnosis up to the professionals at our practice. If you are experiencing the symptoms above, don’t delay a visit to our office.

If you have some or all of the symptoms listed above, you could have:

Abscessed Tooth

This painful infection affects the root of a tooth or the space between the gum and a tooth. Dental abscesses are most commonly caused by severe or untreated tooth decay. Alternative causes of this mouth infection include sudden dental trauma, gingivitis, and/or gum disease.

Gum Infection

Gum infections are uncommon because their leading cause, gum diseases like gingivitis, are most often identified and treated before developing into a bacterial infection. A gum infection is characterized by soreness of the gums, bleeding gums, and painful chewing.

Oral Thrush

Also known as oropharyngeal candidiasis, oral thrush is a yeast infection which develops inside the oral cavity. It causes white bumps to form on the inside of the cheeks, the roof of the mouth, and on the tongue. Most commonly seen in toddlers and small children, this condition is one of the less serious and more easily treatable oral infections. It poses a more serious threat to those with a weakened immune system.

Dental Cavities

Tooth decay left untreated leads to an oral infection known as dental caries or cavities. It’s one of the most common oral infections. Dental caries is the is one of the leading causes of tooth loss in children under 12 and is attributed to a bacteria known as Streptococcus mutans.

Gingivitis

Most people hear of gingivitis as the condition prevented by good oral health care habits. One of the leading causes of gingivitis is bacterial infection. In such cases, bacteria settle into the crevices between a person’s gums as well as the gum line below. The bacteria linger and produce toxins which cause the gums to become inflamed and swell. Further complications, such as more serious infections, pneumonia, and periodontal disease can easily ensue from untreated bacteria in the mouth.

Periodontal Disease

Usually caused by an advanced state of some other oral condition (especially gingivitis which spreads below the gums to affect teeth and their supporting tissue), periodontal disease causes pockets to form around the teeth. These pockets subsequently cause bone loss and inflammation, loosening the teeth and causing damage to the bone. Symptoms can include inflamed gums, pain, and looseness in the teeth.

Canker Sores

Canker Sores take the form of lesions forming on the surface of gums and on other types of tissue in the oral cavity. They are most commonly in children and adolescents. The cause isn’t always clear, but stress and hormones as well as sensitivity to certain foods are often attributed to them. Canker sores will usually heal on their own in 10-14 days.

Hand, Foot, And Mouth Disease

Although only seen in small children and toddlers, the virus coxsackie A6 usually causes this viral concern. Symptoms include painful blisters on the cheeks and/or tongue. Sores can also appear on other parts of the body including the feet and hands. The virus is not particularly invasive, and usually symptoms go away within three days.

Herpangina

This disease is closely associated with hand, foot, and mouth disease. Herpangina often infects children during the summer and fall, manifesting itself at first as fever, sore throat, and difficulty swallowing. As the virus begins to take over, blisters form at the back of the mouth. These blisters turn into large ulcers as they rupture.

When do you need to visit your emergency dentist in Yorkville?

Experiencing any of the symptoms of a mouth infection can be reason enough to contact us. Even a symptom that does not seem serious is worth getting looked at, as these are often the earliest signs, appearing at the most treatable stages where lasting negative effects can be prevented.

Call our team today for experienced, attentive, and professional emergency care. We look forward to helping you.

Yours in excellent dental health,
Dr. Judy Sturm, your emergency dentist in Yorkville