Reviewed by Dr. Alan Baughman, DMD, MBA
Reading time: 4 minutes
If you have an infected tooth that needs to be removed, you may be concerned that pulling it could cause the infection to spread or lead to a serious complication. In most cases, an infected tooth can be extracted safely, and removing it may be an important part of treating the infection.
Infected Teeth Can Usually Be Removed Safely
Pulling an infected tooth is not usually dangerous when it is done in a dental office after an exam. In many cases, removing the tooth helps eliminate the source of infection so the area can heal.
Trying to pull an infected tooth at home is different. Without the right training, imaging, sterile instruments, and bleeding control, you may:
- Break the tooth and leave infected roots behind
- Damage nearby teeth, gums, bone, or nerves
- Cause heavy bleeding
- Push bacteria deeper into the tissues
- Delay the care needed to stop the infection
- Make later treatment more complicated
Tooth pain can make people want fast relief, but pulling a tooth yourself is not safe. An infected tooth needs a proper diagnosis first because the best treatment may be a root canal, extraction, drainage, antibiotics, or a combination of care.
Can an Infected Tooth Become Life-Threatening?
An untreated tooth infection can become life-threatening if bacteria spread beyond the tooth into the surrounding tissues, airway, or bloodstream. Prompt dental treatment helps control the infection and reduce the risk of serious complications.
As the infection spreads, it may extend into the gums, jaw, facial tissues, areas beneath the tongue or jaw, and neck. In severe cases, swelling can threaten the airway, or bacteria can enter the bloodstream and cause a systemic infection.
Warning Signs That Need Urgent Care
A tooth infection should be treated promptly, but some symptoms may indicate a more serious infection that requires emergency medical care.
Call our office as soon as possible if you have:
- Tooth pain that is not improving
- Gum swelling near a tooth
- A pimple-like bump on the gums
- Bad taste or drainage
- Pain when biting
- Mild facial swelling that is getting worse
- A broken tooth with pain or swelling
Go to the emergency room or call 911 if you have:
- Trouble breathing
- Trouble swallowing
- Swelling in the neck, under the jaw, or around the eye
- Fever with facial swelling
- Vision changes
- Confusion, weakness, or feeling very ill
- Rapidly worsening swelling
- Trouble opening your mouth
These symptoms may mean the infection is spreading beyond the tooth and needs immediate medical care.
Why Delaying Treatment Can Make Things Worse
Tooth infections do not always stay the same. Pain may come and go, but that does not mean the infection is gone.
Sometimes pain decreases because pressure drains through the gum or because the nerve inside the tooth has died. The infection can still remain active.
Delaying care can lead to:
- A larger abscess
- Bone loss around the tooth
- Fewer options to save the tooth
- A more complicated extraction
- Higher risk of needing emergency care
Early treatment is usually simpler, safer, and more comfortable than waiting until swelling or severe pain develops.
How We Treat an Infected Tooth Safely
The first step is finding the source of the infection. Dr. Baughman may recommend an exam, digital X-rays, or 3D imaging when more detail is needed.
Treatment depends on what we find. Care may include:
- Treating decay or a damaged restoration
- Root canal therapy when the tooth can be saved
- Tooth extraction when the tooth cannot be restored
- Drainage if an abscess is present
- Antibiotics when appropriate
- A referral if the infection or extraction is more complex
The goal is to stop the infection, relieve pain, and protect your overall health. We will explain what is happening and help you understand the safest next step.
Emergency Dental Care at Clearwater Dentistry
Tooth infections can become stressful quickly, especially when pain or swelling changes from one day to the next. At Clearwater Dentistry we offer emergency exams for tooth pain, infection, dental trauma, gum pain, and urgent dental concerns.
We also use digital imaging, including CBCT 3D imaging when needed, to evaluate teeth, roots, bone, and surrounding structures more clearly. If an infected tooth can be treated in our office, we will explain your options. If you need a higher level of care, we will guide you toward the right next step.
Get Help Before a Tooth Infection Gets Worse
If you have tooth pain, swelling, drainage, fever, or a bad taste that does not go away, contact us for an evaluation.
To book an appointment at our dental office in Greeley, CO, call (970) 515-3550 or visit us at 3110 67th Ave Pl, Greeley, CO 80634.
FAQs
You should never try to pull an infected tooth at home. You could break the tooth, cause heavy bleeding, damage nearby structures, leave infection behind, or delay the treatment needed to stop the infection.
A properly performed extraction usually helps remove the source of infection. Infection can still spread if the infection was already severe, if infected tissue remains, or if aftercare instructions are not followed.
There is no safe timeline. Some infections stay localized for a while, while others spread more quickly. Because you cannot predict how an infection will behave, it is best to schedule care as soon as symptoms appear.
Go to the ER or call 911 if you have trouble breathing, trouble swallowing, swelling in the neck or around the eye, fever with facial swelling, vision changes, confusion, or rapidly worsening symptoms.
