Gums/teeth affecting other parts of the body?

[vicks276]

Has anyone ever heard of gum infections/problems with teeth causing problems with other parts of the body? I recently read a story about a woman who had an undetected infection in her teeth/gums, which, once the teeth were removed and the infection treated, ceased a problematic rash/eczema type condition she had with her skin. Doctors thought this rash was an allergic reaction, but couldn't determine what she was allergic to in tests.

Anyone had any experience of this?

[Savvy_Sue]

Last time I was at the dentist, they had a Reader's Digest, not too ancient, with an article about how seeing the dentist could save your life. I didn't have time to read it properly (and wasn't sure I wanted to, since I was in the right place already!) but it seems that long-running infections can cause problems.

[Toothsmith]

Chronic infections in one part of the body can cause all sorts of problems in seemingly unrelated structures in other parts of the body.

Gum disease is one of the most common chronic inflammatory/infective conditions, and is being linked more and more with heart and joint problems, as well as low birth weight in babies.

It is possibly due to chemicals released to try and fight the infection also attacking parts of the body, but the exact link isn't known.

Ages ago, it used to be thought that infected teeth caused all sorts of problems, which is why it used to be that they were taken out for next to no reason. Then, that theory was rejected. Nowadays, it seems like there might have been at least a little truth in it.

The trick is not to have all you teeh out though, more to make sure they are inspected regularly, and inspected THOROUGHLY, so that there are no 'undetected' infections, and that any problems can be sorted out before they become infections.

[Sarahsaver]

how would you know? I mean how would you feel? I heard of a guy who got an infection in his heart and it was tooth related.
I am worried cos i have 2 broken teeth one on either side and wisdom teeth coming through. My NHS dentist is off sick. Saw gp last fri cos i had been ill for a week with mastitis and had strong antibiotics but now the mastitis has gone and the tablets are finished i feel like rubbish, and have the broken teeth :(
The doc of course will nto want to know because it mey be tooth related. I think it had been masked by the antibiotics.

[xxvickixx]

I have a friend who had a serious heart valve infection due to an abcess in her wisdom tooth. It is very rare and the poor girl was so unlucky, but it makes sense not to delay dental treatment. Now must book my check up...

[Toothsmith]

how would you know? I mean how would you feel? I heard of a guy who got an infection in his heart and it was tooth related.
I am worried cos i have 2 broken teeth one on either side and wisdom teeth coming through. My NHS dentist is off sick. Saw gp last fri cos i had been ill for a week with mastitis and had strong antibiotics but now the mastitis has gone and the tablets are finished i feel like rubbish, and have the broken teeth :(
The doc of course will nto want to know because it mey be tooth related. I think it had been masked by the antibiotics.


It's more of a chronic thing Sarah.

A couple of broken teeth aren't going to alter the way you feel - unless they start hurting.

What would cause a problem would possibly be neglected tooth and gums over a matter of years, rather than days or weeks.

If you get a bad infection, you rarely 'feel better' as soon as the infection has cleared up, you can often feel yuck for a few weeks after, whilst the body gets back on an even keel.