Can a tooth abscess cause chest pains?

So, you woke up today with chest pains and toothache. That’s not a combination you hear every day! But hey, life is full of surprises – mostly unpleasant ones. So, what do you do? Do you rush to the dentist or cardiologist? Let me tell you this much- Don’t panic! Keep your cool and read on to find out whether your tooth abscess can cause those chest pains.

The Connection Between Your Teeth and Heart

Believe it or not, there’s actually a scientific link between heart diseases and dental health. Studies have shown that poor oral hygiene contributes substantially to cardiovascular problems such as stroke, endocarditis (infection of the heart valves), coronary artery disease among others 1. You see how mouth-breathers aren’t just annoying; they’re risking their lives too.

What is a Tooth Abscess Anyway?

A tooth abscess usually results from bacterial infection in the pulp at the center of our teeth 23. If left unattended for long enough, fluid buildup leads to inflammation which in turn causes excruciating pain. Most commonly observed symptoms are:

  • Pain while chewing
  • Sensitivity towards hot/cold beverages/food items
  • Swelling gums around affected area
    All manageable unless left untreated!

Types Of Dental Abscesses

Before we try solving this puzzle here are two main types:

Periapical Abscess:

Caused by trauma such as crown fractures exposing nerves.The most common type of all dental infections.

Periodontal Abscess:

Mostly occurs due accumulation food particles between periodontal pockets leading up gum tissue flare-ups

Both these abscesse`s need attention without question but this story just got interesting maybe??

Okay Back To Chest Pains!

We know now what an abscess is let’s dig deeper into your mystery chest pains. Chest pains may be caused by a lot of things – the most severe of them being heart attacks and angina. Now, my friend on this topic , I suggest you don’t tinker around with google diagnoses, ASAP see our fellow cardiologist professionals who will help diagnose properly.

How A Tooth Abscess Can Cause Chest Pains

But to keep it simple and straightforward, let me explain how a tooth abscess can cause chest pains. Remember that link between oral health and heart problems? An untreated tooth abscess can lead to an infection spreading from your teeth or gums into your bloodstream 4 which in turn causes clotting leading to blockages disrupting normal blood flow causing excruciating chest pain

Symptoms Associated With Them

A serious dental infection like an abscess may account for different symptoms such as:

  • Fever
  • Fatigue
  • Difficulty while swallowing
    All these indicating the silent revolution closing towards cardiovascular issues.

In conclusion

The consensus here is not just treating physical aspects taking care orally helps overall body function better then we’ll have lesser physiological related consequences arising out of dental negligence.
So there’s quite more than meets the eye behind those very uncomfortable situations when having people groan through every bite they take because ignoring those little things might end up risking life over time; so why not start great habits today? Lastly never underestimate routine annual checkups!!
#StaySafe #OralHygieneIsLife #GoSeeADoctorFirst!


  1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4257974/ 

  2. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/dental-abscess/ 

  3. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8605318/ 

  4. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/drugs_devices_supplements/hic_human_immunodeficiency_virus_and_infections/hic_dental_procedures_and_bacterial_endocarditis

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