A tooth infection can lead to joint pain. This occurs when bacteria and inflammation from the mouth affect other parts of the body. Understanding this link is important for those with unexplained joint discomfort and dental issues.
How Dental Infections Affect Joints
Bacteria from a tooth infection, such as an abscess, can enter the bloodstream and spread throughout the body. This process, known as bacteremia, allows oral pathogens to travel beyond the mouth. Once in the bloodstream, these bacteria can trigger a systemic inflammatory response.
The body’s immune system reacts to these circulating bacteria or their byproducts, resulting in widespread inflammation affecting various tissues and organs, including the joints. The immune response can sometimes mistakenly target the body’s own tissues, leading to conditions like reactive arthritis.
Reactive arthritis is a form of joint inflammation triggered by an infection elsewhere in the body, including oral infections. The immune system mistakenly attacks proteins in the joint lining, leading to inflammation and pain. Research has identified oral bacteria in the synovial fluid, the lubricating fluid in joints, providing direct evidence of this connection.
Signs to Watch For
Recognizing signs of a tooth infection and associated joint pain helps in seeking timely care. A tooth infection causes a severe, throbbing, or gnawing toothache that might radiate to the jaw, neck, or ear. Symptoms also include sensitivity to hot or cold temperatures, pain when chewing, and visible swelling in the gums or face. Bad breath, an unpleasant taste in the mouth, or a fever can also indicate infection.
When a dental infection impacts joints, the joint pain may be new or unexplained. It can appear as aching, stiffness, swelling, redness, or warmth in one or more joints. The knees, ankles, and feet are commonly affected, but pain can also occur in the heels, lower back, or buttocks. The presence of both dental symptoms and new or worsening joint discomfort should prompt further investigation.
What to Do Next
If you suspect a connection between a tooth infection and joint pain, seeking professional medical attention is an important next step. Start by consulting a dentist to diagnose and treat the underlying dental issue. A dental examination can help identify the source of the infection, such as an abscess or severe gum disease.
Treating the dental infection is key to resolving associated joint pain. Common treatments for tooth infections include antibiotics to control bacterial spread, draining an abscess, root canal therapy to remove infected pulp, or tooth extraction. Addressing the oral infection can help reduce the systemic inflammatory load on the body.
For persistent or severe joint pain, a medical doctor, such as a rheumatologist, may be needed. They might conduct blood tests to check for markers of inflammation or specific antibodies. Treating the dental infection can lead to an improvement in joint symptoms, as the source of inflammation is removed.