Preventing Tooth Infections: Tips for Healthy Teeth and Gums

Oral health is incredibly important, influencing everything from physical comfort to disease prevention and even emotional well-being. Unfortunately, the World Health Organization’s Global Oral Health Status Report indicates that nearly half of the global population suffers from oral health issues, with many of these involving dental infections.¹

Also known as abscesses, these infections are painful and potentially dangerous — but highly preventable. With proper oral hygiene and assistance from dental professionals, most people can avoid infections.

Are you concerned about tooth infections and eager to improve your dental health? Educating yourself is the first step. This means recognizing the signs of tooth infection, along with typical causes. From there, you can implement a variety of best practices to keep your teeth as clean and healthy as possible.

What Is a Tooth Infection, and Why Should I Worry About It?

Today’s patients are vulnerable to a range of dental problems, and while cavities are the most common, infections are a distinct possibility as well. These involve the collection of excess pus within the pulpy inner portion of the teeth. This may result in throbbing pain near the teeth or gums, along with swelling and sensitivity.

What Causes Tooth Infection?

Dental abscesses are caused by bacterial infections. These can vary based on where abscesses are located. When they’re situated at the root of the tooth, they are known as periapical infections and are associated with untreated cavities. Periodontal abscesses can be found within the gums and are typically linked to tartar buildup.²

What Are the Most Common Types?

Tooth infections can take multiple forms. As we’ve mentioned, these are typically categorized based on where the infection occurs, with the main problems referred to as periapical and periodontal. These differ not only in their place of origin but also in their appearance and preferred treatments:

• Periapical abscesses often resemble pimples and can be treated via root canal.
• Periodontal abscesses present as swelling of the gums and may call for gingival curettage.

Are There Other Impacts on the Body?

Tooth infections cause discomfort or pain, but this is only the beginning. Remember, oral health and general physical health are strongly linked. A wealth of research indicates that tooth infections can have a substantial impact on the rest of the body.³ At one time, they were downright deadly. These days, however, infections are primarily a risk factor for heart disease.

What Contributes to Tooth Infections?

Oral health is complicated, and in most situations, no one habit, behavior or genetic concern is entirely to blame when infections appear. Rather, a mix of concerns can come into play, making the structures of the mouth even more vulnerable to infection. A few of the most common issues are highlighted in detail below:

Poor Oral Hygiene

Oral hygiene represents the first line of defense against numerous health issues, including infections. Many problems can contribute to lackluster oral hygiene, but brushing frequency (or lack thereof) should be top of mind.

Brushing and flossing should occur at least twice per day, yet many people only brush at night or neglect to floss altogether. Toothbrush selection is essential, too, as are brushing and flossing techniques.

High Sugar Intake and Dietary Habits

Brushing and flossing matter, but these alone cannot make up for a problematic diet. Sugar, in particular, has a detrimental impact on the teeth, as it attracts harmful bacteria. As bacteria feed on sugar, it forms plaque, which eventually becomes acidic if allowed to sit on the teeth.

Sugary beverages are even more harmful than sweets, as they are acidic on their own. For example, soda prompts new acid attacks with each sip. Over time, this weakens the enamel along with the likelihood of infection.

Tobacco

Smokers often worry about stained teeth (from nicotine) and an unpleasant phenomenon known as smoker’s breath. In reality, the ill effects of tobacco extend far beyond aesthetics. Tooth decay and gum disease are far more common among smokers, in part because smoking is linked to higher levels of dental plaque.⁴

Smoking also damages the body’s immune response. This, in turn, can make it more difficult to fight gum disease in its early stages, and common treatments for gum disease may prove less effective among heavy smokers. Promising research indicates that smokers can see huge improvements in oral health upon quitting.

Over-Compromised Immune System

As research on tobacco and oral health reveals, the immune response has a major impact on how the body deals with emerging oral concerns.⁵ However, smoking is just one of many issues that can compromise the immune system. Additionally, immune health can be negatively impacted by the use of other drugs or alcohol.

Chronic stress is another common source of reduced immune function, and emerging research indicates that psychological stress can become both a predisposing and exacerbating factor for gum disease. Malnutrition, poor sleep and various illnesses or injuries can also harm the immune system and therefore contribute to subpar oral health.

Prevention Steps and Importance

With so many factors contributing to the development of tooth infection, it can be difficult to know where to start in the fight against gum disease. A multifaceted approach is ideal, but there’s no need to spread yourself thin as you try to tackle every possible lifestyle factor. Instead, focus on your efforts on a few tried-and-tested strategies that are known to keep infection at bay:

Regular Dental Cleanings

Forming the basis of excellent oral health, dental cleanings are a must regardless of which habits you adopt and abide by at home. Recommended at least once every six months, each cleaning ensures that difficult-to-reach plaque and tartar are addressed. What’s more, this is a great opportunity to get targeted feedback from dentists and dental hygienists so that you can make necessary changes.

At-Home Preventative Measures

In addition to scheduling dental cleanings, it is crucial to maintain a solid routine at home. We cover this in more detail below, but remember: Consistency matters. If you follow your dental hygienist’s advice and commit a few minutes per day to your basic oral routine, you will see positive results.

Best Practices for Effective Oral Care

If you’re like most people, you try your best to brush at least twice per day. This is the most commonly practiced form of oral care, but it is just one habit worth adopting in your quest for healthy teeth inside mouth. The how of brushing also matters, along with flossing, dietary concerns and even stress management.

Effective Brushing Techniques

Brushing two or three times per day should provide a solid start, but you may need to overhaul your brushing equipment or techniques. Experts strongly recommend electric toothbrushes, which provide a far more thorough clean than their manually operated counterparts.⁶

Ideally, the bristles of the toothbrush will not be perpendicular to the teeth, but rather, placed at an angle. Use a sweeping motion to rotate the bristles and address the gum line. Avoid brushing too hard, as this can harm the gums.

Proper Flossing

Flossing removes plaque and debris from between the teeth. Aim to floss as often as you brush. There are many types of floss and devices worth trying, but standard nylon floss and dental tape work well.

Wrap a long piece of floss around the middle finger on each hand and glide gently between the teeth, paying attention to the gum line. Move the floss up and down as needed to ensure all plaque is reached.

Dietary Tips for Prevention

As mentioned, your diet can greatly impact your oral health. While it is not necessary to forgo treats entirely, you want to be careful about how often you consume them and which types of snacks you select.

Foods to Avoid

Any foods with high levels of sugar or acidity are best consumed in moderation. Hard and chewy candies are among the worst offenders (think taffy, for example). Because they are so sticky, these attach to the surface of the teeth and may be more difficult to remove.

Foods That Stimulate Teeth and Gums

While harmful foods tend to attract a lot of attention, some people find it easier to focus on the types of food that actively benefit their teeth and gums. For instance, the American Dental Association recommends produce that is rich in fiber.⁷

Most dairy products are excellent for oral health as well. Cheese in particular is great for healthy teeth, as it may help balance the mouth’s pH levels. Milk and plain yogurt are other go-to choices. Dairy can be helpful, in part, because it is high in calcium and phosphorus, which are both critical to dental health.

Try to Practice a Healthy Lifestyle

Your diet represents just one facet of your lifestyle, but many other habits can promote healthy teeth and gums while reducing the risk of infection. Your mental health can also have a surprisingly large impact on your oral health (and vice versa).

Stress Management and Oral Health

With research demonstrating a link between psychological stress and gum disease, it is increasingly clear that stress management has a powerful role to play in the quest for strong oral health.⁸ This is a complex topic, of course, and there is no straightforward solution to reducing or effectively managing stress. Common suggestions include:

• Limiting the use of social media
• Committing to self-care in its many forms
• Exercising at least half an hour per day
• Meditating or participating in yoga
• Spending time with friends

Practicing Healthy Eating Habits

Many people have a basic idea as to which foods are preferable from an oral health perspective, but that doesn’t make it any easier to actually adopt a healthy diet. It may help to start small; for example, include more tooth-friendly foods in each meal. This might mean replacing a starch-based snack or dish with an extra serving of cheese — or adding at least one additional serving of produce to each meal.

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Sources

1. World Health Organization. “WHO highlights oral health neglect affecting nearly half of the world’s population.” https://www.who.int/news/item/18-11-2022-who-highlights-oral-health-neglect-affecting-nearly-half-of-the-world-s-population
2. Mayo Clinic. “Tooth abscess.” https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/tooth-abscess/symptoms-causes/syc-20350901
3. Mayo Clinic. “Oral health: A window to your overall health.” https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/dental/art-20047475
4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Tobacco Use.” https://www.cdc.gov/oralhealth/fast-facts/tobacco-use/index.html
5. University of Toronto Faculty of Dentistry. “Body’s own immune system identified as a potential culprit in causing cavities, damaging fillings.” https://www.dentistry.utoronto.ca/news/bodys-own-immune-system-identified-potential-culprit-causing-cavities-damaging-fillings
6. Oral Health Foundation. “Electric toothbrushes win the head-to-head against manual in record breaking new study.” https://www.dentalhealth.org/news/electric-toothbrushes-win-the-head-to-head-against-manual-in-record-breaking-new-study
7. American Dental Association. “Nutrition and Oral Health.” https://www.ada.org/en/resources/research/science-and-research-institute/oral-health-topics/nutrition-and-oral-health
8. Gunepin, M. et al. “Impact of chronic stress on periodontal health.” https://www.jomos.org/articles/mbcb/full_html/2018/01/mbcb160058/mbcb160058.html