Oral fistula: when cavities cause death & bull; hello healthy

Cavities are one of the most common oral health problems. Many consider the problem of cavities to be resolved when the pain they cause has subsided. However, damage due to cavities can continue to occur due to infection, causing a cavity around the tooth to enter the gums, which is known as a fistula.

How do oral fistulas occur?

In medical terms, a fistula is defined as the presence of an abnormal cavity or channel caused by an inflamed (inflamed) organ surface. In the case of cavities, infection with germs and food debris that enter the cavity can trigger inflammation around the root of the tooth (pulpitis) and gums, causing a fistula. Cavities that contain germs are a source of infection and this causes fistula sufferers to experience a buildup of pus, aka abscesses in the mouth.

Infection can also spread quickly because it is close to blood vessels. Most infections spread and cause a fistula on the inside of the mouth, which is characterized by a pus-filled swelling around the teeth. If left untreated, fistulas can spread and lead to bone infections (chronic osteomyelitis) around the face, infection on the inside of the facial skin (cellulitis), and the appearance of an abscess on the face.

Oral fistula symptoms

Abscess development due to cavities is usually slow and often does not cause any symptoms. Abscess and pain are signs that the root infection is getting worse. Here are some of the symptoms experienced by people with fistulas:

• There is swelling of the gums with a red color.
• Pain in the teeth when chewing.
• The discharge of pus from the surface of the gums is followed by a reduction in pain in the teeth.

Follow-up effects of oral fistulas

The spread of bacterial infection due to oral fistulas is the cause of various health problems that spread through blood vessels, including:

1. Brain abscess - The proximity of the infection site between the gums and the brain causes germs to move easily to the brain. A brain abscess due to infection in the bloodstream can lead to coma.
2. Ludwig's angina - a more serious condition than cellulitis due to a fistula. Abscess due to fistula in the lower mouth that is not resolved triggers swelling that can press on the airway (larynx) causing shortness of breath and can lead to death.
3. Sinus infection - is a form of infection in the facial sinuses. This can easily occur if the infection occurs in the upper teeth adjacent to the sinuses, as a result of which the sinus cavities can contain pus coming from the teeth.
4. Bacterial endocarditis - is an infection of the heart ventricles due to bacterial infection. Germs on cavities and abscesses can be carried by the bloodstream through the blood vessels to the heart and cause death.

Who is at risk for oral fistulas?

Oral fistulas can happen to anyone, but the main cause of developing tooth decay is poor oral hygiene. The amount of yellow plaque on the teeth is the main cause of cavities and gum damage or what is known as periodontitis. This condition causes dental infection and results in oral fistulas.

How to treat oral fistulas

Here are some things that need to be done to treat oral fistulas:

1. Pulling out the infected tooth - due to the worsening of the fistula condition due to the presence of germs on the infected cavities and causing an abscess. Infection not only affects the appearance of a fistula, but damage to the bones of the teeth so that the teeth become brittle and crushed. In general, the symptoms of a fistula will disappear immediately and the healing process runs quickly after the tooth extraction is the source of the infection.
2. Suck pus - when the abscess has spread, this is necessary in addition to tooth extraction to clean the cavities in the tooth and gums that are affected by pus and prevent the infection from continuing.
3. Take antibiotics - This is necessary to prevent the infection from continuing, but this is not a treatment that addresses cavities as antibiotics can only reduce the effect of the infection and prevent abscesses from appearing temporarily.

How to prevent oral fistulas

The best prevention of oral fistulas is to prevent cavities and maintain oral health. Avoid plaque buildup from food debris by brushing your teeth regularly. Regular tartar examination and cleaning is also needed to treat tooth decay as early as possible. In addition, consumption of balanced nutrition is needed to meet calcium and vitamin D intake and reduce intake of high sugar and too acidic to prevent tooth decay.