Could a bad tooth be cause of a sickness?

Question

Hi there!

I have been sick for over a week for really no good reason. I take vitamines, dress warm, etc. The symptoms are very cold like, but in completely reverse and crazy order. I just got sore throat after a week of coughing with nothing getting coughed up. I am also extremely tired the whole time. But I don't feel very bad. I feel okay, other than I wish I could just sleep all day. I was wondering if this could have anything to do at all with a bad tooth. I had a root canal done last week on a tooth that has been giving me lot of problems for over a year. Now that the root canal is done and the tooth is okay, I was wondering if that might have triggered some kind of response in my body in form of this strange sickness? Is it possible? I heard once that bad teeth, even if people don't know about them, can cause very weird health problems. Please, advise. tks

Answer 1

Hello!
You say you have been coughing for a week (which may have caused your sore throat), but it is not a productive cough? I would wonder more if something irritated your respiratory system (were you under general anesthesia?). Are you coughing constantly, enough to wake yourself up and disturb your sleep? I have noticed in the past that a cough can wear a person down very quickly.
~Is there any inflammation surrounding the tooth that was the subject of the root canal?
~Do you have any other symptoms besides a cough and feeling tired? Do you feel congested, if so you could try mullein (an herb, you can get a tincture from a store like Vitamin World).
~Are your glands swollen? Feel along your jawline and throat, look at your tonsils; is there any swelling or tenderness? If you are fighting an infection, you will probably see some swelling.
~Do you have a fever? This is another good indicator of infection.

~If not, you may want to address the issue of the cough and the sore throat. Drink lots of liquids (especially hot tea- the steam will soothe the mucus membranes), use lozenges, and showers with lots of steam. You can gargle with salt water to soothe your throat, and sometimes popsicles or other frozen treats can help take the sting away.

Also, if you feel tired and can take the time to rest, take a few days to indulge that need. Your body may be trying to heal from the trouble you had with that tooth, and from the surgery.

Last, but not least, if you don't see an improvement soon, you may need to see the doctor. If you are in doubt, a lot of insurance companies have a nurse hotline you can call to get free advice.

I hope you feel better soon.

Answer 2

Yes. But it is also possible it is not related to the tooth, so all the more reason to get multiple examinations by different professionals. Especially if you continue to show no improvement. A common viral illness can easily last a week, up to 30 days.

Answer 3

Since you had the tooth taken care of, it probably isn't from that. Go to the doctor, because you may need to be put on a prescription. This time of year there are a lot of illnesses, especially upper respritory, and you may need help getting over it. So go to the doctor, and I hope you feel better soon.

Answer 4

Having unhealthy teeth can lead to other health problems. Bacteria that build up on unclean teeth can lead to sore throats and coughs. Best advise? Makes sure you look after your teeth well, and hopefully your syptoms will clear! Hope you feel better soon xXx

Answer 5

Bad teeth carry bacteria which can be released into the bloodstream when the tooth is disturbed by dental work.