My son’s dentist told me that infections in mouths can’t cause fevers. Is this correct? Can you please tell me if this is or is not true? This dentist did not want to take the time to explain why or why not.
Sincerely, Becky from Tulsa
Dear Becky,
It seems that there is a bit of miscommunication here. Infections in the mouth most certainly can cause fevers. For that matter, infections anywhere in the body will cause the body to go into defense mode, which can potentially cause a fever. My advice is to have regular check-ups and cleanings to prevent from having infections.
Perhaps your son’s dentist was trying to convey that dental infections may not cause significant fevers. Although, most of the time they don’t.
Often times, an infection is will remain just within a tooth, and the body will contain the infection, to keep it under control so that there is no obvious infection. As a result, fevers don’t normally occur due to a tooth or gum infection. Mind you, I’m not completely ruling out the possibility.
Tooth infections can sometimes cause a person to feel run down though. I’ve observed this with many patients. Also, when a child’s teeth begin cutting, a fever can sometimes occur. Dentists who really care about their patients will take the time to explain these things.
This blog sponsored by New Jersey dentist Dr. Allyson Hurley