First Responders
The cardinal sign of immune deployment in the mouth
What is inflamation
A temporary home remedy using a household staple that reduces oral swelling and cleanses the area, though it cannot cure an abscess.
What is a saltwater rinse
Swelling in these specific nodes under the jaw or neck indicates the immune system is currently filtering out some oral bacteria.
What is lymph nodes
Unlike a skin scratch, a deep tooth abscess cannot be healed by the immune system alone and requires intervention from this specialist.
What is a dentist
The immune system cannot independently cure a root canal infection due to this specific physical limitation of a dead tooth.
What is a lack of blood supply
prescription medication used to directly kill bacteria when the natural immune response is overwhelmed.
What are antibiotics
A systemic rise in body temperature triggered by the immune system to make the body less hospitable to spreading oral bacteria.
What is a fever
The dental procedure that saves a tooth by drilling into the pulp, removing the infected tissue and sealing it off from bacteria.
What is a root canal
The specific family of immune signaling proteins (like interleukins) released by oral cells to scream for backup during an infection.
What are cytokines?
The last-resort surgical procedure performed when a tooth is too infected to save and must be completely removed to protect the rest of the body.
What is an extraction