Tooth Infection & Hair Loss: What’s the Correlation?

A topic of this kind may seem funny and surprising to many of us, but it is a medical matter that requires awareness. Of course, you may never have heard of any link between hair loss and tooth infection, but in the modern era, a number of medical conditions are surprisingly interlinked.

According to a study conducted by researchers at the University of Grenada, it was discovered that there is a close connection between recurrent tooth infection and hair loss, particularly alopecia areata. In the medical terms, alopecia areata is an autoimmune condition where the normal cells begin turning against themselves, causing patches on the scalp, beard, or eyebrows.

The extent of damage differs from one patient to another, but one fact about alopecia areata remains that it causes circular patches. Scientists believe that one may have higher chances of regaining his hair once the condition is corrected, but there are also chances where one may fail to regrow his hair.

Much as the condition is generally genetically triggered, extreme cases of alopecia areata can lead to tooth or oral infection.

Self-examination

Once the tooth is infected, it is the white blood cells that fight the infection. Since the cells travel, alopecia patches will appear close to the infected region of the mouth. Normally, these patches occur in the beard, neck region, eyebrows, or the lower part of the scalp.

Studies indicate that extreme hair loss usually occurs in case the tooth infection was severe and left untreated for a long period of time.

Possible Treatment

In case you notice sudden patches on your scalp or any other region, consider having a dental checkup. Generally, dental issues normally go without being noticed, only to be realized in advanced stages.

50% of hair loss patients never take time to understand the actual cause of their hair loss and with that, they directly embark on Minoxidil or Finasteride to correct the condition. Treating hair loss without a generalized medical examination is simply a whitewash to the actual problem. Rather than seeking a hair transplant in Ludhiana to correct alopecia areata, it is recommended that you see a dentist first.

Through awareness, dentists are now thoroughly observing patients’ scalps, especially those with a tooth infection. Through tests and identifying symptoms, dental infections and alopecia can easily be treated in the early stages without causing much damage.

Common signs and symptoms of Tooth Infection

• Swelling in the neck

• Throbbing pain in the neck, tooth, and jawbone

• Fever

• Swollen lymph nodes in the neck

• Tooth sensitivity

Depending on the type of infection, the dentist cleans out the infection and will then repair the tooth in a procedure known as a root canal treatment. In other cases, a surgery is required, which may be a simple surgical approach or a complex surgical approach to remove the affected tooth.

While treating alopecia areata, both medical and nonsurgical treatments can be considered. Steroid injections administered into the affected scalp region is the immediate medical approach for alopecia areata. Minoxidil is another treatment option that helps in hair growth. All hair loss treatments are taken in prescribed periods usually in a few months.