For anyone who thinks their teeth are just a means to biting and chewing food or that any oral health problems will eventually go away on their own, the fate of NFL wide receiver Mike Williams should make you reconsider. Officials recently announced that the 36-year-old former football player died in September 2023 of brain infections stemming from dental problems.
Yes, Dental Problems Can Be Life-Threatening
Even though Williams, once a Tampa Bay Buccaneer, suffered an accidental blow to the head at a construction site about a week before his death and was hospitalized for it, he eventually succumbed to bacterial sepsis with cerebral abscesses and necrotizing lobar pneumonia because of multiple dental caries and retained tooth roots.
Untreated abscesses or an abscess that someone tries to pop at home is a guaranteed route to flooding your system with bacteria. When the bloodstream is contaminated, infection spreads and hospitalization and intense treatment is necessary. If a dental problem reaches the stage of sepsis, getting the problem under control is incredibly challenging, even when it affects an athlete who seems otherwise healthy.
Williams’ brain had pus growing around it, a horrific situation that was the result of severe dental infections that spread. A rare but infectious disease, necrotizing lobar pneumonia is a lung infection identified by liquid in the lungs and can lead to gangrene formation. Williams was taken off life support on September 12.
The Deceptively Slow Development of Oral Health Complications
News reports identified that Williams suffered from heart disease and experienced cardiac arrest shortly after his construction accident. It’s important to note that poor oral health is often a contributor to inflammation in the body and cardiovascular problems. This is not a situation that develops quickly but over time, which could indicate that Williams had not taken care of his oral health overall for a long time or visited a dentist.
Regular dental visits for preventive care – teeth cleanings, exams, and the early treatment of developing cavities or gum disease – could have prevented Williams’ dental complications. There are some oral health problems that seem to pop up quickly – a severe toothache, an abscess, bleeding gums – but these issues are all signs of complications that have been festering below the surface for a while. Once they’re visible or painful, the problem is acute and demands immediate treatment to prevent severe pain, additional complications, or fatal consequences.
You Can Afford Dental Care
Even if you’re not a pro football player making millions of dollars, dental care is always affordable. It doesn’t take a great deal of effort to keep teeth and gums in good condition, healthy, and free from problems with twice-a-year appointments with your Red Bank dentist and a diligent at-home routine.
If you have any dental concerns, contact your dentist right away for a visit. It’s important to know what you have and what kind of help you need to have a healthy mouth and strong teeth. Health disaster caused by dental problems is not a given for anyone. Prioritize your oral health just as much as the rest of your body. Get in touch today for an appointment.
Photo credit: sportsaldente.com
