Wisdom Tooth Infection: What to Lookout For
Approximately 85 percent of people will require the removal of their wisdom teeth as some point in their life. Wisdom teeth will start erupting from about 17 years to 25 years and need to be evaluated and monitored regularly by your dentist to ensure they grow through uneventfully.
Most often, the wisdom teeth will not have room in the mouth and this makes them erupt through the gums partially or even push horizontally against the other teeth.
In such cases, wisdom teeth are said to be impacted. Impacted wisdom teeth pose the challenges of gum tissue disease and crowding. Partially erupted wisdom teeth can get pericoronitis, a bacterial infection.
These are the signs of wisdom teeth infection that you should look out for:
Red Swollen Gums
You will notice red inflamed gums around your wisdom teeth. They are a sign of infection and you may also see pus, tenderness and swelling. All these symptoms will make it difficult to bite down or chew food properly.
Bad Smell and Taste in the Mouth
Foul smell and foul taste in the mouth are signs of infection in the mouth. Check your gums to identify if there is pus around the infected tooth. The bad taste soon returns after brushing and will persist for as long the infection has not cleared. Visit your dentist to get proper treatment.
Swollen Lymph Nodes and/or Fever
The lymph nodes just below the chin may be swollen if the infection is severe. Swollen lymph nodes are an indication that the body is attempting to fight off the infection.
You may also have fever or chills and some people will even experience jaw muscle spasms. You should be checked by your dentist to identify the exact cause of the problem.
Treatment for Pericoronitis
Your dentist should provide proper treatment through antibiotics and/or clearing the infection site through wisdom tooth extraction to prevent recurrence of the infection.
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Dr Ashley Davenport BDS MFGDP(UK)
I qualified as a dentist in 1995 and can honestly say that I have been doing a job that I love for the past 20 plus years. Most people who know me well know that dentistry is a passion for me and that if I won the lottery I would still want to have some dentistry in my life. I get huge satisfaction from treating patients and making a difference to ...
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Dr Catherine Myatt BDS MFGDP(UK)
Cath joined the practice as a dentist in 2002. She and Ashley met on their postgraduate Vocational Training course in Birmingham when they ended up working at the same practice in West Bromwich. When Ashley was looking for an associate at Balsall Common Dental Practice, Cath came to take the role and she has been here ever since. In 2017 Cath...
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