Wisdom teeth are the last four molars in your mouth, usually erupting in the late teens or early twenties. Despite its name, a wisdom tooth may in some cases cause more pain than wisdom if they get infected.
If you want to avoid the pain of wisdom tooth infection and learn more about the causes, symptoms and treatment of an infected wisdom tooth, we’re here to help. Read on to find out more.
What are Wisdom Teeth?
Wisdom teeth are the third and final set of molars located at the back of your mouth. Since they erupt at a mature age when the rest of the teeth are already out, there may not be enough space in the mouth. This causes the wisdom tooth to get “impacted”. An impacted wisdom tooth may:
- Grow at the wrong angle, sideways or horizontally
- Erupt partially or get stuck inside the bone
An impacted wisdom tooth can cause problems such as crowding, infection and tooth decay. In such situations, it’s best to have it extracted because an impacted wisdom tooth is more susceptible to infection.
Not everyone may need to get their wisdom teeth removed. If your wisdom teeth grow straight or erupt fully, they may not cause problems, and you can keep them.
Symptoms of Wisdom Tooth Infection
Some of the symptoms of wisdom tooth infection include:
Pain in the jaw or the side of the face
An infected wisdom tooth can cause severe pain in the jaw and the side of the face. You might face difficulty opening your mouth and chewing, along with swelling and bleeding gums. The pain from the infection can be felt along the entire side of the jaw, causing stiffness and soreness.
Pain in or around the tooth
Consistent toothache at the back of your mouth is a sign of wisdom tooth infection. Since wisdom teeth are at the back of your mouth, it is difficult to see and clean them properly. Food particles stuck inside the gum flap of partially erupted wisdom teeth can cause bacteria to thrive, eventually, leading to an infection or cavities. The pain from the infection can be felt inside the tooth and around the area as it begins to spread.
Bad breath
Wisdom teeth are difficult to clean, especially if they are impacted. Food particles stuck inside the tooth, leading to a bad odour, providing bacteria an ideal environment to grow and infection to spread.
Reddened or swollen gums around the tooth
Infected wisdom teeth have reddened and swollen gums around the tooth. This is because the infection causes inflammation, leading to irritated or bleeding gums and pain in the area. If the infection is not treated promptly, it can spread to other areas of the mouth, causing further inflammation and swelling.
Other symptoms of an infected wisdom tooth include:
- Fever
- Sore throat
- Nausea
- Headaches
- Pus in the gums
Causes of Wisdom Tooth Infection
Some of the causes of wisdom tooth infection include:
Wisdom tooth impaction
When a wisdom tooth grows at the wrong angle or does not have enough space to erupt, it gets stuck in the bone. An impacted wisdom tooth has a higher risk of infection because it is not able to grow fully. A flap of gum covers the partially grown tooth until it can erupt or be extracted. Food particles can get stuck inside and around the opening, allowing bacteria to get inside the tooth. This leads to an infection which must be treated and cleaned with the wisdom tooth removed if it cannot grow out completely.
Cavities
Wisdom teeth, like the rest of the teeth, can get cavities. As they are located at the back of your mouth, they are difficult to clean. This may lead to tooth decay or cavities which must be treated before they can spread to healthy teeth.
Wisdom tooth extraction
Sometimes you can get an infection after wisdom tooth removal. This can happen if bacteria get into the wound area through improper oral hygiene or lack of proper care after the surgery. Always follow your dentist’s instructions, take the prescribed painkillers and clean the wound to avoid infection.
Treatment For Wisdom Teeth Infection
The treatment for an infected wisdom tooth depends on the severity of the infection and the cause. If your tooth is impacted and stuck inside the bone, the infection must be treated with antibiotics before moving forward with the infection. Your dentist will usually do a dental examination with x-rays before recommending a treatment plan.
Some of the treatments for an infected wisdom tooth include:
A thorough clean of the wisdom teeth and the surrounding teeth and gums
The initial step in treating a wisdom tooth infection is a thorough cleaning of the wisdom tooth and the surrounding teeth and gums. This cleans the bacteria causing the infection and antibiotics treat the infection and the inflammation. Wisdom tooth extraction is performed after the infection is reduced. If the infection is severe, a root canal procedure may be necessary to remove the infected tissues and restore the tooth.
An antiseptic mouthwash
An antiseptic mouthwash can be used to treat a wisdom tooth infection by helping to reduce the number of bacteria in the mouth. The antiseptic mouthwash should be used twice daily, first thing in the morning and last thing at night, after brushing your teeth and flossing. Leave it in the mouth for at least 30 seconds before spitting it out. An antiseptic mouthwash may reduce inflammation and help to control the spread of the infection.
Visit your dentist
If you’re experiencing constant tooth pain, swelling or redness in the gums or jaw stiffness and pain, visit your dentist immediately. These symptoms might indicate you have an infected wisdom tooth, and treating it without delay might save you from a whole lot of pain if caught in the early stages.
Wisdom Tooth Extraction at Boon Dental
Don’t live with the pain of a wisdom tooth infection. We offer tooth extraction and wisdom tooth treatment services at our Wentworth Point and Ropes Crossing Clinic. Our team of highly skilled and caring dentists provide treatment plans tailored to your dental requirements. Book an appointment today.
