Wisdom Tooth Infection, Everything You Need To Know
Wisdom teeth that are infected are third molars at the rear of the mouth that do not have enough room to erupt or grow correctly.
Wisdom teeth are the final adult teeth to emerge from the mouth (erupt). The majority of people have four wisdom teeth at the rear of their mouth, two on top and two on the bottom.
Wisdom teeth are often in the back of our heads, but they can cause pain and infection. If your wisdom tooth is infected, you may have other symptoms associated with it such as a fever or chills. In some cases, your doctor may recommend removing the infected tooth immediately to prevent further damage from occurring.
Wisdom teeth can become infected and cause pain, especially as they grow. Impacted wisdom teeth can cause discomfort, tooth damage, and other dental issues. Impacted wisdom teeth may not produce any obvious or immediate complications in certain circumstances. However, since they are difficult to clean, they may be more susceptible to tooth decay and gum disease than other teeth.
Wisdom teeth are the last teeth to come in. They’re often impacted, meaning they don’t grow in straight and can cause problems if they get pushed into the jawbone.
If you have wisdom teeth and they’re causing pain, it’s important to see your dentist as soon as possible. Your dentist will check for signs of infection such as swelling or redness around the area where your tooth has erupted (the first time it came out). They may also use an x-ray machine to look inside your mouth at these sites while they’re present on their way down into your gums so that they can see what might be causing any issues there.
Most wisdom tooth infections can be cured with antibiotics, but sometimes the wisdom tooth needs to be removed.
Your dentist can generally treat a wisdom tooth infection with antibiotics. However, if the infection is serious and cannot be treated with medicines, your wisdom teeth may need to be removed.
If you’re concerned about undergoing dental surgery, don’t be—you can still eat normally afterward.
Symptoms of an infected wisdom tooth include pain and swelling, red or white gums, and bad breath.
Pain and swelling
Red or white gums
Bad breath
If you have a fever or chills alongside your other symptoms you should see a doctor right away.
Fever and chills are symptoms of infection. They can suggest a severe infection, perhaps one that is potentially fatal. If you develop a fever, you should see your doctor right once to rule out any other medical illnesses that might be causing it (such as food poisoning).
What does wisdom tooth infection look like
Redness, discomfort, and swelling in the gum tissue immediately surrounding the wisdom teeth. The lymph nodes that serve the region of swelling (such as those beneath the jaw and in the neck) may swell. In certain circumstances, the swelling may develop to the face and neck.
What does wisdom tooth infection feel like
Infection of the wisdom teeth Pain from a toothache is unlike any other sort of pain. If you have discomfort that seems like a persistent throbbing on the inside of your tooth, you may have an infection. The throbbing might be strong, or it could feel more like a dull ache in your tooth that is always throbbing. A throbbing toothache indicates that there is a problem with your tooth that requires dental expert treatment. Some other signs of infection are
Bad breath or a bad taste in your mouth
If your foul breath persists despite proper cleanliness, you may have an infection in a tooth or in your gums. A rapid rush of bad-tasting salty liquid in your mouth might indicate that you have an infection and that the abscess where the infection is located has just ruptured. ⁶ You should see your dentist to see whether you have a dental infection.
Lymph nodes that seem swollen or painful
The lymphatic system circulates throughout the body and functions as a waste elimination system, removing cellular waste. When the body is infected or inflammatory, the lymph nodes might expand or harden. If you suddenly get hard lumps beneath your jaw or in your neck, you may have inflamed lymph nodes, which might indicate an infection.
A jaw or facial discomfort
If you have pain in your face, it might be from your teeth, but if you have discomfort in your jaw or the sides of your face, it could be from an impacted or diseased wisdom tooth. Because your wisdom teeth are located at the back and side of your mouth, if you have an infection in one, you will most likely have discomfort in your jaw or on the side of your face. However, discomfort in your jaw and teeth can propagate, so you may experience pain in another portion of your face or mouth.
Engorged or sensitive gums
Sometimes when the infection starts with the wisdom teeth but spreads to the gum around it. If you put pressure on or contact an infected gum with your finger or a toothbrush, it will most likely be swollen, red, and extremely painful. It might also be enlarged due to a pus-filled abscess, which a dentist can detect.
Is a wisdom tooth infection bacterial?
Yes, When wisdom teeth only partially erupt, pericoronitis might occur (break through the gum). An operculum is a soft tissue growth that forms above a partially erupted wisdom tooth. Bacteria can become trapped behind the operculum.
This allows germs to infiltrate the area around the tooth, causing inflammation and swelling. Food debris, germs, or plaque, a bacterial film that stays on teeth after eating, can also become trapped behind the gingiva, a flap of gum that surrounds a tooth. If it remains, it might irritate the gums and cause pericoronitis. In severe situations, the swelling and infection may spread to the cheeks and neck.
Can wisdom tooth infection cause ear pain?
Wisdom teeth are a common source of ear discomfort for people all over the world. It’s entirely natural to have pain in these teeth – but how much discomfort is reasonable?
Because the mouth is congested, patients often have ear ache as these teeth develop. Your wisdom teeth may need to be removed in that instance.
You shouldn’t be in too much discomfort if you have adequate room in your mouth for your teeth to come out. You also don’t have to remove your wisdom teeth, which is a huge benefit.
Can wisdom tooth infection spread to the throat
Bacteria might collect near the neck if the affected tooth is not removed soon. This is because it might be difficult to reach the brush in this manner or it can be quite uncomfortable to brush and floss thoroughly. In that situation, you may develop a throat infection. Symptoms such as a sore throat, fever, or enlarged lymph nodes may arise in this scenario.
How long does a wisdom tooth infection last
Mild pericoronitis infections can be managed at home or by taking antibiotics and pain relievers for a few days or a week. In the event of serious infections, oral procedures are conducted to extract the wisdom teeth, and recovery time is determined by the severity of the infection.
How to cure wisdom tooth infection at home
Clove Oil
Cloves are often used in dentistry and are effective against a variety of pathogens. Eugenol, along with -caryophyllene and eugenyl acetate, is the major ingredient of clove oil. Cloves also have anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties that can help cure tooth and gum infections. A little cotton ball soaked in clove oil and placed to the area affected by the painful tooth can provide relief.
Cinnamon Oil
Cinnamon has been shown in several studies to promote oral health and may guard against particular types of bacteria that cause tooth decay, cavities, bad breath, and other mouth diseases. Cinnamaldehyde, the main component, has antifungal and antibacterial effects that assist in naturally treating microorganisms associated with foul breath and gum disease.
Not to mention its anti-inflammatory characteristics, which make this spice a definite winner for healing sore gums. This is why cinnamon has historically been used to numb teething toddlers’ gums and teeth.
Chew mint leaves
Mint is a family comprising 15-20 plant species, the most common of which are spearmint and peppermint. Mint includes menthol, which contributes to the cooling sensation felt after brushing. Second, since ancient times, mint was applied to the teeth and gums to promote healing of dental wounds and gum health.
Mint inhibits the formation of dangerous germs while also cleaning your tongue and teeth. Also, chewing fresh mint leaves is the quickest way to reap the germicidal properties of mint; it is natural and works quickly.
Asafetida
Asafetida is an ancient Indian spice that may also be used medicinally. It’s especially effective if your pain is the result of a cavity. To produce a pain-relieving solution, warm up a couple of spoonfuls of lime juice and add 1/4 teaspoon of ground asafetida. Stir the asafetida until it softens and dissolves. Allow the solution to cool before applying it to your tooth using a cotton ball.
Garlic Oil
Garlic is one of the most often used Ayurvedic treatments for wisdom tooth discomfort. Garlic contains a chemical called allicin, which aids with pain relief. Dip a cotton swab in garlic essential oil and apply it directly to the affected tooth region 2 – 3 times each day until the infection is gone.
Also Read: How to Reverse Cavities Naturally
