Wisdom teeth have a funny way of announcing their arrival. It all starts with a little bit of soreness, only to then grow into full-blown jaw pain. Experiencing swollen gums, a weird taste in the mouth, and pain, oddly enough, is pretty common. But when the pain escalates, that’s how you know your wisdom tooth has become infected.
There’s not much you can do for an infected wisdom tooth besides scheduling an extraction surgery. This will help relieve you of the discomfort and prevent the bacteria from spreading further.
Causes of an Infected Wisdom Tooth
Wisdom teeth, in all their glory, are late bloomers. They start sprouting during the late teenage years, all the way until you’re 30. But no matter how late they come in, your half-erupted wisdom tooth could easily get infected, depending on their position. Although not uncommon, this phenomenon certainly leaves behind a lot of pain and discomfort. Nonetheless, to be able to treat it, you should know what causes the infection in the first place.
Impaction
Impaction is the root cause of your wisdom tooth hurting and getting infected. This happens because it doesn’t have enough room to erupt, which further causes the tooth to slide at an awkward angle, unable to develop normally, leading to an infection.
Cavity
Getting a cavity on a tooth that hasn’t yet erupted is a big red flag. Not only is it painful, but it’s also hard to take care of them since they’re located at the back of your mouth. This makes acts like brushing and flossing almost impossible, causing an abscess to form.
Poor Oral Hygiene
The best method to relieve yourself of wisdom tooth pain is to get rid of it completely. However, an infection can sometimes pop up well after removing the wisdom tooth. This mainly occurs due to neglecting aftercare and failure to maintain good dental hygiene.
How to Know if You Have a Wisdom Tooth Infection
The best way to prevent a severe dental issue is by regularly checking in with your dentist. You can also look out for the following signs and symptoms indicating an infected wisdom tooth:
- Excessive pain in the wisdom tooth area
- Discomfort in the area surrounding the tooth, like gums or jawbone.
- Foul breath and taste in the mouth
- Difficulty chewing food
- High fever that comes and goes
- Tender and swollen gums
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Hard to open and close the mouth
- Pain in the side of the face
- Yellow or white discharge
What is an Infected Wisdom Tooth Extraction Like?
In case of an infection, wisdom tooth extraction is mandatory. In fact, it should be scheduled as soon as possible. This is to get rid of the bacteria quickly so that it doesn’t affect the surrounding area.
Once the surgery begins, your dentist will put you under sedation before pulling out the infected wisdom tooth and draining the abscess. However, after the surgery, you will be required to follow a strict diet until the surgical site is completely healed.
Final Thoughts
As a result of poor oral hygiene and routine, an infected wisdom tooth extraction could turn into a dental emergency. This is why it’s essential to care for your dental health. Brush two times on a daily basis, especially after meals. In addition to that, maintaining regular visits to the dentist is also advised. For more information, contact Katy Cypress Oral Surgery at (281) 667-0607.