Pericoronitis
Wisdom teeth do not always come into the mouth as expected. There are times where a tooth will come in part of the way and a flap of gum will cover it. This will happen more often with the lower wisdom teeth than with the upper ones. Bacteria and pieces of food can get trapped under this flap. The gum may swell and it may end up getting irritated. This infection is called pericoronitis.
What can you do about pericoronitis?
The symptoms of pericoronitis include
- a bad taste in the mouth which often happens if there is an infection
- bad breath or halitosis
- pain in the area around the back teeth
- swelling of the gums behind your back teeth which may give you difficulty in biting. You will pinch the swollen gums as you bite and this may be quite painful
- inability to open your mouth completely
You must not use warm compress on your face. Instead, swish some warm saltwater around your mouth. This will help reduce the swelling but it will not completely solve the problem. You must visit your dentist as soon as possible.
What will your dentists do about pericoronitis?
Pericoronitis is a tricky condition to treat. The flap of gum tissue will not go away until one of the following things happen
- the flap of tissue is removed completely
- the wisdom tooth is taken out
- your wisdom tooth comes out into your mouth completely
Your dentist will clean the area and make sure that there is no more damaged tissue or pus. Antibiotics will be given to you if the area is infected. Your dentist will give you tips on how to keep the area clean. This is the best way to prevent the problem from coming back. You must practice good dental hygiene like brushing twice a day and flossing everyday. You should also use mouthwash. This will prevent any food particles from building up and getting stuck in the area.
If the condition comes back then your dentist will send you to an oral surgeon. Your oral surgeon may suggest that the flap be removed or the tooth be removed. When the tooth is out, the chances of having the problem again is rare. If the problem is caused by an upper wisdom tooth biting the gum that covers the lower wisdom tooth then the upper one is the one removed first.