First Signs Of Wisdom Tooth Infection Symptoms
When wisdom teeth get infected, patients usually experience a lot of pain in the back of their mouths, impacting their daily lives. It can cause difficulty eating, and the pain may linger throughout the day and into the night.
The cause is usually an untreated issue when a patient’s wisdom teeth first came in. They may not have come in straight, or they may have caused a hole in the gums where bacteria could accumulate. Even if you brush regularly, it can be hard to keep bacteria from growing back there, especially if its a hard-to-reach area.
Over time, infections can spread from the gums to the teeth themselves. An infection can grow inside the bone, constantly sending pain signals through the tooth’s nerve endings. If an infection reaches that point, your wisdom teeth will need to be removed.
Swollen Or Painful Gums
Sometimes the infection starts with the wisdom tooth but enters the gum around the tooth. An infected gum will likely be swollen, red, and very painful if you press on it or touch it with your finger or a toothbrush.¹ It may also be swollen because there is an abscess filled with pus but that is for a dentist to determine.
How To Prevent The Stitches From Becoming Infected
After having the extraction site cleaned out, there are a couple of things which you should do so that it doesnt happen again.
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Finish the antibiotics. You should definitely finish the entire course of the medication, which is about one week. It should kill off any residual bacteria.
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Use the antibiotic mouth rinse. This rinse is used twice a day and it will help keep the area clean and free of bacteria. Consequently it also helps the wound heal faster.
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Rinse with salt water. After every meal, you should be rinsing vigorously with a salt water rinse so that food doesnt get stuck in the socket.
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Maintain oral hygiene. Make sure you brush for at least two minutes twice a day. Plaque and food that is left around may irritate the site.
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Minimize chewing on that side. By using that side less while eating, youll minimize the chances of food getting lodged into the stitches.
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Types Of Impacted Wisdom Teeth
Several types of impaction can influence the kind of symptoms you may experience.
- Mesial impaction: This is the most common type of impaction and occurs when the wisdom tooth crown angles toward the front of the mouth.
- Distal impaction: This is the least common type of impaction and occurs when the wisdom tooth angles itself toward the back of the mouth.
- Vertical impaction: This occurs when the tooth is trapped beneath the gums despite being in the correct position.
- Horizontal impaction: This type of impaction occurs when the wisdom tooth is trapped beneath the gums completely horizontally and puts pressure on the adjacent teeth.
Each of these impaction types can occur in the hard or soft tissue. A soft tissue impaction means the wisdom tooth has erupted from the jawbone but failed to emerge through the gum tissue. A hard tissue impaction means the wisdom tooth is still completely covered by gum tissue and jawbone.
Wisdom Tooth Infection Common Symptoms
You may have an infection in a wisdom tooth if you are suffering from any of the problems listed below:
- Pain in the jaw or the side of the face
- Pain in or around the tooth
- Swollen lymph glands
- Difficulty opening the mouth
If you are experiencing any of the above problems, then we recommend you visit your dentist right away.
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Infection In The Gums
As a wisdom tooth begins to erupt, wisdom teeth roots can often be awkwardly positioned, which causes only part of the tooth to emerge. When this happens, it can leave the gum tissue very susceptible to active infections. Even with a minuscule opening, food can easily get lodged in there, making it very difficult to remove, even with thorough brushing and flossing. This can escalate into a potentially serious infection known as pericoronitis if not detected and corrected immediately. This is the most serious sign to look out for when your wisdom teeth are coming in, so always consult with your dentist as soon as possible.
How Should I Treat A Tooth Extraction Infection
After a patient has a tooth extracted in our dental office, we may prescribe antibiotics, antiseptic mouthwash and recommend other precautions to lower the chance of infection. If your tooth should still become infected, contact our dental office for further directions. A tooth infection does not go away on its own and requires additional care. Some additional steps we may recommend include:
- We may direct you to rinse your mouth with warm saltwater on a regular basis to lower your discomfort level.
- Cold compresses may help to alleviate any increased pain or swelling.
- Our dentist will determine if additional antibiotics or pain management measures are appropriate.
- Continue to carefully monitor your food and liquid intake so as not to further aggravate the infection.
- In some cases, we might recommend draining the infection. This is usually based on a visual inspection of your mouth and a full assessment of your symptoms. Draining may help to increase the rate at which any swelling and pain subside.
- Take the full course of antibiotics we prescribe, even if the infection appears to have diminished. Even though you might be feeling better, it is still possible that you have an infection.
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Signs Of Wisdom Tooth Infection
Team Tooth Extractions
When wisdom teeth start to come in, it can be painful. Whats even worse is when those wisdom teeth get infected. Its more common than you thinkbecause wisdom teeth are located so far back in the mouth, theyre harder to clean properly. With wisdom teeth that are partially impacted, the infection risk is even higher because bacteria and food particles can become trapped in the gum tissue surrounding the part of the tooth that has emerged. If you believe you have signs of wisdom tooth infection, or pericoronitis, it is important to get treatment as soon as possible.
Heres what you should look for:
What Is The Cost Of Having Wisdom Teeth Removed
Removing wisdom teeth can cost you somewhere between$75 $250 per tooth. The impacted wisdom tooth will cost between $200 $600. Extracting all four wisdom teeth together will cost you around $600 $1100. Removing just one wisdom tooth, including general anesthesia, will cost you about $600 $1100.
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Worried That Your Wisdom Tooth May Be Infected Check Out These Ten Common Symptoms From Flossy That Are A Sure Sign Of An Infection
A personâs mouth may not be large enough to accommodate the wisdom teeth that emerge in early adulthood. As a result, these teeth usually erupt at an odd angle and damage the neighboring teeth. Sometimes, wisdom teeth can get stuck in the gums.
As a result, wisdom teeth have a higher risk of getting infected. This not only affects the infected wisdom tooth but can also lead to various health complications.
Keep reading this guide from Flossy to find out what causes wisdom teeth to get infected, how to tell if your wisdom tooth is infected, and what you can do to treat your infected wisdom tooth.
Wisdom Tooth Extraction Infection
Wisdom teeth are the final set of molars that we develop, usually in our late teens or early twenties . When it comes to wisdom teeth, people are differentyou can have anywhere from one to four wisdom teeth grow in. Usually as wisdom teeth erupt, they grow in crooked or crowd your existing teeth if there isnt enough room for the new molars to fit comfortably in your mouth.
In most cases, dentists recommend that people have their wisdom teeth extracted to prevent future problems such as infection, tooth crowding, jaw damage, cavities, sinus issues, and more.
Occasionally, people will get an infection after having their wisdom teeth removed. It is normal to experience some pain and swelling after having your wisdom teeth removed, but you may have a wisdom teeth removal infection if you experience the following symptoms more than 3 days after your surgery:
- Pain and swelling
- Pus emerging from the tooth extraction site
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How We Treat Infected Wisdom Teeth
If you have an infected wisdom tooth, its important to get prompt treatment. The infection from your wisdom tooth can spread throughout the mouth and even to other areas of the body via the bloodstream, which can be quite serious and may even require hospitalization.
The first step in treating an infected wisdom tooth is cleaning the area around the tooth to remove bacteria and plaque. Dr. Sreeni will prescribe a course of oral antibiotics to get the infection under control. Once you no longer have an active infection, the wisdom tooth can be surgically extracted to prevent future infection and other dental issues.
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Get Your Wisdom Teeth Removed
Your dentist or oral surgeon will provide you with detailed instructions for your removal appointment. Be sure to follow them carefully.
Wisdom tooth removal is a common and routine procedure and has a low rate of complications. The removal usually takes less than an hour and involves anesthesia.
You shouldnt experience any pain during or immediately after the procedure. After the anesthesia wears off, though, you might feel pain where the wisdom teeth were.
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Wisdom Teeth Removal Aftercare
After having your wisdom teeth removed, follow your dentist or oral surgeons instructions carefully.
The spaces, or sockets, where your wisdom teeth used to be will form blood clots after surgery. These blood clots will need time and gentle care to heal properly and form new, healthy tissue.
Your oral surgeon will likely prescribe antibiotics to keep infection at bay while your mouth heals. Take the medication as directed. They may also give you a pharmaceutical-grade mouthwash, such as chlorhexidine.
You may be in pain for a few days once the anesthesia wears off. In some cases, your dentist or oral surgeon might prescribe you a pain medication.
Your dentist or oral surgeon will probably advise you to avoid the following during recovery:
- Strenuous exercise
- Drinking through a straw
- Eating hard or crunchy foods
Take these and any other instructions seriously. Otherwise, youll risk disturbing the blood clots in the back of your mouth.
If the blood clot in a tooth socket is damaged or dislodged, you may develop a painful condition known as a dry socket. This causes the underlying bone and nerves to be exposed to air, which can lead to infection.
A dry socket is treatable. Still, you can avoid it altogether by following your doctors post-surgical instructions.
A week or so after your wisdom tooth removal, pain should subside. You will have a follow-up appointment with your dentist or oral surgeon around this time.
In this article
Signs Of A Tooth Extraction Infection
Pain after tooth extraction is not uncommon but should be neither excessive nor long-lasting. This is often the very first sign of infection.
For all types of tooth extraction infection, the signs are similar in the beginning. Look for the following eight signs of infection:
Patients who develop an ear infection as a result of tooth extraction may also experience ear pain and dizziness. Other common symptoms include pain or pressure across the sinuses and a feeling of fullness in the head.
A deep neck infection may come with the same symptoms but must be diagnosed with an MRI.
There are a few symptoms that are serious enough to trigger an immediate trip to the emergency room). Fever and swelling in the jaw together, with or without difficulty breathing, means you may be experiencing potentially fatal sepsis . Call your emergency dentist, and if they are not available, go immediately to the closest emergency room.
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Wisdom Tooth Infection What Causes It And How We Treat It
While on the one hand, you may be looking forward to getting your wisdom teeth through, you probably know that they have a reputation for causing disruption in the mouth. One common problem is wisdom tooth infection, but what causes it and what should you be looking out for? Lets dive in and take a closer look.
Wisdom teeth normally make an appearance in the late teens or early twenties and because they are the last set of teeth to arrive, there often isnt sufficient room in the mouth to accommodate them.
As a result, they end up jostling for space, erupting at awkward angles, pushing into neighbouring teeth and sometimes getting stuck in the gums when theyre referred to as impacted wisdom teeth.
Each of these issues has the potential to trigger an infection.
So what are the symptoms, how do you know if you have a problem with a wisdom tooth?
Signs And Symptoms That A Tooth Infection Is Spreading
While it is rare for a tooth infection or tooth abscess to spread to other parts of your body, it can happen. And, if it does happen, the consequences can be quite severe. If you suspect that a tooth infection could be spreading, you do not want to put off seeing your dentist, call for treatment as soon as possible. Here are some signs and symptoms to watch out for, that may indicate the tooth infection has spread
-swelling to the face, neck or cheeks
-pain in your mouth and tongue
-nausea and vomiting
-itching sensation on your skin
-high fever
-double vision, or loss of vision
-drooping eyelids
-rapid pulse rates and lightheadedness
-your breathing rate increases to over 25 breaths per minute
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Infected Wisdom Tooth Symptoms
When you get an infection in a wisdom tooth or in the gum around the wisdom tooth it can be tough to know if its an infection because the symptoms of a wisdom tooth infection can also be symptoms of other problems. A good rule of thumb is to assume that if you have two or more of the following symptoms it could be an infection, and if you have three or more of these symptoms¹ see your doctor or dentist right away to see if you do have an infection and need treatment. Some of the most common infected wisdom tooth symptoms are:
Suffering From Wisdom Teeth Pain Contact Rockcliffe Dental Today
Any of the mentioned signs are good indications that its time to schedule a check-up with a dental clinic in Ottawa to see whether you require a wisdom tooth extraction. Practicing good oral hygiene and applying ice packs may temporarily relieve the pain, but ignoring the symptoms of wisdom teeth will only create serious potential health implications for you.
So give us a call at Rockcliffe Dental to set up your next appointment and receive proper treatment. Our team of dental professionals will be happy to provide proper oral health care for you.
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What Are The Symptoms Of A Tooth Infection Spreading To The Body
If an abscess ruptures, you may notice a sudden foul taste or even salty fluid in your mouth. Youll probably also notice that your pain subsides and think that you are out of the woods.
Unfortunately, this isnt necessarily true.
The rupture can be one of the first signs that the infection is beginning to spread. If it enters the bloodstream it can cause a serious condition called sepsis. This is when things get life-threatening.
If you notice the rupture, seek medical help immediately. However, the abscess wont always rupture on its own. Or it may rupture when the problem has already become quite severe.
Thus, if you notice any of these other 5 symptoms, even without an obvious rupture, you should seek emergency medical help at once.
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How To Deal With An Infected Wisdom Tooth
This article was medically reviewed by Tu Anh Vu, DMD. Dr. Tu Anh Vu is a board certified dentist who runs her private practice, Tu’s Dental, in Brooklyn, New York. Dr. Vu helps adults and kids of all ages get over their anxiety with dental phobia. Dr. Vu has conducted research related to finding the cure for Kaposi Sarcoma cancer and has presented her research at the Hinman Meeting in Memphis. She received her undergraduate degree from Bryn Mawr College and a DMD from the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine.There are 13 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 281,004 times.
Experts agree that you need to see a dentist if you’re experiencing any wisdom tooth pain to see if your tooth is infected.XTrustworthy SourceNational Health Service Public healthcare system of the UKGo to source Your wisdom teeth are usually your last teeth to come in, though a few people don’t have them. Research suggests that some wisdom tooth infections occur when your tooth becomes trapped under your gums, but they can also happen because it’s harder to clean your back teeth. While an infected wisdom tooth can be painful, your dentist can help you get relief.
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Problems With Wisdom Teeth
Some wisdom teeth erupt without causing any problems, but sometimes, wisdom teeth come through at an angle and push into the gum or the tooth beside them. This is called impaction.
Impaction of a wisdom tooth can be painful and sometimes causes infection. Brushing these teeth can be difficult. Food and bacteria can get stuck between the wisdom tooth and the tooth next to it, leading to tooth decay and gum infections called pericoronitis.
Crowded wisdom teeth often lean sideways and rub against the cheek. This may cause ulcers on the cheek and chewing problems.
Your oral health professional may recommend that your wisdom teeth be removed if:
- there is not enough room in your mouth for your wisdom teeth to come through properly removing a tooth early may help prevent a future problem
- you are experiencing:
- damage to other teeth.
They may also recommend keeping a watch on the tooth in case it looks like causing problems later.