Use Of An Antiseptic Mouthwash
Using an antiseptic mouthwash helps to control the level of bacteria inside the mouth, while also keeping your breath nice and fresh. Your dentist may recommend that you obtain one with the ADA seal of acceptance these have been approved by the American Dental Association as effective for your teeth.
- You can use mouthwash before and after brushing. Pour a small cap-full of the mouthwash into your mouth and swish it between the teeth for about 30 seconds before spitting out.
- You can use a commercial brand antiseptic mouthwash, or simply rinse your mouth with undiluted chlorhexidine, which is available in most pharmacies.
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How Are Impacted Wisdom Teeth Treated
If your impacted teeth are causing pain, infection or other dental damage, wisdom teeth removal is usually recommended. Many dentists recommend this oral surgery procedure as a preventative measure to reduce the risk of problems in the future.
Are impacted teeth more painful to remove?
While impacted wisdom teeth are generally more difficult to remove, the process isnt necessarily more painful. Your dentist or oral surgeon will give you pain relievers to manage any post-operative discomfort.
What are the risks and complications of wisdom teeth removal?
Like any surgical procedure, wisdom teeth removal comes with some potential risks and complications, including:
- Dry sockets. This happens when the blood clot from surgery becomes dislodged from your tooth socket prematurely , exposing your bone. You can reduce the risk of dry sockets by avoiding drinking through straws after your wisdom teeth removal.
- Infection. Sometimes bacteria, food or debris can become trapped in the tooth socket, resulting in an infection. Your dentist or oral surgeon can prescribe antibiotics to treat an oral infection.
- Damage to nearby structures. Sometimes your nerves, jawbone, sinuses or other teeth can become damaged during wisdom teeth removal. Advanced surgical techniques reduce the risk of these injuries, but they can still happen. Additional oral surgery procedures may be necessary to address this type of damage.
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.
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How Do I Know If My Tooth Extraction Is Infected 8 Signs
Even if your tooth extraction is simple and straightforward, there is a chance of complications. One of the more serious complications is tooth extraction infection, a painful condition that can lead to sepsis. Worldwide, sepsis is fatal in a third of the people who contract it, with survivors sometimes suffering lasting health issues that include PTSD and chronic pain. Dont let it go that far. Here are eight signs of tooth extraction infection .
If Im Not In Pain Does That Mean I Shouldnt Have My Wisdom Teeth Extracted
Pain isnt a great diagnostic tool for wisdom tooth extraction. Not everyone experiences wisdom tooth pain, but your dentist can tell you if youre at risk of long-term problems by doing a full exam and x-ray.
- Dental surgery in aging patients, which carries a higher rate of failure
But in 2000, Great Britains National Health Service issued guidelines stating that preventative removal of impacted wisdom teeth should be discontinued. They based this on 1997 guidelines from the Royal College of Surgeons.
A 2007 report on preventative extraction of wisdom teeth called the phenomenon a public health hazard. Dentist Jay Friedman, DDS explained in the report that around 1% of patients develop a lifelong condition called paresthesia after the removal of wisdom teeth.
According to his calculations, 9 million lost days of work and about $2.2 billion every year could be saved.
Friedman also discussed myths about the potential dangers of leaving asymptomatic wisdom teeth alone. For instance, he postulates that about 12% of impacted wisdom teeth will cause problems in nearby teeth or gums if not extracted.
As he points out, that rate is similar to that of infections of the gallbladder and appendix but those procedures are not recommended as a standard of care.
American Journal of Public Health
More recently, other clinicians and organizations have spoken out about concerns based on these guidelines. Friedmans popular 12% figure may not be accurate after all.
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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.
Your Tooth Is More Sensitive Than Usual
Sensitive teeth on their own donât necessarily indicate a tooth infection. Sometimes, it can be caused simply by the wearing away of tooth enamel, which requires a different treatment approach altogether.
However, if you notice that your back teeth are suddenly more sensitive to hot and cold temperatures, then itâs more likely the result of a tooth infection. The likelihood of this increases if you also experience any of the symptoms below.
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Getting Preventive Dental Care
Preventive dental care can help you avoid emergency dental costs. It can also help save you a lot of physical pain. If you have put off your regular dental exams and cleanings because of the cost of dental care, dental insurance can help make dental care more affordable.
Brought to you by The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America , New York, NY. Material discussed is meant for general illustration and/or informational purposes only and it is not to be construed as tax, legal, investment or medical advice. This is not dental care advice and should not be substituted for regular consultation with your dentist. If you have any concerns about your dental health, please contact your dentist’s office.
Links to external sites are provided for your convenience in locating related information and services. Guardian, its subsidiaries, agents and employees expressly disclaim any responsibility for and do not maintain, control, recommend, or endorse third-party sites, organizations, products, or services and make no representation as to the completeness, suitability, or quality thereof.
Removal Of Wisdom Teeth
X-rays will help to tell if wisdom teeth might cause problems. Some wisdom teeth do not cause problems and do not need to be taken out.
If your wisdom teeth need to be taken out, all you may need is a local anaesthetic so you wont feel it. If your wisdom teeth are deeply impacted and difficult to remove, or for other medical reasons, you may be offered a general anaesthetic. Sometimes this can be done with nitrous oxide to make it more comfortable.
Once the wisdom tooth is removed, the area where the tooth was may be stitched to help it heal. It is normal for your jaw and gum to be sore, swollen and bleed a little for a few days after having a wisdom tooth out.
One possible complication of wisdom teeth removal is a dry socket , when the area where the tooth came from doesnt heal properly causing severe pain and a bad smell from the area. This happens more often in people who smoke or have difficulty in healing. Dry socket can be successfully treated by your oral health professional.
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Your Gums Are Inflamed
While a wisdom tooth infection is technically separate from gum infection, it is possible for both to occur at the same time. This is because bacteria from a tooth infection can spread to the gum, which can cause it to become inflamed. If your gums are inflamed, they will most likely become red, swollen, and painful to touch.
Swollen Or Tender Lymph Nodes
The lymphatic system runs throughout the body and acts as a waste removal system, getting rid of cellular waste. When there is infection or inflammation in the body the lymph nodes can swell or become hard. If you suddenly have lumps under your jaw or in your neck that are hard to the touch, you may have inflamed lymph nodes, which could mean you have an infection.
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Care After Surgery For Removal Of Wisdom Teeth
Your oral health professional will talk with you about how to care for your mouth after having a wisdom tooth taken out. Some general suggestions include:
- Take pain-relieving medication if needed .
- Bite on the gauze to help stop bleeding, and other instructions that you may be given after the tooth is removed.
- Avoid excessive rinsing, sucking through a straw or spitting as that can cause the blot clot to not form, or come loose.
- Hold warm salty water in your mouth. Do this after meals and no earlier than 24 hours after surgery.
- Eat soft, easy-to-chew foods for the next few days to keep the area clean from food particles.
- Dont smoke for 48 hours after the surgery.
- Avoid alcohol and excessive physical activity.
How Is Your Wisdom Tooth Removed
This procedure is carried out by a specialist surgeon. Before the procedure, a local anesthetic injection to numb the area around the tooth.
In some cases, a cut may be needed in your gum, and the tooth may need to be cut into smaller pieces before its removed.
This procedure y isnt painful because the area will be numb. In case you feel any pain, tell your dentist or oral surgeon to give you more anesthetic.
After the removal of a tooth, you may experience swelling, pain, and discomfort, both on the inside and outside your mouth. Your dentist may place gauze over the site of the extraction and ask you to keep the pressure on it by biting your jaws together for up to an hour. This is to allow a blood clot to form in the empty tooth socket. Blood clots are part of the healing process, so try not to dislodge them.
This condition is worse for only 3 days, but it can last up to two weeks. In some cases, antibiotics may be prescribed if you have an ongoing infection. For 24 hours after removing your wisdom tooth, you should not
- Rinse your mouth out with liquid
- Drink alcohol or smoke
- Drink hot liquids such as tea or soup
- Strenuous physical activity
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You Might Be Dealing With An Impacted Wisdom Tooth
Wisdom teeth can become infected due to impaction. Wisdom teeth that become impacted cannot erupt properly because the jaw is not big enough to allow them to do so. A partially erupted wisdom tooth, a sideways developed tooth, or a tooth trapped beneath the gum are examples of an impacted tooththese are also known as tooth crowding. When an impaction has occurred, the gums become inflamed, and an infection develops around them.
Wisdom Tooth Extraction: The Procedure
Since tooth extraction is an inevitable event for all of us, we would think that it can join the safe and simple dental procedures we will have in our lifetime. The truth is, this dental procedure basically involves the same steps every single time, with the end result having lost a tooth.
The third set of your molars are the ones called your wisdom teeth. These third molars are the big teeth in the rear of your mouth. The third molars erupt the last. They got the name wisdom teeth because they usually appear between the ages of 17 to 25, where you already reached the age of maturity. If you need more fast facts about your wisdom teeth, visit this website to get all the tidbits to feed your curiosity.
Wisdom tooth extraction may look and sound more complicated than the usual tooth removal. This is because the positioning of the tooth is farther, and the extraction site is least accessible to the dentist. The tooth thats needed to be extracted is comparably bigger than most teeth. However, the same procedure applies, except for the fact that the dentist may need to section it or break it off for fast and safe extraction. If impacted, he may also need to slice the gum tissue above the molars to extract the tooth.
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Complications After Wisdom Teeth Removal
In 1.2%-4.3% of cases, patients will experience complications after wisdom teeth removal.
Potential complications of wisdom tooth removal include:
- Dry socket:This painful condition happens after the blood clot is lost too early from the tooth socket. Generally, the risk of dry socket is highest on days 2-3 after surgery and is mostly gone after day 4. PRP or PRF during surgery may reduce this risk. Dry socket is referred to in medical literature as alveolar osteitis.
- Paresthesia: If your inferior alveolar nerve is damaged during surgery, you may experience temporary or permanent numbness in the lips and tongue. This condition is called paresthesia.
- Infection: The wound may become infected after wisdom teeth extraction. A comprehensive study found that postoperative infection occurred in 0.8% of patients.
- Bleeding: Excessive bleeding that lasts beyond 10 hours can occur in some cases. On average, this may be the most common complication of having wisdom teeth removed. It occurred in 0.9% of patients in the study mentioned above.
Factors that increase your risk of complications include:
- Immunodeficiency
- Poor irrigation of the tooth socket
Recovery After Wisdom Teeth Removal
In many cases, youll be mostly recovered 3-4 days after wisdom teeth removal. It may take a week or more to heal after a complex surgery or if there were severe symptoms before your extraction.
Keep in mind that it takes 3-6 months for the tooth socket to heal completely. However, it is unlikely to cause any symptoms after 1-2 weeks have passed.
For fast wisdom tooth surgery recovery:
Beginning on day 2, you should begin to gently brush and floss your teeth as normal. Its vital to practice good dental hygiene for optimal oral health, as this reduces your risk of complications after surgery.
Your dentist will probably prescribe pain relief medication for recovery. Typically, these include hydrocodone or Tylenol with codeine . Most people dont need these after 3 days after wisdom tooth surgery.
What can you eat after wisdom teeth removal? For the first 24 hours after surgery, stick to liquids and very soft foods . On days 2 and 3, you can eat more foods to get enough calories but still avoid spicy, sharp, or hot foods.
Need more ideas? I designed a free guide with a comprehensive shopping list for easy-to-prepare foods you can eat after oral surgery.
Many dentists use dissolvable stitches. However, if your stitches must be removed manually, youll need to go back to your oral surgeon about 1 week after surgery.
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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.
Causes Of Wisdom Tooth Infection
There are several possible causes of infection in a wisdom tooth or where the tooth once was. These include:
An impacted wisdom tooth Impaction happens when a persons jaw has insufficient room for a wisdom tooth to erupt, in a situation referred to as tooth crowding.
Wisdom teeth may only emerge partially from the gum line or they can become trapped beneath it.
Either way, this can lead to inflammation of the gums and infection around the wisdom teeth. Sometimes soft tissue forms over the partially erupted wisdom tooth and is known as an operculum.
An operculum isnt always good for your mouth because it tends to trap food particles causing bacteria to thrive. This, in turn, causes an infection which is often followed by an abscess that forms beneath the operculum. If the abscess isnt treated, the infection spreads and progresses into pericoronitis. In severe cases, this can be extremely painful leaving the patient to call for an emergency dentist.
Cavities A cavity in a wisdom tooth can also be the cause of infection. Because wisdom teeth are located at the very back of the mouth they are difficult to reach with your toothbrush. Flossing wisdom teeth can be even more difficult. As a result, these teeth are vulnerable to decay.
Wisdom tooth extraction Wisdom tooth removal is a common procedure to pre-empt problems caused by teeth that are struggling to erupt or get stuck. Infection can sometimes occur after wisdom teeth removal.
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