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Wisdom tooth infections are a common concern for individuals who still have their third molars. As wisdom teeth try to emerge in your late teens or early twenties, they can cause a lot of problems.
In this blog, we’ll talk about why infections occur, how to recognize the signs, and why dental professionals often recommend removing them.
Table of Contents
- Why Are Wisdom Teeth Prone to Infection?
- Signs Your Tooth May Be Infected
- Complications of Wisdom Tooth Infections
- Why Dental Professionals Recommend Wisdom Tooth Removal
- What to Do if You Suspect an Infection
- Oral Facial & Implant Specialists: Your Oral Surgeon in Deer Park, IL
- FAQs About Wisdom Tooth
Key Takeaway
You might have an infected wisdom tooth if you experience severe pain, swelling, bad breath, or difficulty opening your mouth. Dentists recommend removing wisdom teeth before they cause problems because they can become infected, crowd other teeth, or lead to cysts and other complications.
Why Are Wisdom Teeth Prone to Infection?
- Lack of space: Your mouth might not have enough room for these additional teeth, causing them to become impacted (trapped beneath the gums).
- Odd angles: Third molars often erupt at odd angles, making them difficult to clean and increasing the risk of food particles and bacteria accumulating.
- Gum infection: Partially erupted wisdom teeth create flaps of gum tissue, providing a perfect breeding ground for bacteria.
Signs Your Tooth May Be Infected
- Severe pain: This can range from a dull ache to throbbing pain in the jaw, nearby tooth, or even radiating to your ear.
- Swelling: You may experience facial swelling, especially around the jawline.
- Redness and inflammation: The gum tissue around the infected tooth may be red, swollen, and tender to the touch.
- Bad taste or bad breath: A foul taste in your mouth or persistent bad breath can result from bacterial infection.
- Difficulty opening your mouth: Swelling and inflammation can restrict jaw movement.
- Fever: In more severe cases, a fever may develop as your body fights the infection.
- Pus: A whitish-yellow discharge from the infected site is a clear sign of infection.
Complications of Wisdom Tooth Infections
If left untreated, a tooth infection can lead to:
- Spread of infection: The infection can extend to neighboring teeth, gums, and even bone.
- Cysts and abscesses: These fluid-filled sacs can form around the infected tooth, requiring additional treatment.
Why Dental Professionals Recommend Wisdom Tooth Removal
Removal of these molars is often recommended for the following reasons:
- Prevention of infection: Removing wisdom teeth before they become problematic eliminates the risk of future infections.
- Protection of oral health: Extraction helps maintain the alignment of your other teeth and promotes overall dental health.
- Improved oral hygiene: Wisdom teeth are difficult to clean, and their removal simplifies your daily oral care routine.
What to Do if You Suspect an Infection
- Contact your dentist or oral surgeon: Schedule an appointment as soon as possible.
- Rinse with warm salt water: This can help reduce swelling and discomfort temporarily.
- Over-the-counter pain relief: Use pain medication like ibuprofen as directed to manage pain until your appointment.
Oral Facial & Implant Specialists: Your Oral Surgeon in Deer Park, IL
The best way to prevent wisdom tooth infections is to have them removed before they become problematic. Dr. J. Travis Thompson,DDS specializes in tooth extraction and other oral surgery procedures.
Approximately 85% of people need their wisdom teeth removed! If you would like to know if your wisdom teeth should be removed, we can perform a comprehensive examination to determine if you would benefit from wisdom teeth removal.
If you live in Lake Zurich, Barrington or Buffalo Grove, IL and are searching for ‘wisdom tooth removal near me’ or ‘oral surgeon in Buffalo Grove, IL” we can help! Call (847) 381-0106 to book an appointment or complete the online inquiry form. If you would like your dentist to refer you to our office, have them fill out our referral form.
FAQs About Wisdom Tooth
Wisdom tooth pain can come and go, or it can last several days or weeks. Everyone is different. However, pain from an infection can intensify if left untreated. If you are experiencing wisdom tooth pain, don’t ignore it. Schedule an appointment with your dentist or an oral surgeon while you are experiencing the pain so that they can identify the cause.
A wisdom tooth infection will not go away on its own. It requires professional dental care. If left untreated, the infection can spread to other parts of the mouth and body, leading to more serious complications.
A wisdom tooth infection can become an emergency if it is accompanied by severe pain, swelling, difficulty swallowing or breathing, or a high fever. If you experience any of these symptoms, it is important to seek immediate dental care.
