A guide to infected wisdom teeth
Emergency dentistry patients who attend regular dental health check-ups have limited need to worry about the dangers of requiring oral health treatment. A professional practitioner can monitor the growth of wisdom teeth, as well as carry out regular X-rays to determine whether emerging pearly whites are likely to cause discomfort.
Therefore, patients are likely to know whether their teeth need to be removed before a problem occurs and can rest easy in the knowledge that their oral health is in safe hands.
However, individuals who fail to attend regular appointments with a trained dentist may find issues that arise with their wisdom teeth cause more problems than necessary. Additionally, those with impacted teeth may find their mouth becomes overcrowded, creating an unattractive appearance.
This issue occurs when the growth of wisdom teeth is blocked by existing pearly whites, which can often lead to an infection. In cases such as this, it is possible to feel intense pain overnight, with patients expected to seek treatment as soon as possible.
In instances when the teeth struggle to emerge, pressure can be placed on nearby areas and cause them to become extremely sensitive. Impacted wisdom teeth can also leave gum tissue feeling tender and often lead to an aching jaw.
While many people find these symptoms easy to ignore until their next dental appointment, the pearly white can become infected and cause further issues for the individual. For this reason, it is vital for members of the public to attend a dental appointment as soon as an issue arises.
When a wisdom tooth becomes impacted it can often suffer from decay, despite the common belief that it is not in direct contact with food and cannot be attacked by bacteria.
However, it is still possible for many substances to get trapped in an around the gums. As the wisdom teeth erupt at strange angles, it is possible for them to push through the gum without erupting all the way through. When this occurs, food and other debris can become caught in pockets underneath the tissue. This can create the opportunity for bacteria to attack food particles and subsequently result in the formation of acid.
In cases where an infection works its way into the wisdom teeth, there are a number of possible outcomes. When the pearly white begins to decay, toothache can become an issue for individuals, which can worsen if left untreated.
Other areas of the mouth can also become infected as a result of the impacted wisdom tooth, which can cause further health problems.
The issue, which is known as pericoronitis, can cause the gum tissue to become inflamed and sore, while often associated with bad breath and an unpleasant taste in the mouth. If left untreated, the problem can lead to the development of an abscess that fills with puss and can be extremely painful.
If an infection spreads to the gums and other areas of the mouth, they may experience soreness and swelling across the entire area of the affected side.
How is an infection treated?
When left untreated by a professional dentist, pericoronitis can grow to affect areas of the cheeks, jaw and face, while in rare cases, infections that begin in the tooth can spread to the brain.
As part of the treatment, an emergency dentist must initially clean the infection away from areas around the pearly white, then remove the plaque, calculus and other debris that has collected under the gum tissue, around the wisdom teeth and the surrounding areas of the adjacent teeth.
Following this, ensuring the infection can not reoccur is vital, therefore the affected wisdom teeth is removed in the majority of cases.
Individuals who ignore issues that arise with their wisdom teeth may experience a number of complications in the future. For this reason, it is extremely important that they seek the appropriate medical attention to prevent the issue from becoming something that is difficult to treat.
People who visit their dentist on a regular basis are more likely to resolve any issues in a shorter timeframe, while receiving the correct guidance about the best methods of maintaining their oral health.
How can infection be prevented?
With impacted wisdom teeth, there is often nothing that can be done to prevent the onset of infection other than attending appointments with a dental professional on a regular basis.
However, maintaining an effective oral health routine every day can protect other areas of the mouth and slow the development of possible infections.
This can be achieved by following a few simple steps such as brushing teeth thoroughly twice every day, as well as flossing between meals or when convenient.
Additionally, eating a balanced diet that is rich in nutritious fruit and vegetables can effectively improving oral health, while limiting the number of snacks consumed between meals is also helpful.
The practice is open Seven days a week from 8am to 11pm for routine dentistry and we offer a 24 hour emergency dental walk-in service 365 days a year. You can book a consultation at any time by calling our reception team 24 hours a day on 0208 547 9997 or contact us during our working hours by email.