If you have swollen gums around your wisdom tooth, you’re not alone. Many people experience this painful, frustrating condition, especially as their wisdom teeth begin to erupt. Swelling and pain are common signs of pericoronitis, a condition that occurs when the gum tissue around a partially erupted wisdom tooth becomes infected.
Causes of Swollen Gums Around My Wisdom Tooth
Swollen gums around your wisdom tooth can be a sign of a condition known as pericoronitis. Pericoronitis is the inflammation and infection of the gum tissue flap partially covering a wisdom tooth, often called a dental operculum. This gum flap forms when a wisdom tooth partially erupts, typically in the late teens or early twenties. Food particles and bacteria can easily become trapped under this flap, leading to irritation, swelling, and infection. When pericoronitis occurs, the area around the affected tooth becomes swollen, red, and painful, particularly around the lower wisdom teeth.
In some cases, a dental abscess may also cause swollen gums near a wisdom tooth. A dental abscess develops when bacteria enter the inner layers of a tooth due to decay, often resulting in a painful, swollen infection filled with pus. Wisdom teeth are particularly prone to decay because they’re located far back in the mouth, making them harder to clean thoroughly. Food particles and bacteria can easily accumulate around these teeth, especially if they are partially erupted or impacted. Over time, this buildup can cause cavities to form in the wisdom tooth, eventually leading to infection and abscess if left untreated.
Risk Factors for Gum & Wisdom Tooth Infection
Several factors can increase the risk of swollen gums around the wisdom tooth, making it more likely for pericoronitis and dental abscesses to develop. These factors include:
- Poor Oral Hygiene: Neglecting to brush and floss regularly allows food particles and bacteria to accumulate around the tooth, especially near a wisdom tooth. This buildup can irritate the gum flap over the wisdom tooth, known as “gingival operculum,” which may trap food particles and bacteria, leading to infection.
- Partially Erupted or Impacted Wisdom Teeth: When a wisdom tooth partially erupts or remains impacted, the area around the tooth is more difficult to clean, increasing the chance of trapped food and bacterial growth.
- Smoking: Smoking dries out the mouth and reduces blood flow to the gums, weakening the gums around the wisdom tooth and making them more vulnerable to infection. Smokers are at a higher risk for pericoronitis, as their gums may not heal as effectively, which is crucial in recovering from pericoronitis.
- Dry Mouth Condition: Saliva helps clean the area around teeth, but conditions like Sjogren’s syndrome or certain medications that cause dry mouth can increase the risk of painful gums near wisdom teeth. Without adequate saliva, bacteria thrive, which may lead to pericoronitis.
- Diabetes: Individuals with diabetes have a weakened immune response, making them more susceptible to gum infections.
- Hormonal Changes: During puberty, pregnancy, or menopause, hormonal fluctuations can make the gums more sensitive and prone to swelling.
- Certain Medications: Some medications cause dry mouth as a side effect, which can lead to painful gums around your wisdom tooth. Also, medications such as steroids and chemotherapy drugs can decrease the body’s ability to fight infection.
If you’re experiencing swollen gums or any other pericoronitis symptoms, a professional dental exam can help determine the best treatment.
Symptoms of Pericoronitis
The swollen gums around your wisdom tooth may appear in association with one or more of the following symptoms:
- Swelling and redness around the wisdom tooth
- Pain when chewing or biting
- Pus discharge from the area around the wisdom tooth
- Bad taste in the mouth
- Bad smell caused by pericoronitis
- Difficulty opening the mouth (lockjaw) and jaw pain.
Visit your dentist if you experience any of these symptoms. The infection can spread to other parts of the body if it is not treated.
Home Remedies for Swollen Gums Around Wisdom Tooth
Several home remedies can help ease pain and swelling around a wisdom tooth. While these methods may provide temporary pericoronitis pain relief, it’s essential to remember that they won’t cure pericoronitis or treat the underlying infection. Always consult a dentist to ensure proper treatment and prevent complications.
- Over-the-Counter Pain Relievers: Medications like ibuprofen (Advil) and acetaminophen (Tylenol) are effective options for reducing pain and inflammation around a wisdom tooth. These pain relievers can be a convenient part of pericoronitis treatment at home, offering temporary relief from the discomfort caused by swelling and infection.
- Good Oral Hygiene: Practicing thorough oral hygiene can help prevent further irritation around a wisdom tooth. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush to gently clean around the affected tooth and brush away any food particles that may become trapped and cause pericoronitis. Floss daily to keep plaque from building up between teeth, which is particularly important around a partially erupted wisdom tooth.
- Salt Water Rinse: Rinsing with salt water is a popular pericoronitis home remedy. To make a saltwater rinse, dissolve half a teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water, then swish it around your mouth for 30 seconds before spitting it out. This pericoronitis salt water rinse helps reduce inflammation and provides relief from mild pain and swelling. Repeat this rinse two to three times a day for best results.
These remedies can be helpful for mild cases of pericoronitis and are a good starting point for temporary relief. However, if pericoronitis symptoms persist or worsen, see a dentist for an appropriate treatment plan.
In the case of wisdom teeth abscesses, home remedies may provide temporary relief but are not effective in treating the infection. While salt water rinses and over-the-counter pain relievers can help reduce pain, they don’t address the underlying bacterial infection responsible for an abscess. Left untreated, a wisdom tooth abscess can worsen and spread to surrounding areas, leading to serious complications. Only a dentist can properly treat a tooth abscess.
When Should You See a Dentist?
Seeing a dentist promptly is essential if you’re experiencing persistent pain, swelling, or signs of infection around a wisdom tooth. Ignoring these symptoms can lead to complications, as an untreated wisdom tooth infection may spread to other areas, causing serious health issues.
Symptoms of pericoronitis include swelling, pain, and difficulty opening the mouth and if left untreated, chronic pericoronitis can develop, leading to more severe and recurring problems.
In rare cases, the infection may cause Ludwig’s angina, a serious and potentially life-threatening condition that occurs when the infection spreads to the tissues in the floor of the mouth and neck. This severe infection can cause intense swelling, which may obstruct the airway and lead to difficulty breathing.
Diagnosis and Treatment
When diagnosing swollen gums around a wisdom tooth, a dentist will examine your wisdom teeth to see if the swelling is due to pericoronitis or another cause, such as a dental abscess. This oral examination often includes periapical and panoramic X-rays, which help the dentist assess both the tooth and the surrounding bone structure. These X-rays are useful for identifying tooth impaction, cavities, and dental abscesses.
The treatment plan varies based on the underlying causes and severity of the infection.
Treatment Options for Swollen Wisdom Tooth Gums
The treatment for swollen gums around a wisdom tooth depends on the underlying cause and condition of the tooth. Here are the primary treatment options your dentist may consider:
- Professional Teeth Cleaning: Your dentist may perform a thorough professional cleaning to remove plaque, bacteria, and trapped food debris, helping to reduce inflammation and prevent further infection.
- Antibiotics: If there’s an infection around the wisdom tooth, antibiotics may be prescribed to control and clear it. Antibiotics can help treat the infection and prevent it from spreading to other areas.
- Operculectomy: The Operculum is a flap of gum tissue covering a partially erupted wisdom tooth, your dentist may recommend an operculectomy. This minor surgical procedure removes the gum flap, which can trap food particles and bacteria. Removing the gum flap can provide lasting relief by allowing better access to clean the area and preventing further irritation.
- Tooth Extraction: When a wisdom tooth is severely decayed, impacted, or partially erupted, your dentist or an oral surgeon may advise wisdom teeth extraction. Extracting a tooth can prevent infections, especially if the wisdom tooth is partially erupted or impacted, which makes it difficult to keep clean and increases the risk of recurring pericoronitis.
Wisdom Teeth Removal to Treat Pericoronitis
Wisdom teeth removal is often recommended when a wisdom tooth is partially erupted or impacted, leading to recurrent pericoronitis. If the wisdom tooth traps food particles and bacteria, it can cause pericoronitis to recur, resulting in persistent pain, swelling, and infection.
Removal is also suggested when a wisdom tooth can cause damage to adjacent teeth or when pericoronitis treatment fails to provide long-term relief. Extracting the wisdom tooth can prevent infections and other complications associated with pericoronitis.
The extraction process involves a few detailed steps for partially erupted and impacted wisdom teeth. First, the dentist or oral surgeon will perform a thorough examination of your wisdom teeth and check for any signs of infection or impaction. An X-ray is typically taken to assess the position of the upper and lower wisdom teeth and to determine the best approach for extraction.
If the wisdom tooth is impacted, it may be covered by gum tissue or bone. The surgeon will make an incision in the gum to expose the tooth and may need to remove some bone surrounding a partially erupted wisdom tooth. The tooth is then divided into sections to make it easier to remove. Once the tooth is extracted, the area is cleaned to remove debris or infection. Stitches may be placed to promote healing, and gauze is applied to control bleeding.
After the extraction, it’s important to follow your dentist’s post-operative care instructions to ensure proper healing and prevent complications. This may include avoiding certain foods, taking prescribed pain medications, and maintaining good oral hygiene.
Conclusion: Swollen Gums Around Wisdom Tooth
Swollen and painful gums around wisdom teeth can be caused by pericoronitis or a dental abscess. Pericoronitis is swelling that occurs when the gum tissue around a partially erupted wisdom tooth becomes inflamed due to trapped food particles and bacteria. This can lead to infection and discomfort. A dental abscess, which is an infection that can form near a tooth or in the gum tissue, can also result in swollen gums and significant pain. Both conditions require prompt attention to prevent further complications.
While home remedies like over-the-counter pain relievers and saltwater rinses can provide temporary relief for pericoronitis symptoms, they are not a cure for the underlying infection. Home remedies can help manage pain and swelling, but they cannot fully treat the infection. For effective treatment for pericoronitis or a dental abscess, professional dental treatment is necessary. Treatment options might include procedures to clean the affected area, remove the gum flap, or even extract the infected wisdom tooth if it is severely impacted or decayed.
It is crucial to visit your dentist as soon as possible if you experience swollen and painful gums around your wisdom tooth. Early intervention can prevent the condition from worsening and spreading. Regular dental check-ups and maintaining good oral hygiene are essential in managing and preventing problems associated with erupting teeth.
