What to do if the gum swells near the wisdom tooth? We will understand this article.
Wisdom teeth in the dentition grow last in adulthood, they are also called eights or third molars. In the course of evolutionary development, their functions were lost, they almost do not participate in the process of chewing food and are organs-rudiments.
It may seem that such a property should make these teeth less problematic, but in practice it turns out that they are the most troublesome in the oral cavity. What if the gum swollen near the wisdom tooth?
What are the causes of inflammation?
The most typical situation that can happen in almost every person is inflammation of the gums that surround the wisdom tooth. This process is accompanied by discomfort and pain, so everyone is interested in what to do in such a case, so that as soon as possible to eliminate the tumor and improve their condition.
So, the wisdom tooth is climbing, its nature is unique. Milk teeth are not preceded by them, they are continuously formed, and therefore erupt later than others and have a specific root structure.
The beginnings of future teeth
On each jaw, all people have the beginnings of future wisdom teeth, but this does not mean that they all will necessarily grow, since eights often remain retinated or only partially shown.
In any case, their appearance is not simultaneous and lasts for quite a long time, causing a person inconvenience. The combination of all features is the main reason for the appearance of complications of wisdom teeth.
Below will be described the main situations in which the gum swelled near the wisdom tooth.
Difficult teething
During germination, complications are caused by such main factors:
- the rather large size of the molars causes soft tissue injuries;
- the presence of thickened formed bone tissue;
- dystopian position - growth in the wrong direction (horizontally, at an angle).
- not enough room for free growth.
Doped teeth cause not only the inflammatory process in the wisdom tooth, but also have a negative effect on neighboring molars, often injuring the inside of the cheek, damaging the roots or enamel, and distorting the human bite.
So, the gum near the tooth inflamed. What is this talking about?
Pericoronitis
If the third molars sprout for too long, the soft tissues begin to recede a little and a kind of gum hood is formed over the tooth, which prevents teething. Under the hood of the gums there is a space that becomes an excellent place for the accumulation of food debris and the further propagation of pathogenic flora.
This phenomenon in dentistry is called pericoronaritis. He has such forms of flow as chronic, purulent, catarrhal or acute. The condition is accompanied by severe soreness, and against its background there is inflammation of the gums near the wisdom tooth, in advanced situations the cheek swells, pus appears. Such a pathology should be treated by a specialist when primary symptoms appear, otherwise pericoronaritis leads to abscess, periostitis and phlegmon.
Gum Tissue Dissection
At the initial stage, when the wisdom tooth climbs, you can get by with medication, but often the dentist has to resort to complete excision or dissection of the inflamed gum tissue. This operation is quite simple, at the current level of science and medicine, it will not cause concern even in small patients. The bottom line is that with a sufficient degree of local anesthesia, the mucous membrane that covers the erupting wisdom tooth is excised (removed). Thus, the area on which the microbes propagated disappears completely. This is a less traumatic procedure, so adolescents, adults and children who find themselves in such conditions may no longer think that something will inflame again in the future.
When the hood over the wisdom tooth is inflamed, treatment should be timely.
In addition, it is necessary to say about the removal of such a dental problem. You can not feel sorry for yourself and be afraid of treatment, especially in the dental field. With inflammation of the hood over the third molar, you need to agree to the recommendations of your doctor without hesitation, because the consequences can be the most terrible. How is the operation done? The patient will have local anesthesia. Then, when the pain is canceled, the dental surgeon will excise the neoplasm that binds the tooth. He will do this with surgical scissors and a scalpel. The wound after excision is washed with disinfectants, the bleeding is stopped.
After neutralization, the necessary drugs are applied to the wound. This completes the operation, the patient is assigned a second examination. After such a procedure, a person is prescribed various medications, both painkillers and healing ones. This, for example, means for rinsing the oral cavity, or in some cases, antibiotics are prescribed. At home, after such treatment, the inflammation process will be completed completely. Why is the gum swollen around the wisdom tooth?
Carious lesions, inflammation, infection
Erupted wisdom teeth can often deteriorate due to their inaccessibility, which is why proper hygiene is impossible. The pain and swelling of the gums around the third molar can be explained by such dental conditions:
- the development of periodontitis and pulpitis - the onset of diseases is preceded by a periodontal cyst, caries in an advanced state;
- the presence of carious lesions in the oral cavity, which also applies to distilled, retinated wisdom teeth, as they can be destroyed even if they are in the depths of tissues;
- with the infection in the tooth tissue, the development of a purulent-inflammatory process and flux, abscess, fistula, the whole cheek may become swollen.
Acquainted with the main causes that cause gingival inflammation near the wisdom teeth, we can draw a logical conclusion: in order to properly treat your tooth, you need an appointment with the dentist.
Symptomatology
The symptoms of inflammation of the third molar cannot be confused with any others. The primary signals are the appearance of swelling and pain. They talk about penetration into the tooth of infection and trauma. These feelings need to be remembered and the intensity and nature of the inflammatory process described to the dentist as accurately as possible.
By the severity of existing pathological processes, the condition is preliminarily evaluated and the neglect of the disease is determined.
There is a slight inflammation and a slight swelling, this indicates a normal reaction of the human body to gum damage near the wisdom tooth. Also against this background, there are pain, but they are moderate or insignificant.
When the pain intensifies and becomes long, the tumor grows, there is reason to think about the course of a purulent-inflammatory process in the area of the root of the tooth, that is, about a cyst. The accumulated pus will look for a way out, and soon a bag (ball) will form on the gum.
It is very unpleasant when the gum near the tooth becomes inflamed. The set of symptoms that characterize the problematic growth of wisdom teeth includes:
- slight aching pain - occurs with a gradual dissection of the gum tissue with a sharp tip of the tooth;
- the gum near the third molar becomes hot, and this indicates the progression of the inflammation process - such a symptom appears against the background of hematoma, abscess and pericoronitis;
- severe pains that resemble spasms indicate an inflammatory process;
- with the spread of swelling and inflammation on the cheek, difficulty swallowing, we can talk about a clear abscess that can result in a phlegmonous lesion;
- if a fetid odor appears from the oral cavity along with inflammation of the third molar and soreness, then we can talk about alveolitis;
- a granuloma or cyst appears as a ball on the gum filled with pus.
Complications
If you ignore the first symptoms at the initial stages as the disease progresses, the pain syndrome spreads further: to the neck, temples and ears. It happens that the gum and cheek are swollen near the wisdom tooth.
At the same time, the tongue can become inflamed, pus accumulates on the gum, body temperature rises - all this is very dangerous for health and life, you need to try not to bring your body to such complications.
Self help methods
At the beginning of a teething wisdom, it is recommended to immediately take preventive measures so as not to suffer from painful symptoms. What to do with inflammation of the gums near the third molar? First of all, you need an appointment with the dentist.
It is very important to emphasize that home emergency methods do not mean that you can skip the doctor’s examination, but only help reduce symptoms. To prevent the development of complications, you must definitely go to the dentist. It is very important to exclude the heating of the third molar, so as not to cause a purulent process.
Here are recommendations that can help, when the wisdom tooth is half closed by the gum, they will alleviate the condition of a person:
- drink painkillers in accordance with the instructions: it is allowed to use Paracetamol, Tempalgin, Nimesil, Ketanov, Analgin;
- apply anesthetic ointment or gel against inflammation to the affected area - “Metrogil Dent”, “Holisal”, “Kalgel”, “Kamistad”;
- do antiseptic treatment of the oral cavity - prepare solutions for rinsing: "Furacilin", "Miramistin", "Chlorhexidine".
When the gum is swollen near the wisdom tooth, what to rinse, everyone should know.
It is important to understand!
All the methods listed above can be used no longer than three days, even with the onset of relief, you should not postpone the visit to the dentist in any case.
If the gum swells around the wisdom tooth, you need to see a doctor, since swelling is often a symptom of the eruption of a third molar.
Qualified treatment
The doctor will visually examine the oral cavity, examine an x-ray and determine the true cause of the inflammation process, and then proceed as follows:
- will prescribe medications - antihistamines and anti-inflammatory drugs, antibiotics, ointments and gels for treating inflamed gums, rinses and antiseptic baths;
- the situation is resolved surgically, if eruption is difficult, the problematic third molar is removed, with pericoronitis;
- the dentist, depending on the circumstances, will cut the gum, cut or excise the hood of the gum, remove the eight;
- with the intense nature of pain, reduction of the jaws, severe swelling of the tissues, the condition is facilitated by novocaine preparations;
- a positive effect will be obtained thanks to laser therapy, in which infrared radiation acts on the affected area, however, this method is considered as an auxiliary, to consolidate the result.
When surgery or removing a wisdom tooth for several days, it is forbidden to bathe in hot water, touch the hole with your tongue or other objects, eat food that can cause irritation.
We examined why the gum swelled near the wisdom tooth and what to do in this case.