What causes swelling and pain in the gums behind the last tooth?
Dec 05, 2022
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Zhang Liwen
Introduction
Swelling and pain in the gum tissue behind the last tooth may be caused by pericoronitis occurring during tooth eruption. Anti-inflammatory treatment can be carried out under a doctor's guidance, and the tooth should be extracted only after the inflammation has subsided. During an inflammatory episode, it is important to maintain good oral hygiene by brushing thoroughly, rinsing the mouth regularly, and avoiding chewing with the affected side as much as possible.
Swelling and pain in the gum tissue behind the last tooth may be caused by pericoronitis occurring during tooth eruption.
For patients under 14 years of age, when permanent teeth are erupting, poor oral hygiene may lead to inflammation of the surrounding mucosa, resulting in swollen and painful gums around the last tooth. It is recommended to brush teeth thoroughly after meals, perform local rinsing and apply medication; symptoms usually resolve gradually once the tooth has fully erupted. For patients over 16 years old, swelling and pain behind the last tooth are typically due to pericoronitis of a wisdom tooth. In most cases, this is caused by impacted wisdom teeth or insufficient space for proper eruption, leading to food debris accumulation, bacterial infection, and subsequent inflammation and swelling of the soft tissue covering the wisdom tooth. Anti-inflammatory treatment with medications such as amoxicillin capsules or roxithromycin capsules can be used under a doctor's guidance, followed by tooth extraction after the inflammation subsides.
During an inflammatory episode, it is important to maintain good oral hygiene by brushing and rinsing carefully, and avoid chewing on the affected side as much as possible.
