What should I do if my wisdom tooth becomes inflamed and painful?
Apr 13, 2022
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Liu Jingjin
Introduction
Mild wisdom tooth inflammation typically resolves with chlorhexidine gluconate mouthwash and adjunctive antibiotics targeting anaerobic bacteria—such as metronidazole, ornidazole, or tinidazole.
Severe pericoronitis: Requires a hospital visit for irrigation of the pericoronal area to drain pus, remove bacterial plaque and food debris, followed by local medication and systemic antibiotic therapy.
Most people develop wisdom teeth. Due to their location at the very back of the mouth, they are difficult to clean properly, making them prone to inflammation, swelling, and pain over time. So what should you do if your wisdom tooth becomes inflamed and painful?
What to Do When a Wisdom Tooth Becomes Inflamed and Painful
Mild inflammation of a wisdom tooth can usually be managed with chlorhexidine gluconate mouthwash, combined with antibiotics effective against anaerobic bacteria—such as metronidazole, ornidazole, or tinidazole—to alleviate symptoms. For severe cases of pericoronitis (inflammation around the crown of an impacted wisdom tooth), professional treatment at a dental clinic is required. This includes irrigation of the pericoronal area to drain pus, removal of bacterial plaque and food debris, followed by local medication. Oral antibiotics are also prescribed. In addition to anti-anaerobic agents like metronidazole or ornidazole, broad-spectrum antibiotics such as cefuroxime axetil may be added to better control symptoms.
Wisdom teeth emerge during the permanent dentition stage—that is, in adulthood—and are clinically referred to as third molars. Counting from the midline outward on each side, the eighth tooth is the wisdom tooth. However, dentists do not identify wisdom teeth simply by counting backward from the center. Instead, they use two primary methods: If all teeth have fully erupted, clinicians examine their morphology. If both the first and second molars are visible and there is an additional tooth distal (behind) to the second molar, that tooth is identified as the wisdom tooth.
In most cases—or in a large proportion of individuals—the wisdom teeth remain unerupted and thus invisible to the naked eye. In such instances, radiographic imaging (e.g., panoramic X-ray) is necessary to determine whether third molars are present distal to the first and second molars. We hope this explanation proves helpful to you.
