How Do You Know if You Have a Wisdom Tooth Infection

Wisdom teeth can not only be superfluous, they can also cause painful issues. When they push their way through your gums, the area can sometimes become infected. It’s also more difficult to clean wisdom teeth due to their placement at the very back of the jaw. Reaching them with a toothbrush may cause gagging and subsequently, you avoid brushing them properly.

If a wisdom tooth does become infected, the signs may not be obvious until you experience pain. Here are some of the signs that your wisdom tooth may have become infected: How Do You Know if You Have a Wisdom Tooth Infection?

•       Do you have a fever? Fever is the first obvious sign that your body is experiencing an infection.
•       Are your gums sore to the touch? Pain is the body’s way of telling you something is amiss.
•       Do you have pain in your jaw or along the jawline? This pain may be radiating all across the jawline on one side of the face.
•       Is your jaw swollen? The swelling will make the pain worse as well as eating more difficult.
•       Do you have bad breath? This may be caused by pus from an infection.
•       Do you have a bad taste in your mouth? This can come from swallowing the pus from an infected tooth.

If you are experiencing one or more of these signs it’s time to make an appointment with a specialist as quickly as possible. If the pain becomes more than you can bear, or the swelling and pus in your gums become worse even after rinsing with salt water, you may want to visit an urgent care facility. They can alleviate the pain and help your symptoms until it’s time for your scheduled appointment.

If you’re experiencing severe issues with tooth or jaw pain, we can help. Contact The Center for Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery for a consultation.