Pain, swelling, drainage, and poor breath are just a few symptoms of pericoronitis. Most frequently, molars that are slightly impacted or barely visible will develop pericoronitis. Additionally, lower molars are more likely to have it than higher ones. You can do pericoronitis treatment at home. But, first you should know the causes, symptoms and treatment method of your tooth abscess.
The crown of the erupting tooth is typically partially covered by a flap of gum tissue in patients with pericoronitis. Depending on a number of variables, your doctor might advise having the flap removed or having the tooth extracted. Sometimes the best course of action is to merely treat the actual symptoms.
Know the signs and symptoms for pericoronitis treatment at home
Depending on whether pericoronitis is acute or chronic, different symptoms may be present.
Acute pericoronitis symptoms include:
- considerable discomfort close to your back teeth
- swelling in the gums
- difficulty swallowing
- the pus discharge
- trismus (lockjaw) (lockjaw)
Symptoms of chronic pericoronitis include the following:
- poor breath
- a negative aftertaste
- a one- to two-day-long dull or mild soreness.
What are the pericoronitis causes and risk factors?
When a molar is partially impacted, pericoronitis frequently happens. Inflammation results from the bacteria accumulating around the delicate tissue. Your chance of developing pericoronitis may be affected by the following factors:
- the age range of 20 to 29
- teeth that have not fully erupted their wisdom teeth
- oral hygiene issues
- surplus gum tissue
- both physical and mental exhaustion
- pregnancy
Pericoronitis has not been demonstrated to be associated with general health.
Diagnose pericoronitis
Your tooth will be examined by your dentist to determine whether it has fully emerged and to look for a gum flap. Your symptoms will be noted, and an X-ray may be taken.
What side effects might pericoronitis cause?
Pericoronitis’s primary side effect is pain and swelling near the molar. Additionally, you can have a hard time biting down or developing lockjaw. In some circumstances, the infection from the abscess tooth that is infected can travel to other parts of your mouth.
Ludwig’s angina, a potentially fatal complication of pericoronitis, occurs when the infection spreads to the head and neck of the patient. Do not apply pericoronitis treatment at home for this case. Another uncommon, potentially fatal complication is sepsis, an infection that spreads to the circulation.
Pericoronitis treatment
When determining how to treat your pericoronitis, your dentist will evaluate a variety of factors. The three available treatments are:
- controlling or removing the discomfort close to the molarm
- removing the flap that is affixed to the tooth
- taking out the tooth
- controlling pain.
Your dentist may decide to assist you in managing the symptoms if the tooth is anticipated to fully erupt on its own rather than removing the flap or the abscess tooth. Ibuprofen (Advil) or acetaminophen (Tylenol) may be useful in this situation.
To avoid the accumulation of plaque and food particles, your dentist will also clean the gum tissue surrounding your teeth. In order to lessen the discomfort during this procedure, they could apply local anesthetic. Antibiotics like penicillin or erythromycin may be administered if you have edema or infection (Erythrocin Stearate).
Surgery
If your dentist determines that the tooth or flap needs to be removed, they can recommend that you see an oral and maxillofacial surgeon. Sometimes the flap regenerates, necessitating a second procedure. The issue is typically resolved by extracting the infected tooth. However, there are circumstances when keeping the tooth, if at all feasible, is advantageous.
Pericoronitis treatment at home
Although it’s crucial to visit your dentist or oral surgeon for a personalized treatment plan, they could also suggest at-home remedies. These ought to be carried out in addition to expert treatment, not in place of it. Pericoronitis treatments at home consist of:
- non prescription painkillers
- rinses in warm salt water
- oral water irrigators
- maintaining good dental health includes flossing and brushing.
- if you have a fever, avoid using hot compresses and get medical help
What are the chances of getting pericoronitis?
Pericoronitis seldom recurs after a tooth extraction. When a flap of gum tissue is removed, the tissue may occasionally regenerate. Do not apply pericoronitis treatment at home for this case. After a removal, people typically recover from treatment in two weeks, and for acute pericoronitis, symptom-specific treatment can be administered in one to two days.
Visits to the dentist and preventative care can lower your risk of developing this ailment. In order to perform an early extraction of an abscessed wisdom tooth if necessary, your dentist can keep an eye on the third molars as they emerge. Additionally, they can undertake routine cleanings to reduce inflammation.
Is severe pericoronitis possible?
People in their mid-20s who are expected to develop their third molar are more at risk of developing pericoronitis, which affects the wisdom teeth. Pericoronitis risk is also increased by the presence of extra gingival tissue covering the third molar.
If you feel like your tooth abscess has increased, do not do pericoronitis treatment at home. Visit the doctor because when cleaning, it might be challenging to get to the third molars at the back of the mouth. As a result, gum disease is more likely to affect the third molar’s gum tissue.
