Why Impacted Wisdom Teeth Are More Prone to Infection
Wisdom teeth don’t always grow the way they should. When they get stuck beneath your gums or only partly come through, they’re called impacted. Impacted wisdom teeth can easily trap food and bacteria because of the way they are positioned, which can make them more likely to cause infections compared to your other teeth. In this blog post, our South Perth Dentists will help you understand why impacted wisdom teeth are more prone to infection, what signs to look out for, and how treatments — including wisdom tooth extraction — may be recommended. You’ll also find possible prevention options.
Reasons Why Impacted Wisdom Teeth Are More Prone to Infection
Wisdom teeth that don’t grow in the right way are hard to brush, and because of where they are located, bacteria can easily build up around them. Let’s look at the main reasons why these teeth tend to cause more problems than your other teeth:
Their Hidden Position
When a wisdom tooth is trapped under your gum or bone, it’s harder to see and reach. This hidden location means plaque and bacteria can build up without you noticing, which can eventually lead to an infection.
Partial Eruption and Gum Flaps
Sometimes a wisdom tooth only partly comes through the gum, and a small piece of gum is left on top of it. Food and bacteria can get trapped under that flap, and because it’s warm and moist, germs grow fast there. This often causes swelling and can easily turn into an infection.
Cleaning Challenges
The very back of your mouth is tricky to brush and floss properly. When teeth are crowded or angled, reaching them becomes even harder. As a result, plaque tends to stay around wisdom teeth longer, and this can give bacteria the chance to cause infection.
Pressure and Crowding
When a wisdom tooth is impacted, it pushes against the tooth next to it. This pressure causes discomfort and traps food between the teeth. The constant crowding makes cleaning difficult and increases the risk of bacteria spreading into the gums.
Reduced Natural Defences
Healthy gums protect your teeth like a shield and fit tightly around them, and help keep bacteria away. When your wisdom tooth is stuck, your gums cannot protect it well. This gap lets bacteria in and can cause an infection.
For further reading about wisdom teeth, refer to our comprehensive guide on wisdom teeth removal in Perth.
Signs of an Impacted Wisdom Tooth Infection
An infection around a wisdom tooth often develops slowly, and the early signs can be easy to miss. Paying attention to small changes in your mouth and general health can help you recognise when something isn’t right.
Jaw Pain
When a wisdom tooth gets infected, it may cause a deep, throbbing pain in your jaw, which may indicate that bacteria are irritating the tissues around the impacted tooth. The pain can spread to nearby areas and make your whole face feel sore. If regular painkillers don’t help, it might be an infection.
Swollen or Red Gums
When the gums around a wisdom tooth become swollen or red, it may indicate that the body is fighting bacteria in the area. The swelling is caused by inflammation, which is your body’s way of defending itself. If it doesn’t get better, it could turn into an infection.
Bad Taste or Bad Breath
If you keep having a bad taste or smell in your mouth, it could be from bacteria stuck around a wisdom tooth. As bacteria grow, they release sulphur compounds that cause bad breath. If brushing and rinsing don’t fix it, infection might be the cause.
Cheek or Jaw Swelling
When an infection spreads and moves beyond your gums, you may notice swelling on your face or jawline. It can feel tight and tender when touched. This is a warning that the infection is becoming more severe.
Difficulty Opening the Mouth
An infection near a wisdom tooth may irritate the muscles that help you open and close your mouth. This can make movements such as eating or yawning uncomfortable or painful. If the stiffness gets stronger, the infection might be spreading.
Fever
When your body is fighting off bacteria, your body temperature will typically rise. If you get a fever along with jaw or mouth pain, it may mean the infection has spread. That’s a clear sign you should see a dentist or doctor quickly.
Risks of Ignoring an Infected Wisdom Tooth
An impacted wisdom tooth infection may lead to more than just local discomfort if you leave it untreated. Over time, the infection may affect surrounding teeth, gums, and even your overall health.
Spread of Infection
If bacteria are not controlled, they can move from the gum around the wisdom tooth into deeper tissues of the jaw. In some cases, the infection may spread into the cheek, throat, or even the neck. This can make the situation urgent and the treatment more complicated.
Damage to Nearby Teeth
An untreated impacted wisdom tooth infection can put extra pressure on the molar next to it. This pressure may weaken the enamel and increase the risk of cavities or gum disease in the neighbouring tooth. Over time, both teeth could be affected.
Cyst Formation
In rare cases, a fluid-filled sac known as a cyst can appear around an impacted wisdom tooth. This cyst can grow slowly but cause significant damage to your jawbone and nearby teeth if it is left ignored. In most cases, surgery is needed to remove it.
Systemic Infections
If germs from an impacted wisdom tooth infection enter your bloodstream, the infection can travel to other parts of the body. This may cause fever, tiredness, and in serious cases, problems with the heart or lungs. That’s why it’s important to see a dentist early if you suspect that your wisdom tooth may be infected.
How Dentists Treat Infected Wisdom Teeth
If your wisdom tooth becomes infected, your dentist tries to stop the infection, reduce pain, and prevent the problem from returning. The exact treatment you will receive depends on how severe the infection is and whether your tooth will keep causing problems.
Antibiotics and Rinses
If the infection has spread or is causing a lot of swelling, your dentist may give you antibiotics to fight the bacteria. Your dentist may also suggest rinsing your mouth with salt water or an antiseptic to soothe your gums and wash out germs. These treatments help for a while but don’t solve the problem permanently.
Cleaning and Irrigation
Dentists often clean around the affected wisdom tooth to remove trapped food, plaque, and pus. In some cases, they may also rinse it out with special tools. This helps control the infection and ease gum irritation.
Wisdom Tooth Removal
If a wisdom tooth keeps causing infections or is likely to cause problems in the future, wisdom tooth extraction is often the best solution. Taking the tooth out removes the source of bacteria and prevents further complications.
Is There Any Way I Can Prevent Impacted Wisdom Teeth Infection?
Keeping your mouth clean lowers the chance of infection around wisdom teeth, but it doesn’t remove the risk completely. Even with good oral care habits, impacted wisdom teeth can still trap bacteria and get infected.
Careful Brushing at the Back
Brushing the back of your mouth carefully helps reduce plaque around wisdom teeth. Using a toothbrush with a small head makes it easier to reach tricky angles. This regular teeth cleaning may help keep the gums healthier and lower the chance of infection.
Use of a Water Flosser
A water flosser can spray water between your teeth and under the gumline, which are the areas that your toothbrush often misses. Water flossers can be especially useful around impacted wisdom teeth, where food gets stuck. Cleaning out that debris helps stop bacteria from building up and prevents infection.
Antimicrobial or Saltwater Rinses
If you rinse your mouth with salt water or an antimicrobial mouthwash, it can wash away harmful bacteria in your mouth. These rinses reach spots your toothbrush can’t, and using them often can calm your gums and lower the chance of infection.
Regular Dental Check-Ups
Never skip your regular dental check-ups, because they let your dentist spot early signs of infection before things get worse. These visits also help keep impacted wisdom teeth under control.
Considering Early Removal
If your wisdom teeth are impacted and likely to keep causing trouble, dentists often suggest removing them to avoid repeated infections or more serious issues. This decision will be made based on X-rays, your dental health, and your age.
Frequently Asked Questions
1- Can an infection from an impacted wisdom tooth go away on its own?
If your impacted wisdom teeth get infected, the infection will not go away by itself. While the pain and swelling may improve for a short time, bacteria often remain trapped under your gum. This means the infection is likely to return, often more severe than before. The only viable option to fully get rid of the infection is proper dental treatment.
2- How long does it take for a wisdom tooth infection to get serious?
An infection can get worse faster than you expect — sometimes in just a few days if the bacteria spread quickly. At first, the pain or swelling might seem mild and easy to ignore, but it can suddenly get worse. If the infection moves beyond your gum, it can spread to your cheek, jaw, or even your throat. Since this can happen quickly, dentists recommend getting treatment as soon as your symptoms start.
3- Can I treat an infected wisdom tooth at home?
Using saltwater rinses or pain medicine may make you feel better for a little while, but they don’t fix what’s causing the infection. The bacteria are still there, and without treatment, the infection can spread or get worse fast. Only your dentist can treat the infection at its source.
4- Do all impacted wisdom teeth eventually get infected?
Not every impacted wisdom tooth causes infection, but the risk is always there. Some never bother you, while others can become a problem suddenly. If food and bacteria keep getting stuck, your chances of infection increase. That’s why you need regular check-ups, even when your teeth do not seem to be troubling you.
5- Can an impacted wisdom tooth infection affect my ear or throat?
Pain from an infected wisdom tooth may spread to your ear or throat. If the infection gets worse, swallowing may hurt, or your ear may feel pressured. These signs mean you should see a dentist quickly.
6- How urgent is it to see a dentist if I suspect an infection?
An impacted wisdom tooth infection needs urgent treatment, even if the pain feels mild, because it can become serious quickly. Waiting only increases the risks and makes treatment more difficult.
7- Can an impacted wisdom tooth infection make me feel tired or unwell overall?
An infection in your mouth doesn’t just stay there — it can affect your whole body. As the bacteria spread, your immune system has to work harder, which can leave you feeling tired or unwell. You might also notice a fever, swollen glands, or just feel unwell overall. If this happens, you should see a dentist quickly because it means the infection is spreading.
Medical Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for general educational purposes only and should not be taken as personal dental or medical advice. It is not a substitute for a professional diagnosis, treatment plan, or consultation with a qualified dentist or healthcare provider. If you think you may have an infection or any other problem with your wisdom teeth, you should seek advice from a dentist as soon as possible. Never delay or disregard professional care because of something you have read here.
Wisdom Tooth Acting Up? Don’t Wait It Out
That throbbing pain or swelling won’t just disappear on its own. Impacted wisdom teeth often get worse if ignored, and infections can spread quickly. Book a check-up now by calling us on (08) 9474 5083 so it can be treated before it turns into something bigger.